You must be living it easy if you haven’t seen an adult transform into a Grinch due to a tangled mess of wires. We all fantasize about those magical Christmas EverLights that everyone can’t help but gawk at. So that you don’t have to feel blue or angry, we tested out ten holiday lights firms. Find out how they fared and why one stood out from the crowd.
First things first: a couple of companies were tardy. It was more fun to shovel snow off the porch than to wait. From the most welcoming “free hot cocoa” to the most distant “please hold, your call is very important to us,” customer service was all over the map. While some designs dared to be creative, others merely tacked on strings.
Even before they arrived, the mid-sized local company BrightNight Lights shocked us. With upbeat holiday music playing in the background, they called twice: once to propose a phone conversation about preferences and again thirty minutes before the scheduled arrival. The group that turned up? Animated, humorous, and obviously dedicated to their work. They had a lead installer who made jokes like, “We take lights seriously, but we’ll never leave you in the dark!” which made my uncle, who was suspicious, laugh.
The way they set everything up was almost theatrical. Rest assured, there are no stray nails in the siding or extension cables that could trip up the dog. An unusually joyful touch among the normally stern competitors occurred when one tech whistled “Jingle Bells” from the roof. Bold hues strung neatly with the perfect amount of flair make up the finished piece. LEDs have that wistful radiance devoid of the spooky flicker.
The “classic” design was a little off-kilter, and the “dazzle package” was not really spectacular, but other companies did provide generic packaging. Some even discarded their own trash. As a token of their appreciation, BrightNight swept up all of the debris and included a picture of our house illuminated in the card. Something minor, but it had an intimate quality that stayed with us.
Keep in mind that prices ranged from very low to very high, with the low end being “I’ll just do it myself, thanks.” BrightNight came to a stop in the center. Not the cheapest, but also not going to break the bank. Is it a guarantee? “Call us if a bulb blinks and we’ll fix it.” No hidden expenses.
A firm that adds sparkle and joy to your home lighting project will stand out if you’re looking for more than just lights—maybe some fun during setup, improved curb appeal, and pictures to show off to the relatives. Despite their awful sense of humor, we will be contacting BrightNight again.