Hiring a handyman to help with your Christmas decorations? Stringing lights and hanging décor during the holidays can be a dangerous activity. Here are some alarming numbers from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
- Emergency rooms treated 14,700 injuries in 2016 that were related to holiday decoration. That translates to roughly 240 injuries per day just in November and December!
- 41% of injuries involved falls.
- Three people died from ladder falls.
Putting up Christmas lights and other accessories can be challenging and frustrating. It is no longer fun when those wires end up in a tangled bunch. So, why not let someone else do it – preferably a professional? There are plenty of companies that offer this particular service so you won’t have to go DIY. Hiring a handyman to hang your décor guarantees beautiful results and prevents accidents.
Benefits of Hiring a Handyman
Decorating your own building is a money-saving move. Hiring a handyman for your Christmas lighting installation, however, provides significant benefits that make the extra cost worthwhile.
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Amazing custom designs
Do you have a special theme in mind this year? Let a handyman bring your ideas to life. Our professionals know how to maximize your space with gorgeous lighting designed especially for your company.
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Professional-grade lighting products
You won’t normally find specialty decorative lights in a local store. A handyman would have access to these professional-grade lighting products and might even get you a discount.
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Safe installation
Why risk life and limb when a professional can do the work for you? No need to climb tall ladders this year. Hiring a handyman means your lights are properly installed without any electrical hazards. Professionals have the experience and skill to ensure safe wiring that can withstand snow and water exposure.
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Reliable maintenance
Maybe a bulb blows out mid-season? Or a reindeer detaches from the sleigh and falls off the roof? Handyman services should be able to perform ongoing maintenance throughout the holiday season. They do this to prevent fires and injuries.
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Professional storage and time-saving takedown
Taking down and storing your lights can be as difficult as putting them up. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that when January rolls in. Your handyman service will take care of that too.
How to Hire a Handyman to Put Up Your Holiday Decor
Installing holiday lights is a chore that may not be familiar to property managers. It is therefore best to simply outsource the job by hiring a handyman. Here are a few tips on choosing a professional lighting installer.
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Do your research.
Search for recommended handyman service providers in your area. One by one, see if they have a record of complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Additionally, you can look for ratings and read testimonials.
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Make sure the company is insured.
Installing Christmas lights is always a potential risk. So, make sure the professional you hire is adequately insured. Full coverage for general liability and workers compensation ensures peace of mind.
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Find out where they buy their lights.
All light strands must be UL listed. Check if the lights come from a dedicated Christmas light manufacturer or just the local store.
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Buying your own lights is an option.
One way to ensure quality is to buy the lights yourself. Go to a specialty retailer. You can also ask your handyman where he buys his lights for his customers.
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Do not go cheap.
Cheap lights are often associated with poor quality. The same goes with professional handyman services. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a handyman with an impressive resume, you must be prepared for the cost. Do not sacrifice design, safety, and reliability just to save a few bucks.
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Never pay in full up front.
It is common practice for light installers to ask for down payment before proceeding with the job. What if the handyman is asking you to pay more than half of the total fee up front? Walk away and look for another professional to install your lights.
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Check their previous work.
Additionally, you can ask for references. If a company is confident of its services, they will not hesitate to show you their previous work. Visit the location and check the lights yourself.
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Ask about troubleshooting and technical support.
Even the best professional installers cannot guarantee that a lighting display will be 100% trouble-free. Ask the company if they have a policy for resolving problems. Make sure the charges are within reason if they need to come back and address post-installation issues.
