How to Read a Holiday Lighting Quote

Is Everything in the Number?

Design, lights, install, in-season service, takedown, and storage. One east-side installer's site says its scope “can include” those things and to “review the written design and quote for the exact included elements.” Ask for the list, in writing, before you compare numbers.

What Happens When Something Fails?

How do you report it, how fast do they answer, how fast is it fixed, and does it cost anything. Ask for two numbers: the reply time and the fix time. Ours are same day and 48–72 hours, in the agreement.

What Does Year Two Cost?

If the quote is for one season, ask what the second one costs before you sign the first. A lease should show every season's price. A purchase should show what re-hanging costs and who pays for replacements.

Are There Fees?

Dispatch fees, service-call fees, storage fees, takedown fees. Electricians in our area charge a dispatch fee for a visit; several reviews on this site's comparison pages quote it. Ask.

Can I End It, and What Does That Cost?

Ask for the notice period and the fee. Ours is thirty days before the next install date and no fee.

Who Answers the Phone?

The owner, an office, or a franchise call center. Ask for a name. Every page of this site has one.

Is It on the Website?

If the answers above are published where anyone can read them, the company expects to be held to them. If they're only in a sales conversation, they can change.