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Is it too late to get your Christmas lights installed?
Usually it is not too late. Install dates are first come, first served and most homes are lit before Thanksgiving, so the best move is to send your address today, stay flexible on your date, and start with a simple design. Even a December install gives you weeks of lights before Christmas.
Is it too late to get Christmas lights installed?
Usually, no. There are often still install dates open into late November and December, but you get less choice as the season goes on.
Install dates are first come, first served. Most homes are lit before Thanksgiving, so the dates in the two weeks before the holiday fill first. If you are reading this in November, you can still get on the schedule. You may just need to take a date we offer instead of the exact day you had in mind.
Why do install dates fill up so fast?
Because almost everyone wants the same three weeks. Families want the house lit for Thanksgiving guests, and a crew can only finish so many rooflines in a day.
A one-story ranch can be done in a few hours. A two-story home usually takes about 4 to 6 hours, and longer with trees and bushes. Add a rain day or a frosty morning when nobody should be on a roof, and the calendar tightens quickly.
What should you do if you are booking late?
Send your address today. The single biggest thing a late booker can do is get in line, because dates go to whoever approves a quote first.
- Send your address now. We trace your roofline from satellite and text back a picture of your home lit up with a custom quote, usually in about 15 minutes. No site visit, no sales call.
- Be flexible on the date. If you can take a weekday or a date a little later than you hoped, you are far more likely to get in quickly.
- Keep the first design simple. The roofline is what people see from the street. Trees, bushes and wreaths can come after, if there is room on the schedule.
- Tell us about anything that slows a crew down. Gate codes, dogs, a locked side yard, or an HOA that wants to see the design first. Knowing up front keeps your date from slipping.
- Approve quickly. A refundable 50% deposit holds your date. The balance is due on install day, once the lights are up.
Which dates go first, and which open up?
The two weeks before Thanksgiving go first.
| When you book | What to expect | Best move |
|---|---|---|
| September and October | Your pick of dates | Pick a date and you are done |
| Early November | Most pre-Thanksgiving dates are spoken for, some remain | Book before our Nov 15 pricing change this season, take the closest open date |
| Mid to late November | Dates after Thanksgiving are more likely | Stay flexible, keep the design simple |
| December | Fewer dates, but often some | Send your address and ask what is open |
Weather can also open a date. When rain or ice pushes an install, we reschedule with that customer first, and the calendar shifts. A late booker who can move on short notice sometimes slides into a slot that was not there the day before.
Does our pricing change in November?
Yes. Our pricing changes on Nov 15 this season. Your quote is always custom to your house.
It is built mostly from the feet of roofline we light, how tall your home is, how easy the roof is to reach, and anything you add. You can read more about what drives the price.
Is a December install still worth it?
Yes. A December install still gives you weeks of lights. Lit on Dec 5, for example, your house glows every evening for the rest of the month and through New Year's.
That is three or four weeks of coming home to a lit house, of neighbors and kids noticing, and of holiday photos that look like the holidays. The lights stay up until takedown in January, so a later start does not mean a short season at the back end.
The work after install day is the same, too. If any section goes out, we fix it within 48 hours, free. Weather that makes the roof unsafe can add a day.
What does a simple first design look like?
For a late booking, start with the front roofline and nothing else. It is the part of the house people see from the street and the part that takes the most ladder time, so it is the right place to spend a tight schedule.
- One-story home: the front gutter line and the front gables.
- Two-story home: the upper roofline facing the street, plus the lower porch roof if there is one.
- Corner lot: the front and the side that faces the cross street.
Once the roofline is up, ask about adding a wrapped tree by the walk or a wreath over the garage. If we can fit it in, we will tell you when.
What should you avoid when booking late?
Don't wait for a perfect date to come open. Book the best date offered, and ask to be told if something earlier frees up.
Also, don't book a big design you need approved by an HOA without sending us the rules first. If your neighborhood has decoration rules, send them with your address and we will design within them, or send you the design to submit. The HOA rules guide covers what to send.
And keep the deposit rule in mind. The 50% deposit is fully refundable up to 14 days before your install. If your date is less than 14 days out when you book, the deposit is non-refundable from the start, so be sure about the date and the design before you approve. The details are in our deposit and payment guide.
Can we still fit your house in?
Very likely. We design, hang, fix, take down and store everything, so once you book, the rest of the season is handled. Send your address and you get a free picture of your home lit up with a custom quote in about 15 minutes, along with the dates we still have. If you are outside our current area, send your address anyway and we'll tell you straight whether we can reach you.
Common questions
Can I book now and add more to the design later?
Yes. Start with the roofline, and if you want trees, wreaths or a walkway added later in the season, ask and we will tell you what we can fit in and when.
Do late bookings cost more?
Our pricing changes on Nov 15 this season. Your quote is always custom to your house, built from the same things: roofline, height and add-ons.
Is the deposit still refundable if my install is only a week or two away?
The 50% deposit is fully refundable up to 14 days before your install date. Inside 14 days it is non-refundable, so if your date is close, make sure the design and date work for you before you approve.
What if you can't fit me in?
We will tell you straight whether we can fit you in. We would rather say no than give you a date we can't keep.
Will a late install get taken down at the same time as everyone else?
Yes. Takedown happens in January for every home, and we store everything until next season.