6 Questions to Ask About Adding or Removing Holiday Lighting

Adding or removing holiday lighting can be a night to remember—or a nightmare. Not all homeowners want to spend hours on ladders and roofs twice a year (or more) to decorate their homes. While you can do this work yourself, consider the simplicity of hiring a pro to handle your holiday lights. Here are some typical Christmas light questions you can expect to discuss on an initial call or visit to your home. 

1. Are you adding or removing holiday lights?

It doesn’t matter if you’re adding or removing; the cost will be the same. While many homeowners opt to do this project themselves—it can even be a tradition—you may want to consider hiring a pro. You can still design your home’s lighting the way you want, but the project will be done much faster and safer.  

2. Do you have or want to include decorative elements?

Christmas, Halloween, and Fourth of July are the most common holidays for house decorations. This means you may want to add patriotic elements in July; pumpkins, witches, and tombstones in October, and countless winter holiday decor elements. If you don’t already have these, ask a pro what they might have in stock that you can rent for the season. 

3. Are you the owner or authorized to make property changes?

If you own the home, this section is simple—design it however you want. However, if you manage a home or multiple properties for someone else or a business, you will probably need their approval on decorative elements. Make sure your pro can submit drawings or computer mockups so you can get approvals before green-lighting the project. 

4. Where are the lights being added?

Let your pro know roughly how tall your house is. 80% of homeowners expect holiday light-hanging complications, thanks largely to the heights they have to scale. A pro can handle installation quickly and safely, especially if your house is more than one story tall. 

5. What kind of location is this? 

Do you want lights that wrap around your house? What about framing the windows and doors? Do you live in a duplex and need to consider other people's preferences or HOA regulations? Not every location is a simple one-story home, so expect your pro to ensure the location is suited for lights (and everyone is OK with it). 

6. Are you providing the materials?

Not every homeowner wants boxes and boxes of decorations in their attic or garage. Consider renting the items for the season instead of buying them outright. It may cost more in the long run, but you won’t need storage space and won’t have to front the high initial cost of purchasing the items.