1. DON’T GO FOR THE CHEAPEST OPTION
While it might seem like a good idea to hire the company that offers the lowest bid, you have to remember —you get what you pay for. It’s not always the case, but significantly lower costs typically mean lesser quality.
2. CHECK OUT THEIR LIGHTS
Ask the companies you talk to where they buy their lights, and you will get an immediate idea about the quality you’ll receive. Professional grade lights cannot be bought from retail stores (Lowes & Home Depot).
3. UPFRONT COSTS
Many professional installers ask for a small deposit before they begin working — and this is completely normal. However,if the upfront fee seems high or is more than half of the total cost, that should be a huge warning.
4. CHECK THAT THEY ARE INSURED
There are risks involved with hanging holiday lights, which could be part of why you’re hiring a professional in the first place. There’s not only a potential for injuries to the person installing the lights, but there are risks of property damage as well.
5. ASK FOR REFERENCES
When a company gives you a bid for installing Christmas lights around your home, they are basically applying for a job with you. You know how you get asked for references when trying to find a new job?
6. PROBLEM RESOLUTIONS
Even if you find the best installers in the world, there’s a possibility that some problems will arise. What happens if some of the lights stop working before the end of the holiday season? Or, what if you disagree with some of their design ideas? Ask them how they will take care of these issues before you agree to have them do the work.
7. HIRE A TEAM
Professional light hanging services will never be a single person — they will have a team that knows that they are doing and can get the work done quickly and with the level of quality that only comes from years of experience.