If you ask us, the best way to enjoy your outdoor Christmas display is to have someone else put it up for you! Here at Christmas Light Pros of Middle Tennessee, we have a plan to make your dream a reality. But if you’re a DIY-er or just looking for a way to save some cash this holiday season, you’re probably looking at that giant lighting aisle at the home improvement store and thinking “What did I get myself into?” Here are some tips from the professionals that we hope will help you create your dream display: 1. Measure First: Strings of Christmas lights generally run from 6 ft. to 100 ft. of lighted length. Map out your plan to determine exactly what combination you’ll need and write it down, so you won’t have to make multiple trips. Make sure to check the length of the unlit lead portion of the sting, so you can buy the right extension cord if necessary. 2. Make a Plan for Electricity: Check outside your house to find out where your outlets are located and make sure they work. Determine whether you’ll need extension cords and if so how long they need to be. 3. Determine how you want to attach the lights to your home: Plastic all-purpose clips sold at just about any place that sells lights are great for the edge of a roof or gutter. You may want to go for hooked pins instead if you will be attaching the lights to the beams around a porch or balcony. 4. The cheap route can be dangerous: It’s important that you use light strings that expressly state that they are approved for outdoor use. The same goes for extension cords. Aside from the risk of electric shock, using indoor lights outside can end in a blow-out on the first night and hundreds of dollars, not to mention time, wasted. 5. Have a helper: The fewer trips up and down the ladder the better, so have someone there to hand you materials as you go. It’s important to have someone nearby for safety reasons as well. The inherent danger of holiday light installation is one of the many reasons people hire insured professionals like us to handle their lighting needs. 6. Figure out the cost ahead of time: You may be surprised to find out just how much home lighting can cost by the time you factor in lights, extension cords and clips. Lights also have a limited life-span, so you may find yourself going through this again in the near future. In fact, it may not be much more expensive to hire a professional who will do the hard work and provide the materials for you. We hope these tips will help make your DIY holiday lighting job a success! - Christmas Light Pros TN