Christmas Lighting-$1,500 Estimate! YIKES!

Updated on November 07, 2009
D.M. asks from Houston, TX
12 answers

Today I received a rather shocking estimate for simple Christmas lighting for outdoors...
I just need to have some pre-lit wreaths installed (9 total)
Does anybody have a great recommendation? Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much to everybody who responded! While driving my little one to school this morning, a company called Santa's Helpers (or Elves..??) was installing lights on a neighbor's home. They gave me a quick quote....$400.00 for both installation and take down. MUCH more reasonable.... They are bonded and have a crew of about 10 guys so I think that I will likely go ahead and use them this year.

Featured Answers

R.W.

answers from San Antonio on

Give ABC Pest Control a call. They have handy men and women, who do this type of work now.

Good Luck.

More Answers

B.A.

answers from Austin on

Eric's Windows and Lights ###-###-####

He's done our holiday lighting and is very reasonable and excellent quality. Tell him B. referred you.

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D.S.

answers from Killeen on

Wow. That sounds really high. Are you installing on a house or business? Unfortunately, you get inflated prices when people quote a business. I would be getting 2 more bids, or looking at the outside of my house and investing in ladders. If you have a college near by, you most likely can find a college student to do the job for much less. If the task can be done in a day, offer $300 to a college student. You may still need to invest in the ladder.
Good luck and happy holidays!!!

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C.B.

answers from Austin on

Good Lord! I think a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order. Buy yourself the wreaths and "light" them yourself. Get out the big ladder and install those things yourself. Have a girlfriend come over and help while Dad watches baby. Maybe it will "inspire" your hubby to install for you if he sees you are going to get on the ladder. That is how I get things done around my house and it is done with a smile instead of griping. It pushes their "protect the spouse" button. Once in a while you actually have to do a task just to let them know you can. It keeps the "protect the spouse" thing going. I know it is mean but it saves us money and no one gripes because they are saving the world.

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H.H.

answers from Houston on

Do you already have the wreaths and this is just the estimate for installation? Or does that include the wreaths?

I'm sorry, but I echo what the other ladies said. I would do it myself or ask my husband to do it. There's no way I'd pay all that for Christmas lights. They're pretty, but....

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A.O.

answers from Sherman on

I would save yourself $1500 and do them yourself

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K.M.

answers from Houston on

If you are going to hire it done instead of doing it yourself you should get another estimate. That is condiserably more than my neighbors have paid for much more work than you are describing. I'm sure that, unless they are having to build scaffolding or something, you can have it done for much, much less.

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H.C.

answers from Austin on

Where are you located? My husband can do it for half of that if not less, I am sure. Good Grief who gave you that estimate? He is an Electrican so have no fear!
-H.

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C.J.

answers from Houston on

My husband is also an electrician. The only reason I can think of that an estimate would be this high would be if you did not have enough power and they were going to have to add a circuit or run power from a distance to where you want them. This can get pricy because the cost of wire is so expensive now with the copper prices as they are. If that is not the case, I would definitely look for someone else. However, if you do have to run electrical lines you do need a licensed electrician in order to guarantee that it is done safely. Good luck.

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S.P.

answers from Austin on

Although installing these yourself sounds like a great suggestion, I know on our house, that's not possible in some places. My husband (very handy) almost killed himself trying to do it several years ago. Since then, we have used Dennington Decor ###-###-####. I'm not sure if that's who gave you your estimate, but if not, try them - i think they would be more reasonable than $1500.

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J.T.

answers from Austin on

D.,
Not sure where you're located but we can do it for you for MUCH cheaper. We're located in the Austin, TX metropolitan/Central Texas area. We charge $20 per string of lights (whether it's on a wreath or not) or other Christmas lawn decoration you'd like put up. So if all you have is 9 wreaths that need to be hung, your total would be $180.
We're www.RitterRenovations.com so feel free to contact us if you need our services.

J.

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N.C.

answers from Houston on

Have you tried looking up a handyman they might charge less than a lighting company.

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