The best way to get ready for Christmas light install day is simple: make sure your outdoor outlets work, clear a path along the front of the house, open the gate, and tell us about anything odd before we show up. That’s about ten minutes of prep, and it keeps the day moving so your lights go up without a second trip.
Below is the full list, grouped by when to do it. Print it, screenshot it, or stick it on the fridge next to the school calendar.
One or two weeks before
1. Find and test your outdoor outlets
This is the big one. Walk around the front of the house and find every outdoor outlet. Plug in a phone charger or a lamp and make sure each one has power.
If one is dead, try this in order:
- Press the reset button on the outlet itself.
- Look for a GFCI outlet elsewhere that might control it. These are often in the garage, a bathroom, or the basement. Reset that one too.
- Check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker.
Still dead? Text us before install day. We plug into your existing outlets and don’t do electrical work, so knowing early lets us plan a different cord route. Our roofline lights page explains how the power runs from the outlet to the roof.
2. Clean the gutters (if they need it)
Gutter clips hook onto the lip of the gutter. A gutter full of wet leaves can sag, overflow, and drip right onto your strand. If your gutters are full, clear them, or have them cleared, before the lights go up. Late October or early November is a good time, after most of the oaks and maples have dropped.
3. Note anything loose
Loose gutter section? Cracked shingle? A downspout that pulls away from the wall? Tell us. We’ll clip around it, but it’s good to know before we lean a ladder there.
4. Pick your timer hours
We set a timer before we leave. Decide what hours you want: dusk to 11 p.m., dusk to midnight, whatever fits your house. If you have a kid who insists on seeing the lights before school on dark December mornings, a morning window is an option too.
The day before
5. Move the cars
We need room for ladders along the front of the house. If your cars live in the driveway, park them on the street or in the garage for the day. Same for the trash cans that sit beside the garage door.
6. Clear the ground along the front
Bikes, scooters, garden hoses, the pumpkins that have been slowly collapsing since Halloween. Anything near the foundation or under the gutters should move. Ladders need flat, clear footing.
7. Trim anything touching the roofline
If a tree branch or tall shrub is rubbing the gutter, we may not be able to get a clean line there. A light trim before install day helps. For trees you want wrapped, leave them as they are. The trees and shrubs page covers how we handle trunks and branches.
8. Check the sprinklers
If your irrigation runs early in the morning, pause it for the day. Wet grass and wet ladders don’t mix.
The morning of
9. Open the side gate
If an outlet is in the backyard, or we need to reach the side of the house, leave the gate open or text us the code.
10. Put the dog inside
Friendly dogs are still dogs. They like ladders, open gates, and bags of clips a little too much. Keeping pets inside for the day keeps everyone happy.
11. Tell us where the controls are
If you want the timer somewhere specific, like inside the garage instead of on the porch, say so. Same for any smart plug you already use.
12. Text us a quick “all set”
A short text to (470) 470-4485 that says the gate’s open and the cars are moved is all we need.
What you don’t need to do
You don’t need to buy lights, clips, extension cords, or a timer. You don’t need to stand outside all day or climb anything. We bring commercial-grade LED strands cut to your measured roofline, clips that attach without nails or staples, and a timer. When we finish, everything is tested before we leave.
If you’re still in the quote stage, our guide to what a professional install includes covers the whole season from the first photo to January takedown.
HOAs, shops, and bigger jobs
For HOA entrances, the same list applies to the entrance sign and landscape beds: confirm which outlet or pedestal has power, and let us know if a board member or property manager needs to sign off on the design first. For a small business, tell us your opening hours so we can work around customers and pick timer hours that match your evenings.
After install day
A few things to keep in mind once the lights are on:
- Leave the timer alone unless you want to change the hours. If you do, the dial or app is right where we showed you.
- Text a photo if something goes dark. A section can get knocked loose by wind or a curious squirrel. Send a picture of the dark part and it goes on the next route.
- Don’t pull strands down yourself in January. We handle takedown, coil and label everything, and store it until next season. See the takedown and storage page.
Printable checklist
- Every outdoor outlet tested and working
- GFCI outlets and breakers checked
- Gutters cleared
- Loose gutters, shingles, or downspouts reported
- Timer hours picked
- Cars and trash cans moved
- Ground along the front cleared
- Branches off the roofline trimmed
- Sprinklers paused
- Side gate open or code sent
- Pets inside
- “All set” text sent
We hang lights from Cobb County and Cherokee County to Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, North Fulton, and the South Metro. Not booked yet? Text a photo of your house to (470) 470-4485 or use the contact form.
Common questions
How should I prepare for Christmas light installation?
Test your outdoor outlets, clear the driveway and the ground along the front of the house, open the side gate, and put pets inside. Then text us anything unusual, like a loose gutter, a wasp nest, or a sprinkler that runs early in the morning.
What if my outdoor outlet doesn’t work?
Press the reset button on the outlet, then check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker. Many outdoor outlets are protected by a GFCI outlet somewhere else, often in a garage or bathroom, so reset that one too. If it still won’t power on, tell us before install day so we can plan around it.
Should I clean my gutters before the lights go up?
It helps. Gutter clips hook onto the lip of the gutter, and a gutter packed with leaves can sag or overflow onto the strand. Clearing them in late October or early November, after most leaves drop, sets the lights up for a cleaner line.
What time will the lights come on?
Whenever you like. We set a timer before we leave. A common pick is dusk to around bedtime, but tell us your preference when you book so the timer is ready on the first night.
