Maintenance folks have seen a lot of window-blinds replacement and repair calls lately, so here are 6 tips to help with blind replacement and repair for your rental property from Keepe.
Blind replacement and repair for your rental property
Blinds are popular. And whether your blinds are new or old, broken blinds seem to be an ongoing issue for many rental property owners.
If you were ever wondering why mini-blinds break so frequently, here’s your answer: Basically, the holes in the top of each vane – which are also called slats – are squarely “hole-punched” and, unfortunately, aren’t as reinforced as they should be.
Sometimes kids rip them out or pets pull them down, but one of the primary reasons blinds break is because people are lazy.
Using blinds correctly can seem like a hassle. You have to take the time to turn the wand, open the slats, and then pull the string slowly. Not using the wand and rushing the process causes a bunch of tension on each vane, causing it eventually to crack and snap off. Happily, there are some easy fixes to minimize this from happening…
Blind replacement and repair for your rental property tips!
- Invest in some “vane savers” as reinforcements or as a way to fix broken vanes;
- You may also use paperclips instead of “vane savers,” by taping one over the end of each vane where a piece has broken off;
- Let the cords hang freely, this can help the cords last longer;
- Clean blinds by vacuuming them regularly with a brush attachment on low suction, brushing across the slats for venetian and pleated blinds and down the fabric or slats for vertical and roller blinds;
- Spot-clean any stubborn stains by blotting with a mild detergent solution or alcohol-free wipe (but never spray cleaner directly onto fabric);
- To prevent vanes from getting out of sync, always tilt the vanes open fully before drawing the blinds open or closed.
The maintenance odd job of the week
This week, we got a job request in the greater Seattle area to repair a sink faucet that “began spraying in different directions.” We checked it out and realized it was the aerator, which was fixed in no time. Aerators are often found at the end of the faucet. Essentially, the aerator pushes a mixture of air and water through the end of the faucet. They are used to prevent splashing, conserve energy and increase water pressure.
Here are other recent rental property maintenance Keepe posts you may have missed:
How To Pick The Perfect Exterior Paint Color For Your Rental Property
4 Outdoor Flooring Options For Your Rentals
20 Easy, Affordable Maintenance Projects To Update Your Rentals
7 Tech Gadgets For A Safer And More Efficient Rental Property
5 Maintenance Tips For Long-Lasting Rental Carpet Flooring
Is The Water Heater At Your Rental Property Ready For The Big One?
7 Types Of Kitchen Countertops For Your Apartments
Which Cooktop Is Best For Your Rental Property?
A Guide To 4 Types Of Flat Roof Systems
6 Ways To Trash Your Apartment Waste Management Issues
Top 5 Apartment Maintenance Emergencies vs. Maintenance Requests
5 Tips for Preparing Your Apartments for the Summer Season
4 Air Conditioning Maintenance Best Practices For Summer
About Keepe:
Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords, making hundreds of independent contractors and handymen/women available for maintenance projects at rental properties. Keepe is available in the Greater Seattle area, Greater Phoenix area, San Francisco Bay area, and Portland area, and is still expanding. Learn more at http://www.keepe.com
