The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and of course, Christmas lights! Christmas light display can be a beautiful addition to any home during the holiday season. However, hanging lights can be a daunting task, especially if you have a large house or property. That's where professional Christmas light installation comes in. Hiring a professional lights installer is a safe and efficient way to get a home or business decorated for the holidays.
In particular, the following tips will help you ensure that hiring the job done won't turn out to be a bigger pain than doing the job yourself:
1. Don't Get Cheap
Low bids may indicate poor quality. Is there a more ancient adage than "you get what you pay for"? Most likely not. And it holds true for everything. We constantly encourage Christmas fans to avoid buying inexpensive lights since you get what you pay for. Professional installers are in the same boat. The cheapest installers are that way for a reason or several reasons. If you hire someone on the cheap, you're likely to receive someone with minimal design and installation knowledge.
Hiring a cheap professional Christmas light installer is no different. The cost you will save, you will end up paying for in a cheap and unexciting design. Some individuals believe that having an extension ladder is the only requirement for working as a professional Christmas light installer. Because an extension ladder has such minimal overhead, such an installation can work for very light money. Please do not hire anyone whose rates appear to be too good to be true. They probably don't have much experience, don't put much care into their work, and, most importantly, don't have the basic understanding of electricity required to execute the job safely. Hiring professional Christmas installers will save you time and hassle.
Cut-rate installers can also be untrustworthy because they're providing this service on the side rather than as a legitimate business with a reputation to uphold. You might be out of luck if a shady contractor claims he'll be at your property on Saturday but lends his extension ladder to his brother-in-law on Friday.
2. Make Sure They Are Insured
Installing lights is a risky business, which is presumably why you're hesitant to do it yourself. There is obviously a danger to life and limb, but there is also a danger to property. It's not something to be concerned about; just make sure the professional company you pick is properly insured, just in case. That is, after all, what insurance is for.
Christmas light installation has certain inherent risks because it requires both tall ladders and electricity; in fact, those risks may be the main reason why you don't want to do it yourself. Don't be afraid to inquire about whether or not the installer you're contemplating is insured, as well as the scope of his coverage. It's not a disrespectful inquiry; it's a question that demonstrates you're a cautious customer who wants to know that everyone working on your property is covered by insurance in the event of personal injury or property damage while they're on the job.
3. Check Out Their Source for Lights
Find out where they get their lights from, as this will give you a best idea of the quality you'll be getting. They are not obligated to purchase from top-quality lights. However, you must ensure that they are purchasing from a reputable, year-round light source.
The last thing you want is for your installer to show up on installation day with a few strings of lights that he bought at the local big-box store. Not only are those lights likely to be of poor quality, but they're also probably not designed for outdoor use, which means they'll burn out quickly and leave you in the dark — literally.
A good installer will have a source for high-quality, durable, outdoor lights that will last for years with proper care and storage. He should also be able to get his hands on specialist lights, such as icicle lights or globe string lights, if that's what you're looking for. And if he can't get them, he should at least be able to tell you where you can get them.
4. Consider purchasing the Christmas lights on your own
If you're really concerned about the quality of lights your installer will be using, consider buying the lights yourself. That way, you'll know that they're using the best possible lights for your home, and you'll be able to choose the exact style you want.
Just make sure that the professional installer is okay with using your own lights and that he doesn't have a problem getting them to work with his system. Some installers may be reluctant to use lights that they didn't purchase themselves, but as long as they're high-quality and designed for outdoor use, there shouldn't be any issue.
Purchasing your own lights also has the advantage of giving you more control over the final cost of the project. Installers typically markup the price of lights, so you may be able to get a better deal by buying them on your own. Just make sure that you factor in the cost of shipping when you're making your decision. If you are looking to buy LED Christmas lights, be sure to do your research first. Not all LED lights are created equal, and some are better than others. Christmas lights led are a great choice for your display. They are energy-efficient and long-lasting, so you won't have to worry about replacing them anytime soon. Plus, they come in a variety of colors and styles, so you can find the perfect ones to complement your home's unique look. For offices that don’t get a lot of consumer traffic during the holidays, you can still decorate with commercial Christmas light. Instead of leaving your interior plain, cover your cubicle walls much as you would the exterior of your building.
If you decide to purchase your own lights, be sure to shop around for the best deal and compare prices between different retailers. You should also consider buying them in bulk to get a discount. Just make sure that you have enough storage space to keep them safe until next year!
5. Don't pay right away
If you have a company that is asking that you pay in full before a single light has been hung, that is a red flag! Decline politely and seek out another professional to install your lights. It's normal to pay a portion of the installer's price up front, but that light payment should never exceed half of the overall fee. If the installer wants extra money up front, that's a red flag that you should avoid.
If an installer, for example, cannot afford to begin work on your project without a significant deposit, this could indicate a shaky firm. To put it another way, if all that upfront money is followed by delays and poor service, a less-than-trustworthy installer may bank on your unwillingness to terminate the project and ask for a refund, while keeping you guessing about a completion date.
6. Ask about company references
When you apply for a job, you're asked for references, right? Why should professional installers who want you to hire them be any different? Anyone who has been in a company for a while and has a lot of satisfied clients just the type of person you want to hire —will gladly give you several references. There’s absolutely no reason not to ask the same from a company you are considering hiring. So, inquire about their experience and ask for references. Check that your installer has successfully installed for others. Also, inquire about the length of time your installer has been in business and how many references he can provide. Lights installation companies typically use ladders, scaffolding, or cherry pickers to safely install lights. If you have any questions about the safety of the light equipment being used, be sure to ask the company before hiring them. Professional Christmas season is upon us, and if you're like most people, you want your home to look its best.
7. Ask about problem resolutions
No professional can guarantee that issues will not arise. They CAN, however, have a clear and unambiguous policy for dealing with concerns and light challenges. Inquire about it. Make sure they won't overcharge you for returning to fix problems that arise after the installation personnel has left.
Even if you hire the best installers in the world, there's a chance you'll run into light issues. What happens if some of the lights go out before the holiday season is over? What if you don't like some of their design concepts? Before you agree to have them conduct the task, ask them how they plan to handle these difficulties.
8. Consider hiring a team
Professional light hanging companies will never be provided by a single person; rather, they will be provided by a team of experts who understand what they are doing and can complete the work quickly and with the level of quality that can only be obtained through years of experience. He will have a team that, while they most likely do other types of work the rest of the year, know what they’re doing with lights. And he will have enough people on that team to provide qualified installation and maintenance service throughout the season.
Professional teams will have the manpower to handle your job efficiently and will be able to respond to any problems as soon as they arise. Hiring a team will give you peace of mind, knowing that the job will be done right, and it will also save you time and money in the long run. The best company has a lot of repeat customers, so calling early gives you your best shot at getting your display up when you want it up.
Windows cleaning companies like Seattle Window Cleaner also provide a Christmas light installation service that can help take the hassle out of your holiday preparations! Give us a call today to learn more about our services and to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you! Hiring our team of professionals is not a bad idea because we are experienced in installing professional Christmas lights quickly and efficiently so that you can enjoy the holiday season without having to worry about a thing.
