Homeowners can enjoy the dazzle without all the frazzle when they have their outdoor Christmas lights done by a professional. Better than Santa’s elves, these companies set up magical holiday displays and then take them down when the season is over. “I wanted something for my kids to enjoy but I’m a single parent and I travel a lot. I don’t have the time,” said Debra Cope, who hired Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape to install lights on her Alexandria home. “The decorations look very crisp. The lights are perfectly aligned. It makes more of a bold statement, but it’s not garish or over the top.”
Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape, based in Lorton, is among a growing number of landscaping companies that offer this turnkey service that includes design, installation, take-down and storage of all Christmas decorations. Decorations can be as simple as roof-lined lighting or as elaborate as displays with 6-foot wreaths that frame windows and twinkling, towering toy soldiers.
Costs for professional installation range from $1,000 on up, depending on the size of the job.
| Resources |
| » Brite Ideas: briteidea.com |
| » Kingston Lawn and Landscaping: kingstownelawn.com |
| » M&C Landscapes Inc.: christmasdecor.net/154 |
| » Allen’s Sprinkler: allensprinkler.com |
“The biggest investment is the initial purchase of the lights,” said Krisjan Berzins, co-owner of Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape.
The lights are commercial-grade, the same type used to decorate shopping centers. They are sold by the landscaper to ensure safety and function. This avoids having to deal with what Berzins called the bird’s nest of lights many owners keep tucked away in the attic.
“You just don’t have any idea what condition those lights are in,” he said.
Commercial lights are more durable and can withstand wind, rain and snow. They are supplied by Brite Ideas Decorating, an Omaha, Neb., company that has revolutionized Christmas light installation. Brite Idea uses a patented Linkables system that includes powder-coated, weather-resistant steel and aluminum rods that are used to mount lights on roof lines. They are pliable and can be arranged to fit the design of any house.
Brite Idea’s CEO Travis Freeman said lighted snowflakes are the company’s best-seller. “A lot of color is coming back,” he said. “For a while there was an all-white trend.”
Mario Jimenez, owner of M&C Landscapes Inc. in Upper Marlboro, is supplied by Christmas Decor, a competitor to Brite Ideas.
To fit in all the jobs, he said his company begins installations as early as Oct. 15. “We work with outdoor lighting and irrigation, both of which require electricity and power,” Jimenez said. “The key is all about the power and avoiding hazards. Safety is a major concern. We use amp meters to make sure we distribute the power.”
Alexia Small, owner of Allen’s Sprinkler & Night Lighting in Ashburn, Va., said her clients are usually “people who have a lot more money than they have time.”
This is Allen’s Sprinkler’s third year offering the service, and Small has noticed that even with professional installation, a little competition develops among neighbors.
“We used a friend’s house as a demo in Belmont Country Club. The next year, two of her neighbors wanted the same lights,” Small said. “Then we have those who just want us to throw it up there and want something completely different.
“It kind of varies according to personal taste,” Small said. “It’s funny how people’s lights can reflect their personalities.”
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