Holiday Lighting Installation

I received a call today for some holiday lights installed, just around the front of the home, single strand lights, and this would honestly be the first time I would charge to do this kind of install, how should I estimate this correctly, by the foot would be my guess? I usually charge $1 a ft. for gutter cleaning, but lights seem a little easier, should I charge .50 cents per ft for lights? The owner said to measure the footage and then she will buy the correct amount of lights. Any suggestions and insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ANDY

[Steve]

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Hi Andy, Would you be using a ladder for installation or no?

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Either a ladder as I go along or sometimes its just easier to get on the roof and crawl along the gutter line.

[Steve]

I think if it involves a ladder you should charge more. But here is some information I found until others join in.


Homeowners Turning To Pros To Hang Holiday Lights Reporting - "They put it up and take it down so it's a lot less strife. I don't have to argue with my husband to get it done," said customer Marie Coons.

Coons was willing to spend more than $500 to have Lawns-R-Us decorate her home.

"I think it is a little expensive but when you want it done you have to pay to get it done," said Coons.

Lawns-R-Us will design and decorate homes for the holidays, as well as take the lights and decorations down when the holidays are over. They charge $175 an hour for the service.

Make sure you are advertising this service on craigslist.

Check out this post http://dallas.craigslist.org/hss/482156524.html

And please take some pictures of what you create so we can see them.

Did this help?

I'm still a in the business, so I always feel like I'm charging too much, but I guess your right, anytime it involves unsafe positions like getting on a roof and/or working from ladders I should charge a fair amount. I do think $175 is definately way too much and I'm not sure if I'd get any customers at that price, but I could be wrong. I think I like the footage rate of $1 per foot, which is what I charged the other day for cleaning out some gutters, I ended up charging for 70 feet for $70 and it was actually cheaper than another contractor she had called who had a minimum $99.99 charge for a single story home. But I would still like some feedback from anyone out there who has this type of installation experience, as I'm giving my estimate tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks,

ANDY

[Steve]

Hi Andy,

It's totally understandable. When ever any of us get into a new service we tend to undercharge. I just wanted to give you an idea of what others out there are charging.

Why not do a little decoration around your house and time how long it takes you to hang different lights. Then you will know the length of time, maybe multiple that by $60 an hour.

Also keep in mind, will you have to come back to take the lights down? If you will, then double the price.

[Steve]

Also take some pictures because I have a bunch of freebies to give away for holiday decoration pictures this year.

Yes, she did mention she would need them taken down after the season. I probably would wait for her to contact me after the season to take them down and charge her than for the take down.