What a Professional Christmas Light Install Actually Takes, From a Central Ohio Crew

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Every fall, the same scene plays out across Central Ohio: a ladder against the gutter, a tangle of lights from the big box store, and a homeowner wondering how the neighbors’ house looks so straight and even.

More of those neighbors are hiring the job out. Jeramiah Pankey owns Buckeye Holiday Lights, a Central Ohio company that designs, installs, services and stores Christmas displays for homeowners around Columbus. We asked him what actually goes into a professional install, what it costs, and how late is too late to book one.

Cut to fit, not pulled out of a box

The difference starts with the lights themselves. Pankey’s crews use commercial grade C9 LED bulbs on strands that are cut to the exact measurements of each house.

“The biggest differences are appearance, durability and customization,” Pankey said. “Our lights are measured to fit the home, creating clean, consistent lines without excess wiring hanging off the roof.”

Each bulb can be replaced on its own, which he said makes repairs simple. The goal, he said, is a display that looks like it was designed for that house, because it was.

When a bulb goes out in the middle of December

Most mid season service calls, Pankey said, are a bulb that has gone out, a timer that needs adjusting, or a connection knocked loose by Ohio’s November and December weather.

Season long maintenance is included with his installations, and the company aims to answer service requests within 48 hours. Most problems, he said, are fixed in a single visit, and the homeowner never has to climb up and troubleshoot a connection in the cold.

What it costs, and why the second year is cheaper

Price is driven mostly by the linear footage of the roofline, how tall and complicated the house is, and extras like wreaths, garland and wrapped trees. A straightforward roofline only install starts around $900, and most Central Ohio homes land between $1,200 and $4,500 for the first season, with big multi roofline properties running higher.

That first year figure covers more than the hanging. It includes the lights themselves, the design, installation, season maintenance, January takedown and off season storage. Because the materials are already bought, returning customers get 20 percent off in their second season.

Is early November too late?

Design consultations begin in August, and Pankey said the calendar fills fast, with neighborhoods like Dublin, New Albany and Powell booking up first, often by mid October. Still, he said November remains one of his busiest installation months.

There is no single cutoff date. It depends on the crew’s schedule, the size of the job and whether materials are on hand, and the company does its best to fit in last minute customers who want lights up before Thanksgiving. His advice is simple: ask now, and they will tell you honestly what is realistic for your house.

What to ask before anyone gets on your roof

Pankey’s first piece of advice is to check insurance. Ask whether the company carries general liability coverage. Buckeye Holiday Lights carries $1 million in general liability insurance. Then ask whether they use commercial grade materials, whether maintenance through the season is included, and whether removal and storage are part of the quoted price.

Ask, too, how the lights are attached. A professional install uses clips and mounting methods that do not damage shingles, gutters or siding. And make sure you know exactly what a quote covers, he said. A lower price is not a better deal if you are the one buying replacement bulbs in December or taking everything down in January.

The whole point, Pankey said, is a hands off season: design, installation, maintenance, takedown and storage all handled, so families can just enjoy the lights. Buckeye Holiday Lights serves Dublin, Powell, New Albany, Westerville and the surrounding Columbus communities.

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