How to Hire a Christmas Light Installer in FishHawk, FL

Why this matters in east Hillsborough

Every December, the same streets in FishHawk, Lithia and Valrico turn into a slow drive-by, and more of those houses are lit by a pro every year. Part of that is the look. Part of it is that nobody wants to be on a tile roof in the dark with a staple gun and a tangle of extension cords.

If you are thinking about handing it off this year, here is what to ask so the house looks the way you pictured it, all season.

1. Book the consultation early

Installation dates fill as the holidays get closer. A design consultation in the fall gets you the most choice of install dates. Ask whether the consultation is free and whether it happens at your house, so the designer can see the rooflines, the palms and where the outlets are.

2. Ask what the design includes

Rooflines, palm trunks, wreaths, garland around the front door, shrubs, the whole house. Get the design in writing with exactly what is being lit, so you are comparing the same thing between quotes and nobody is surprised on install day.

3. Ask about the lights and how they attach

Ask what kind of lights they use and how they fasten them. Florida homes have a lot of tile and stucco, and you want a company that can explain how it attaches lights without damaging either. Ask about timers too, so nobody has to go out and flip a switch every night.

4. Ask who fixes it in the middle of December

Storms, wind and the occasional bulb mean something will go dark at some point. Ask whether in-season maintenance is included, and how you request a service call. A display that is half dark the week before Christmas is the thing you are paying to avoid.

5. Ask what happens in January

Takedown is the part people forget to ask about. Find out whether takedown is included, when it happens, and whether the company stores the lights until next year. If your HOA has a date when decorations must come down, mention it now.

6. Think about power before install day

Every light has to plug in somewhere. Walk the outside of the house and note where your outdoor outlets are and which ones are on a GFCI or a switch. Mention any outlet that trips often. A good installer will plan the display around the power you have and tell you if anything needs attention, instead of running cords across the walkway and hoping the breaker holds.

Our pick: Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon

Full disclosure: Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon is an East of Tampa advertiser, which is why they are named here and others are not.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon is the Official Holiday Lighting Partner of East of Tampa. They design and install custom holiday lighting for homes and businesses across FishHawk, Lithia, Valrico, Brandon, Riverview and Apollo Beach, and they handle it start to finish, from the first consultation to putting the lights away.

Install dates fill quickly, so if you want lights this year, book the consultation this week.