From the Desk of Bob Carr, TLC Incorporated
Every year about this time, I see it. A proud homeowner on a Saturday morning, standing in the driveway with a mug of coffee in one hand and a tangled ball of lights in the other. There’s a ladder leaning against the gutters, a half-empty box of clips, and a look on their face that says, “How hard can this really be?”
The answer? Harder than you think — and usually a lot more expensive than you planned.
After forty-plus years helping families across Maryland and the greater DMV light up their homes, I’ve learned one truth that never fails: the cheapest way to do something is almost never the safest, easiest, or happiest way to do it.
Let’s talk about what really goes into Christmas lighting — the costs you can see, the ones you can’t, and why hiring a professional isn’t a luxury at all. It’s a smart investment in safety, joy, and peace of mind.
1️⃣ The Illusion of Savings
Most homeowners start out thinking DIY will save them hundreds. You go to the store, grab a few boxes of lights on sale, maybe a spool of extension cord, and tell yourself, “I’ll knock this out before lunch.”
But by the time you buy:
– Clips for gutters and shingles,
– Outdoor extension cords,
– Extra bulbs, timers, hooks, and storage bins,
– And a ladder tall enough to reach that second-story peak…
You’ve spent $300 to $600 before you even hang the first light.
And that’s just the money part. Add in the cost of your Saturday, the frustration, and the risk of doing it wrong — and that “budget job” starts to look a lot less like savings and a lot more like stress.
Bob’s Tip: The number-one thing people forget to factor in is time. When it takes you two weekends to do what professionals finish in three hours, that’s time you’ll never get back.
2️⃣ The Hidden Costs of DIY
There’s a reason we call them hidden costs — you don’t see them until it’s too late.
1. Safety Risks: Falls, shocks, strained backs, or a slip on a frosty roof. Every December, emergency rooms fill up with folks who were “just finishing the roofline.” The medical bill alone can make professional installation look downright cheap.
2. Equipment Damage: Staples or nails crack shingles and fascia boards. Overloaded circuits blow breakers. Wet connections corrode plugs. One mistake, and you’re calling an electrician — or a roofer.
3. Product Replacement: Store-bought lights are the fast-food version of holiday décor: cheap, easy, and short-lived. Sun, cold, and moisture destroy bargain strands within a year or two. Professional-grade LEDs from TLC last five to ten years — often longer.
4. Weather Delays: Rain, sleet, snow — they don’t care about your weekend plans. Professionals build weather windows and reschedule safely; DIYers often push through and pay the price.
5. Emotional Tax: You know the one — the frustration when half the lights won’t work, or when your spouse says, “They’re a little crooked.” Holiday spirit disappears faster than the daylight.
The truth is, the DIY route always costs more than the price tag on the box.
3️⃣ The Real Math
Let’s compare apples to apples.
DIY Lighting:
– Materials: $300–$600 (retail)
– Tools & Ladders: $100–$250
– Labor (your weekends): 10–12 hours
– Risk & Liability: 100% homeowner
– Lifespan: 1–2 seasons
– Maintenance: You climb the ladder
– Takedown & Storage: More weekends
TLC Professional Lighting:
– Materials: Included, commercial-grade
– Tools & Ladders: Included
– Labor: 2–3 hours (crew)
– Risk & Liability: 0% (fully insured)
– Lifespan: 5–10 seasons
– Maintenance: TLC fixes it for you
– Takedown & Storage: Done for you
Add it up: over a five-year period, DIY often costs the same — or more — than professional lighting, and that’s before factoring in injuries, replacements, or repairs.
It’s like comparing a disposable camera to a professional photographer. Sure, you can do it yourself… but will it really look (or last) the same?
4️⃣ The Value of Expertise
When you hire professionals, you’re not just paying for lights. You’re paying for:
– Design experience that fits your home’s architecture.
– Safety training that protects both your home and our crews.
– Weatherproof materials that can handle Maryland winters.
– Efficient scheduling so you’re glowing before Thanksgiving.
We plan everything — power load, ladder angles, wiring routes, circuit balance, and even clip placement. That’s why TLC displays look straight, consistent, and balanced, not like a string of popcorn thrown on a tree.
5️⃣ The Cost of Safety
You can’t buy safety on sale.
Professional installation eliminates your exposure to risk. We handle the ladders, the electricity, and the weather. We’re fully insured, bonded, and certified.
Every TLC crew member wears fall-rated harnesses, uses non-conductive ladders, and is trained to spot hazards before they happen.
Compare that to one icy rung or one wobbly ladder — and tell me which costs more in the long run.
As I often tell homeowners: “You can hire a pro now, or hire an ambulance later.”
6️⃣ The Long Game — Durability and Design
A lot of folks think Christmas lighting is a one-season thing. But when you invest in professional-grade LEDs, you’re building an asset.
TLC lights are commercial quality — sealed, weatherproof, UV-resistant, and perfectly color-matched. They don’t fade, crack, or corrode like big-box store brands.
And because we label, test, and store everything after takedown, we can reinstall it next season exactly as it was. You don’t start over every year — you simply enjoy it again.
7️⃣ The Emotional Return on Investment
You can’t measure joy in dollars, but you sure can feel it.
When you pull into the driveway after a long day and see your home glowing beautifully, that’s more than light — that’s peace. That’s time you get to spend with your family instead of on a roof.
Our customers often tell us their favorite part isn’t the lights themselves — it’s knowing everything was handled safely, professionally, and without stress.
That’s why we built the TLC Holiday Lighting Membership — to give you the freedom to simply enjoy the season.
8️⃣ A True Story
A customer in Gambrills once told me, “Bob, I used to do it myself every year. Then one December I spent more time fixing lights than actually looking at them.”
He switched to TLC the next year. Now, every November, our crew rolls up, installs his lights, and by dusk, the whole property glows like a Hallmark movie.
He laughs when he says, “I used to spend my weekends on the ladder. Now I spend them in front of the fire.”
That’s the real difference.
🎁 Final Word from Bob
DIY lighting has heart — I’ll give you that. But it also has hazards, hidden costs, and headaches that most folks don’t see until they’ve lived through them.
Professional lighting, on the other hand, is peace of mind wrapped in sparkle. You’re not buying bulbs — you’re buying safety, beauty, and time.
So before you climb that ladder this year, ask yourself: what’s my holiday really worth?
Because the brightest light of all is the one you enjoy safely, surrounded by family — not the one you’re still untangling in the cold.
Bob Carr
President, TLC Incorporated