What gets left out of the conversation
Holiday lighting conversations happen in October and November and stop at the install date. That is understandable. But the season ends, and everything that went up has to come down. The people who asked the question up front are the ones not on a ladder in the cold.And that is unfortunate, because the second half is the one that costs you if it is not covered. Anybody can put a display up. The real question is what happens after. That question is worth asking before you book, not the one you have in January.
The self service version
Taking lights down is the harder of the two jobs,
https://sethiaxb099.bearsfanteamshop.com/permanent-exterior-lighting-what-it-is-where-it-goes-and-why-people-like-it-considering-permanent-outdoor-lighting-read-this-first which surprises people. The weather is colder. The motivation is nonexistent. And the reward for finishing is a tangle of strands you now have to store. Whatever goes into that box is in worse shape next season.
How it should work instead
On a properly structured holiday lighting service, January is already covered. When the season ends, the same company returns and takes it all down. Everything gets catalogued and stored off site, instead of living in your attic. You never handle any of it.
Why storage is not a small detail
Three things happen when the lights do not live at your house. Your attic stays empty, which is worth something in most houses. Condition holds, which is most of why strands fail. Labeling means the display repeats accurately.
The other route
The other option makes January irrelevant. Permanent lighting has no January. It costs more up front and it makes sense for households that never skip a season. But if the takedown conversation is the part you dread, it is worth asking about once.
What happens if something goes dark on the twentieth
Over a full season, a section going dark is not unusual. The question is what happens then. Some companies treat mid season repairs as part of the job. Others treat every visit as a new call. Ask before you book, rather than the week you need it.
Year two is much shorter
Year one is the effort. Once a display is designed and stored, the following year is scheduling. Next season comes down to picking a day. If you want it expanded or trimmed back, that is a conversation, not a redesign.
What to ask before you book
Ask whether takedown is included or billed separately. Ask who keeps them until next year. Ask when it happens so it is not a surprise. EverCrest Lighting handles takedown and off season storage on holiday lighting, and installs permanent lighting for people who would rather stop repeating it, for residential and commercial properties throughout Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina, from Greenville. The consultation is free. Call (864) 252-1732 or email
[email protected].