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How the deposit and payment work for Christmas light installation
A 50% deposit holds your install date and is fully refundable up to 14 days before install. Inside 14 days it becomes non-refundable, because the date can no longer be offered to anyone else. The balance is due on install day once the lights are up, and if weather moves your date, your deposit is never lost.
How do you pay for Christmas light installation?
You pay in two parts: a 50% deposit when you book, and the balance on install day once the lights are up. The deposit holds your date and is fully refundable up to 14 days before install.
That is the whole system. Below is what each part means, why the 14-day line exists and what happens when the weather has other plans.
What does the deposit do?
The deposit holds your install date. Install days are limited and first come, first served, so once you book, that slot is yours and comes off the calendar for everyone else.
You put it down when you approve your quote. Before that, you have already seen a picture of your home lit up and the custom price for the season, so there are no surprises in what you are approving.
Is the deposit refundable?
Yes, fully, up to 14 days before your install date. If plans change before then, let us know and you get the deposit back.
Inside 14 days, the deposit becomes non-refundable.
Why is it non-refundable inside 14 days?
Because by then your date has been held for you and turned away from other homes, and that late in the season it is hard to fill again. Two weeks before install, the crew schedule is set around your house, and most people looking for lights have already booked somewhere.
Here is a simple example. If your install is set for November 20, the deposit is fully refundable through November 6. From November 7 on, it is non-refundable, though weather reschedules still carry it to a new date.
The 14-day line is meant to be fair both ways. You get plenty of time to change your mind without losing anything, and the crew isn't left with an empty day in the busiest part of the year. If you think your plans might change, tell us early.
What happens if weather moves your install?
Your deposit is never lost because of weather. If rain, ice, frost or high wind makes the roof unsafe on your date, we reschedule with you first and the deposit simply moves to the new date.
That is part of our lit-on-time guarantee: lights go up on the install date we give you, and dates moved by weather are rescheduled with you, not around you.
When is the balance due?
The balance is due on install day, once the lights are up. Not before the crew arrives and not halfway through. You pay after the display is hung and working.
You don't need to be home for the install. We text you when the lights are on. For the rest of the day, see what happens on install day.
What does the payment timeline look like?
Here is the whole season, from the first text to the January takedown.
| When | What you pay | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| You send your address | Nothing | Free mockup and custom quote in about 15 minutes |
| You approve the quote | 50% deposit | Your install date is held |
| More than 14 days before install | Nothing new | Deposit fully refundable if plans change |
| Inside 14 days of install | Nothing new | Deposit becomes non-refundable |
| Weather moves your date | Nothing new | Rescheduled with you first; deposit carries over |
| Install day, once the lights are up | The balance | Paid in full for the season |
| During the season | Nothing | Outages fixed within 48 hours, free |
| January | Nothing | Takedown and storage included |
What does the payment cover?
One seasonal price covers everything: the design, the commercial-grade LED lights, the install, fixes within 48 hours, takedown in January and storage until next year. There is no separate takedown bill and no charge for repairs during the season.
The lights are supplied for the season rather than sold, so nothing ends up in your garage. Our article on how Christmas light leasing works explains why we do it that way.
What changes on Nov 15?
Our pricing changes on Nov 15, so the date you approve your quote matters. Ask us how it applies to your home.
Booking earlier also gives you your pick of dates. The weeks before Thanksgiving go first, which is why we recommend booking in September or October.
Why not pay everything up front, or everything at the end?
Splitting the payment protects both sides. Paying in full before anything is hung puts all the risk on you, and paying nothing until the end means a date can be held by someone who never shows up.
Half up front holds a real spot on a limited calendar. The other half waits until you can walk outside and see the lights on your house.
What should you ask any installer about payment?
Ask the same three questions of every company, and get the answers in writing.
- How much is the deposit, and when does it become non-refundable? You want a specific day count, not "it depends."
- What happens to my deposit if weather moves the date? The answer should be that it carries over.
- When is the balance due? Paying the full amount before anything is hung is a red flag.
For the rest of the checklist, see how to choose a Christmas light installer.
Ready to see your price?
We design, hang, fix, take down and store everything for one seasonal price. Send your address for a free picture of your home lit up with a custom quote in about 15 minutes, and you only pay a deposit once you have picked a date. If you are outside our current area, send your address anyway and we will tell you straight whether we can reach you.
Common questions
Can I move my install date instead of canceling?
Text us as early as you can. We will look for another open date, and the earlier you ask, the more choices there are.
Is there anything to pay in January?
No. Takedown and storage are part of the seasonal price, so there is no second bill when the lights come down.
Do I pay for fixes during the season?
No. If any section goes out, we fix it within 48 hours, free.
What if I book after Nov 15?
You can still book. Your quote will use the pricing in effect when you book, and dates are first come, first served.
Is the deposit refundable if I cancel 20 days out?
Yes. Anything more than 14 days before your install date gets the full deposit back.