Most of the decision is made before anybody quotes you
The trouble with shopping for outdoor lighting is that the numbers rarely describe the same work. One company is quoting a template, another is quoting a design for your actual roofline, and the prices look similar until the lights are on.
Ask whether the design is yours
Ask to see what they are proposing for your house. If somebody can walk you through why each run is where it is, you are talking to the right people. A company that cannot is selling you a package.
Ask what the year looks like
Lighting lives outside, so ask who you call when something quits. On holiday lighting, the storage question is the one that separates companies. For permanent systems, ask what support looks like a year in.
What is in their lane
Some companies only hang holiday lights. Some only do low voltage yard lighting. Some cover the whole property. It matters since a company with one product will find a reason to sell you that product.
The property type
A house and a storefront are different problems. A home wants curb appeal and usable light after dark. A business wants to be visible and to look open, sometimes in brand colors. Ask which one they do more of, then decide whether that matches your job.
Red flags
Pressure to sign the same day is the clearest one. If nobody will write down what gets lit, the scope will be argued about later. Vagueness about what happens after the install is the third.None
https://erickzjyv168.tearosediner.net/outdoor-security-lighting-where-to-put-it-and-where-not-to-how-should-security-lighting-be-done-rethinking-security-lighting-for-homes-and-businesses of that means a company is dishonest. Since the work stays on the building, it pays to have it in writing.Two quotes are worth the trouble, as long as you read past the price line. If one company is designing for your roofline and the other is selling a package, you are not looking at two prices for the same thing. Ask each one what they would cut first, since the answer shows what they think the design is doing.
Is this their area?
A company that works your area regularly understands what the local roofs and the local weather do to a system. EverCrest Lighting is an outdoor lighting company based in Greenville, South Carolina, serving Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. They do permanent LED lighting, holiday lighting, landscape lighting, patio lighting, accent lighting and security lighting for homes and businesses. Consultations are free and the design comes before the number. Reach them at (864) 252-1732 or
[email protected].