What to Consider When Choosing Christmas Light Installers
Hiring someone to put up your holiday lights may seem simple — but it’s not. Between safety risks, quality differences, and liability concerns, choosing the right team for your Christmas display is a serious decision.
We spoke with Vance, owner of a company that has focused exclusively on xmas light installation for over 36 years. The Christmas Light Professionals team has completed thousands of jobs, and their experience reveals what most homeowners overlook when choosing an installer — and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Here’s what you should know before hiring anyone to hang your lights.
1. Experience Is More Than Just Years in Business
According to Vance, the most important factor is how many actual jobs someone has done.
“If you called a plumber and he’d only worked on 30 homes total, you’d be hesitant,” he says. “But for some reason, people think it’s okay for a Christmas light installer to have that little experience — and it’s not.”
At his company, the average installer completes over 200 jobs per year. Some long-time team members have installed lights on over 1,000 homes. That volume brings a level of expertise that most seasonal operators simply can’t match.
By contrast, many companies that put up xmas lights do so as a part-time service alongside lawn care or window washing. They might do just 20–30 installations per season, and that lack of repetition often shows in the quality of their work.
2. Why Professionalism Matters in Christmas Lighting
You can often tell whether someone is a professional Christmas light installer just by how they arrive.
“We’ve seen people show up in a Honda Civic with a foldable ladder in the back,” Vance explains. “They can’t even reach the second story — and they don’t have the right product or tools on hand.”
In contrast, a seasoned crew will show up in a branded van with:
- Commercial-grade lights in multiple colors
- Multiple ladder sizes and proper safety equipment
- The ability to add last-minute items like trees or garage outlines without needing to reschedule
Professional installers also handle cleanup, photo documentation, and post-installation communication — sending photos if you’re away and asking for confirmation that everything meets your expectations.
3. Insist on Insurance and Licensing for Christmas Light Installation
One of the biggest risks when hiring a Christmas light contractor is liability. Holiday lighting involves ladders, rooftops, slippery conditions, and live electrical components. If something goes wrong, you could be held responsible — even if the installer was at fault.
“A lot of people don’t realize that if someone falls on your property, your insurance could be on the hook,” says Vance. “Even if you have coverage, your premiums will go up for years. You’ll end up paying for it long after the accident.”
That’s why it’s essential to:
- Confirm active general liability insurance
- Ask for worker’s compensation coverage, not just liability
- Request proof of licensing (where available)
The Christmas Light Professionals team carries a general contractor’s license, which requires both types of insurance. And because they serve many commercial clients, they’re used to providing documentation daily — a good sign of a company that operates with full transparency.
If your installer can’t quickly show insurance certificates or licensing info, that’s a red flag.
4. Why Quality Matters in Holiday Lighting
Many homeowners are tempted to save money by supplying their own lights from stores like Walmart or Home Depot. But according to Vance, that’s a shortcut that usually backfires.
“We installed lights for an older man once using his Walmart lights,” he recalls. “They failed almost immediately, and we ended up replacing them at our own cost — just so he could have a finished display.”
Commercial-grade products have major advantages:
- Repairable sections (each bulb can be replaced)
- Better brightness and consistency
- Longer lifespan and better durability in cold/wet weather
A true Christmas light contractor will use only commercial-grade lights, sourced from suppliers — not retail chains — and will install them correctly, with watertight connections, proper power distribution, and clean cord management.
5. Seasonal vs. Full-Time Installers
Another critical distinction is whether your installer does this year-round or just adds it as a seasonal gig.
Vance notes, “We do nothing but decorative lighting. We don’t mow lawns, we don’t wash windows — we do lights, and we do them right.”
This focus means that:
- Crews are trained, consistent, and efficient
- Support is available throughout the season
- Takedown is scheduled (typically January, not March or April)
- Repairs are done quickly, not whenever someone is free
In short, professional Christmas light installers are more reliable and accountable. They’re not juggling another business, and they don’t disappear in the off-season.
6. How to Verify Credibility Before You Hire
Here are a few things Vance recommends checking before you commit:
✅ Company vehicle & branding – Avoid unmarked vans or cars
✅ In-house crew – Not random subcontractors or gig workers
✅ Insurance verification – Ask to see active general liability and workers’ comp
✅ State license (if applicable) – Many states let you search online
✅ Product quality – Ask what kind of lights they install
✅ Cleanup and storage – Do they remove and store your lights?
✅ Response time – Will they fix issues quickly if something goes wrong?
Choose a Team You Can Trust
Whether it’s a simple roofline or a fully customized lighting setup, who you hire matters more than most.
Cut-rate installers may leave you with faulty lights, exposed wires, or even liability nightmares. Instead, invest in a team that brings experience, safety, and service to the job — so your holiday display brings joy, not stress.
