Are Professional Christmas Lights Worth It?

If you have ever spent a cold Minnesota afternoon on a ladder, trying to untangle a ball of lights that worked perfectly last year, you have probably wondered if professional Christmas lights are actually worth the cost.

We hear this all the time from homeowners around Shorewood, Chanhassen, Minnetonka, and the greater Minneapolis area. You want a beautiful, safe, magazine-worthy holiday display, but you do not want the stress, the risk, or the hassle.

In this guide, we will break down exactly what you get with professional Christmas light installation, how pricing really works, and how to know if this is the right move for your home and your family.

Quick Guide:

• What Professional Christmas Light Installation Includes
• Cost Breakdown Of Professional Christmas Lights
• Why Professional Lights Outshine DIY Displays
• Common Concerns About Hiring A Professional Lighting Service
• Signs You Are Ready To Invest In Professional Christmas Lights
• Light Up Your Holidays With Professional Christmas Lighting Services

What Professional Christmas Light Installation Includes

When you hire a professional lighting company, you are not just paying for someone to put lights on the house. You are investing in an entire holiday service that starts long before we plug in the first strand.

At Lit Outdoor Lighting Company, we handle every stage of your holiday lighting in the Minneapolis metro, from design to takedown, so you can simply enjoy the season.

Design Consultation And Custom Planning

Every great display starts with a plan. We walk your property with you, talk about your goals, and look at how your home sits on the lot.

We consider things like:

• Roofline shape and height
• Existing landscaping and trees
• Pathways, entries, and focal points
• Neighborhood style and HOA guidelines, if applicable

From there, we create a custom design that fits your style, whether you want classic warm white, fun color patterns, or a showpiece that really stands out. Our holiday lighting design process is all about making your home look intentional, not cluttered.

Commercial Grade Lights And Materials

Big box store lights are designed to be cheap and disposable. Professional holiday lighting uses commercial grade LEDs, heavy duty wiring, and weather rated clips.

That matters in Minnesota where ice, wind, and snow test every connection. We size each run of lights to your roofline and landscaping, so you get clean, straight lines, not sagging sections and extra cord wrapped around gutters.

Our systems are bright, energy efficient, and built to handle repeated seasons. If you want to see examples of how this looks in real life, our holiday lighting gallery shows exactly what commercial grade materials can do on real homes.

Safe, Expert Installation

Climbing icy ladders, leaning over steep roofs, and working around power is where DIY quickly stops being “fun.“ Our crews are trained, insured, and equipped to work safely at height.

We know how to:

• Protect your shingles, gutters, and siding
• Route wiring without creating trip hazards
• Use the correct power loads and transformers
• Keep water and snow out of connections

You get a clean, professional finish that looks good in daylight and at night, without risking your own safety. If you have ever wondered whether an electrician should handle holiday lighting, you might also find our article on whether electricians install Christmas lights helpful.

Maintenance, Repairs, And Timely Takedown

Professional service does not stop after the first night. If a bulb goes out, a strand drops, or a timer needs adjusting, we come back and fix it.

Then, when the season ends, we return for careful takedown. We remove every clip, label and organize your lights, and store them so they are ready for next year, depending on the package you choose. Our holiday lighting installation services are built to keep your home looking crisp from the first snowfall through the last.

Cost Breakdown Of Professional Christmas Lights

Let us get to the question everyone has: how much do professional Christmas lights really cost, and what are you paying for?

The truth is, pricing is not just about how many feet of lights go on your roof. It is about the full service surrounding that display.

What You Are Really Paying For

When you hire a professional holiday lighting service, your investment typically covers:

• Custom design and consultation
• Commercial grade LED lights and materials
• Professional installation labor
• In season maintenance and repairs
• Takedown and storage options

You are paying for expertise, safety, reliability, and the peace of mind that everything will work, look good, and be handled on schedule.

How Pricing Compares To Buying Your Own Lights

At first glance, buying store lights can look cheaper, especially in the first year. But here is what we see with many homeowners in Shorewood and around Lake Minnetonka.

They buy lights, extension cords, clips, timers, and ladders. Some strands fail within a season or two. Layouts change, supplies do not match, and the display slowly becomes a patchwork of different colors and brightness levels.

With professional Christmas lights, your system is designed to last, and we handle replacement and upkeep. Over several years, many clients find the cost difference is smaller than they expected, especially when you factor in saved time, reduced waste, and lower energy usage from quality LEDs.

If you are also thinking about year round systems, our experience in outdoor landscape lighting and outdoor lighting gives us a strong handle on long term value, not just first season cost.

Factors That Influence Your Total Investment

Because every home and design is different, pricing is customized. A few key factors affect your estimate:

• Size and complexity of your roofline
• Number of trees, shrubs, and ground features to be lit
• Choice of colors, patterns, and specialty decor
• Accessibility and height of installation areas
• Whether you include storage and multi year options

During a consultation, we walk you through all of this so there are no surprises. If you want to dig deeper into how professional lighting value works, our guide on how outdoor lighting increases your home’s value has useful context.

Why Professional Lights Outshine DIY Displays

So, are professional Christmas lights worth it compared to a DIY setup? For many of our clients, the answer is a clear yes once they experience the difference.

Here is what really separates professional displays from store bought lights on a Saturday ladder marathon.

Safety Risks You Avoid With A Professional Crew

Holiday accidents often involve ladders, roofs, and untreated ice. When we take on a project, we bring the right equipment, safety practices, and insurance so you do not have to put yourself in danger.

We also prevent issues that can happen with overloaded circuits, poorly protected connections, and cords run through risky spots. That is the kind of behind the scenes safety that rarely shows in photos but matters to your family and your property.

We share more on why professional help matters in our article on why professional outdoor lighting beats DIY.

Quality, Consistency, And Reliability Of The Display

Professional systems are designed for uniform brightness, color, and spacing. That is why our Christmas light rental and installation in Minnesota looks clean from every angle, while DIY setups often show wavy lines and mismatched tones.

We test every component, dial in the layout, and make sure your home looks polished from the street. Timers and power are set so your lights turn on and off when you want them to, without daily fiddling.

Time Savings And Reduced Holiday Stress

Most of our holiday clients share the same story. They used to spend several weekends fighting with ladders, untangling cords, and making extra runs to the store.

Once we take over, their time frees up instantly. No more last minute repairs before a party, no more arguing with frozen clips when the weather turns. You get to enjoy the holidays with your family while we worry about the lighting.

If you are a business owner or property manager, our commercial holiday lighting services provide the same stress relief for your storefront or office.

Common Concerns About Hiring A Professional Lighting Service

We know hiring a professional holiday lighting company can feel like a big step, especially if you have always handled it yourself. Here are some of the questions we hear the most, and how we respond.

“Is It Really Worth The Money?“

If your goal is the cheapest possible way to put any lights on the house, a store bought setup will almost always win on price alone.

But if your goal is a beautiful, reliable, low stress display that reflects the pride you take in your home, professional lighting usually delivers more value over time. You are not just buying bulbs, you are buying design, safety, maintenance, and a predictable experience.

Our clients in Shorewood, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie often tell us that once they see their home lit, they cannot imagine going back. That is why we back our holiday lighting services with ongoing support throughout the season.

“Will They Respect My Home And Landscaping?“

Respecting your property is non negotiable for us. We treat your roof, siding, gutters, and plantings as if they were our own.

We use appropriate clips, avoid damage to surfaces, and work carefully around landscaping and hardscapes. Our experience with outdoor walkway lighting and outdoor deck and patio lighting means we understand how to protect existing features while highlighting them beautifully.

When we leave, your yard looks clean and organized in daylight and magical at night.

“Can I Change My Design Next Year?“

Absolutely. One of the advantages of professional holiday lighting is the flexibility to evolve your display as your tastes or needs change.

Maybe you start with a classic roofline and a few lit trees, then add wreaths, window outlines, or color themed elements the next season. Because we own and manage the materials, adjustments are much easier than reworking a random collection of store lights.

Our residential Christmas light rental and installation in Minnesota service is built for this kind of year to year customization.

Signs You Are Ready To Invest In Professional Christmas Lights

How do you know when it is time to move from DIY to a professional holiday lighting service? In our experience, a few clear signs keep showing up.

When A Simple Store Bought Setup No Longer Fits Your Vision

If you find yourself scrolling photos of beautifully lit homes and feeling frustrated that your setup never quite gets there, that is a strong signal.

Maybe you have added more lights each year, but it still looks scattered. Or neighbors around Lake Minnetonka are stepping up their game and you want your home to reflect the same pride.

Professional design lets you finally match the picture in your head, from soft, welcoming curb appeal to full winter wonderland.

When Safety And Convenience Matter More Than Doing It Yourself

Life changes. Kids get older, work gets busier, and climbing onto icy roofs feels less and less worth it.

If you have caught yourself thinking “I am too old for this ladder stuff,“ or “I do not have a full weekend to mess with lights,“ you are exactly who we help. Handing this job to a trained crew protects your time and your body.

And because we already specialize in outdoor landscape lighting, our team is used to working around homes and properties with care, not rushing through a one time job.

When You Want A Display That Stands Out

If you host holiday gatherings, run a home based business, or simply love being the house everyone points to when they drive by, professional lighting is the simplest path.

We can highlight architectural details, frame your entry, and create layered effects in trees and landscaping that are almost impossible with off the shelf kits.

For commercial properties, our commercial Christmas light rental and installation in Minnesota services help your storefront stand out in a crowded season.

Light Up Your Holidays With Professional Christmas Lighting Services

If you are starting to feel like professional Christmas lights might be worth it for your home, the next step is simple: talk with us and see what is possible.

Our team at Lit Outdoor Lighting Company has helped homeowners across the Minneapolis metro turn “someday” ideas into real, glowing displays they look forward to every year.

What To Expect When You Schedule A Consultation

A holiday lighting consultation is quick, friendly, and always focused on your goals. We will:

1. Ask a few questions about your home, style, and budget
2. Walk your property and note key features to highlight
3. Discuss color options, patterns, and layout ideas
4. Explain your pricing clearly and answer every question

From there, we provide a detailed proposal, including design, installation, maintenance, and takedown. You choose the plan that feels right, and we reserve your spot on the schedule.

If you want to learn more about who we are before you reach out, our about us page shares our story as a local Shorewood company.

How To Prepare Your Home For A Professional Holiday Display

Most homeowners are surprised by how little they need to do before we arrive.

Here are a few simple steps that help things go smoothly:

• Make sure driveways and walkways are reasonably clear
• Unlock gates so we can access yards and side areas
• Let us know about any special plants or delicate features
• Share any HOA rules or neighborhood guidelines upfront

We take it from there. Our crews bring everything needed for installation, then return for takedown when the season wraps up.

If you are ready to explore options for your home or business, you can start with a simple request on our quote page or connect through our contact form. You can also browse more ideas and tips on our blog and see real results in our lighting gallery.

When you are ready to stop wrestling with tangled strands and cold ladders, we are here to help your holidays shine.

Related Reads:

For more on our full range of services and seasonal options, you can explore our main site at Lit Outdoor Lighting Company or see how we handle custom holiday lighting. If you are also considering long term upgrades, our insights on saving money with energy efficient outdoor lighting and why DIY landscape lighting usually ends in frustration are a helpful next step. For quick answers to common questions, our FAQ page is always available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are professional Christmas lights worth it compared to DIY?

Professional Christmas lights are worth it for homeowners who value safety, consistent quality, and time savings. You’re paying for custom design, commercial-grade LEDs, expert installation, in-season maintenance, and takedown. While DIY can be cheaper upfront, professional systems often deliver better long-term value and a more polished, reliable display.

How much do professional Christmas light installations typically cost?

Costs for professional Christmas lights depend on your roofline size, design complexity, number of trees and features, and whether you add storage or multi-year options. Pricing is customized after a consultation, where the contractor outlines design, materials, labor, maintenance, and takedown so you understand exactly what you’re paying for.

What is included with a professional Christmas light installation service?

Most professional Christmas light services include a design consultation, custom layout, commercial-grade LED lights and clips, safe installation, in-season maintenance, and end-of-season takedown. Many companies also offer organized storage and easy redesign in future years, so you can change colors, patterns, or add new features over time.

Do professional Christmas lights use less energy than store-bought lights?

Yes. Professional Christmas light installers typically use high-quality, commercial-grade LED lights that are more energy-efficient than many budget retail options. LEDs use significantly less electricity than incandescent bulbs, generate less heat, and last longer, which can reduce both your energy bill and the need for frequent replacements.

How do I know if I’m ready to switch from DIY to professional holiday lighting?

You’re likely ready if your current display never matches your vision, you’re worried about ladder and roof safety, or you’re tired of spending weekends untangling cords and troubleshooting failures. Homeowners who host gatherings or want standout curb appeal often find professional Christmas lights are the easiest way to upgrade their display.

When should I book a professional Christmas light installation?

It’s best to book professional Christmas lights early in the season-often in early fall-to secure your preferred installation date and design. Reputable companies’ schedules fill quickly, especially in colder climates where weather windows are limited. Early booking also allows time for design tweaks and any HOA approvals you may need.