New Landlord Questions

[Karyn S.]

Finishing up the complete reno on our first investment in the next month and gearing up to finalize details and the lease stuff.  A few questions for you experts!  I've been reading everything I can, but still have a few ?  

Window Treatments - going to put up blinds or shades and I've read multiple threads on this, but we have a huge picture window that won't fit any simple (affordable!) blind or shade.  Put curtain rods up everywhere?  Put curtains over it?  Just the rods?  I personally have very few curtains in my own home because I like the nice shades against the woodwork, but not doing quite the shades I have...

Water bill - Plan to have it sent to us, rather than them, to make sure it is paid.  It is generally included in rent here.  Can I put a cap on that in the lease?  Is that normal?  If I put a $150 cap per quarter or they pay extra?  That's way more than I pay for my family's 3 story house and this is a 2 bedroom.  

AC filter, smoke detector batteries - do you change these yourself?  Central air.  Hard wired smoke detectors with battery backup.

Thank for any advice!!