The fall foliage is becoming a memory, and it’s time to start thinking about the holidays.
And what better way to kick off the season than by making your home the merriest on the block? If you’re thinking about seeking out professional decorating help, consider these tips from local experts to help ensure a seamless lighting experience.
1. Ask questions.
For example: “How long have they had the same installation crew?” “On what date do they guarantee removal of the lights?” And, “Do they have a service hotline?” Service throughout the season is a really critical part, says Kelly E. Fitzsimmons, owner and founder of Light Up Your Holidays andPaint the Town Red, a Chicago-based professional holiday décor company.
It can also help to ask even the most basic questions to make sure you understand what you’re getting. “Most people want to know how the process works—design, install, maintain and store,” says John Conquest, co-owner of It’s a Wonderful Light in Glen Ellyn (pictured above). “We help clients design their project, install it, maintain it while it is up, and then take it down after the holiday season.” He adds, “Be sure to ask about purchasing or renting the lights, and ask to see pictures of their work.”
2. Make sure there is adequate “tech support.”
“I really like the idea of calling our service hotline ‘tech support,’ because I used to work at an Internet company where I helped troubleshoot client issues,” Fitzsimmons says. “We troubleshoot and resolve many of our holiday lighting clients’ issues over the phone for quick fixes, or we travel to a client’s home or business within 24 to 48 hours.”
Conquest offers equally customized day and night service, and he reminds clients to check out companies’ maintenance policies. “Things like guaranteed and timely maintenance of the lights while they are up and long-term client retention are also good things to look for,” he says.
Photo courtesy of Light Up Your Holidays
3. Do they use live or artificial garland?
Things like wreaths, garland, and artificial trees make great indoor products. “Good lighting companies carry high-quality artificial greenery that looks great inside homes or businesses,” Conquest says.
Fitzsimmons says she used to use live garland, but now opts for pre-lit artificial garland because it’s fuller and longer lasting. “We store all the product in our own warehouse, and everything is inventoried and organized for best preservation of all the materials.”
4. Leave the climbing to the professionals.
“Decorating the peaks and gutter lines of homes is one of the most common requests and is better left to the professionals because it keeps homeowners off of ladders and roofs,” Conquest says. “It also provides a dramatic, but not gaudy, display of lights that gives clients a good bang for their buck.”
5. For indoor décor, consult a florist.
“For our interior holiday clients, we trim their trees, decorate mantels, staircase railings and provide holiday plants, such as poinsettias, amaryllis, and mini cypress trees, and anything else they need,” says Linda Johnston, co-owner and designer at Bloom3 in Evanston. Bloom3 will even have a fresh tree delivered and decorated. Last year, they created seasonal wreathes made from natural materials, including vines and berries. “That was something fresh and fun for us!” Johnston says.
