Something about a home covered with lights during the holidays is undoubtedly magical. It seems so easy as viewed out of the window, with its warm lights, its lines of perfection, no tangle of wire visible. There is another tale behind that image. The professional holiday lighting companies add discipline, proven systems and experience gained through trial and error to what appears to be a simple job until it becomes not. The difference between a great company and a mediocre company is made clear even before the first bulb has been turned on. Continued!
It Starts with Logistics
Observes the appearance of a crew. Are the trucks in time? Are the installers aware of their destination? Good companies operate on strict schedules, which are created out of actual fleet management, rather than speculation and telephone calls. Such an organization can save hours throughout a workday and eliminate the mad-dash rush of crews trying to beat the setting sun. It makes a difference to the homeowner. Professionalism is reflected even in the initial handshake with a calm and efficient crew that is aware of its route and respects the clock.
Planning That Stands the Test of Time.
Established businesses strategize on what will really occur, not the best. Delays caused by weather, a sudden change in the traffic or a difficult roofline are all planned in advance before the first truck is out of the depot. Calculations of power loads are done with care such that a house full of vacationers does not cause a tripped breaker during dinner. Layouts are based upon actual architecture rather than wishful thinking. What is produced is an installation which appears deliberate since it was designed to appear so – no half-complete parts, no improvising at the last minute.
Equipment Worth Trusting
Low cost materials are short-term. Plastic clips are brittle in cold. Slim wire droops due to its weight. Experienced crews understand this and are unwilling to skimp on gear. The light of commercial grade retains its color and shape after weeks of use. Connectors connect and remain connected. Babysitting is not required of timers. The extension cords are rated to be used outside the house – not to have one borrowed off the shelf of a garage and hope for the best.
The Takedown Matters Too
The reputation of a professional company is not over on New Year day. The uninstall is equally as planned as the install. Shingles stay intact. Gutters are unscathed. Not a single wire nest was deserted, no holes in mystery found in February. The last indication that we have the right company is that damage free, quiet exit. The lights are lowered as much as they were raised up – and That is the way it ought to be.