Going rate for hanging lights across front of house?

I paid 300.00 last year as a gift for a friend going through a hard time.

Once a ladder is involved in anything, the price goes up a lot. And this may sound overly cautious, but I'd be wary of having anyone do work on a ladder at my house unless they are bonded and insured (which also drives up the price). It only takes one guy who slips because the ground is a little soft and the ladder wobbles to end up in a nasty legal battle.

Permanent lights are amazing. You can't really see them when they aren't turned on, as they are underneath the trim thing. They are wired into the garage and controlled by an app on our phones. You can choose whatever colours you want, make themes. Whatever you want. We turn on the red and white ones on Canada Day, easter colours at Easter, pink or red on Valentines day, Purple, orange, green at Halloween and lots of different themes at Christmas. Sometimes we change them every day at Christmas time.

And best of all, they are perfectly straight, and nobody has to go outside and put them out or take them down. No ladders, nothing. We love them!

Are they just LED strands?  

Can they be added after the house is built?

Do you have a picture?

We just had a quote given to us, $150 an hour for two guys. They also provide the lights the first year at $2 a foot. The following years, you only pay the labor.

Neither my husband or want to get on the ladder, so we don't do lights on the house. They do look beautiful though! I would justify spending the money to hire a professional to do it. I would worry about using a friend/neighbor, and he or she falling and getting hurt. And we figure if we did it ourselves and got hurt, medical bills would be a lot more than the price of hiring a professional.

Lights are a money biz. I’ve gotten lucky and my neighbors kid just turned 16 and got a car so he was eager to make $50 to do my icicle lights and pathway candycane lights. I could do all but the side peaks myself but honestly I just don’t want to.

We pay about $150 for a 1 story house along the roofline. Our last house was 2 stories and larger so it was closer to $350.

It always seems kind of insulting when someone wants work done but then complains about the price by saying it is easy or won't take that long. The price isn't just about how long it will take.

If it was so easyl, you wouldn't need to hire someone. If you need to hire someone, it's going to cost for their time and effort. $100 sounds like a bargain.

Nanner thanks! My DH is General contractor. We’d install them ourselves. he doesn’t want to be able to see the lights if they’re not on. Our HOA also has rules about “Christmas lights” being up past New Years. If they can’t see them, they can’t bitch, right? 🤣

We always did our own but DH had a stroke last Thanksgiving. He’s doing good but his balance isn’t as good as it used to be and I won’t let him get on a ladder. We hired someone last year for the first time and they charged $100. They aren’t around anymore so our yard guy is going to do it this year. He needs the work. DH arranged it but I think the price is the same.

Wow. 30 minutes to mow, edge, blow and bag up 5-10 bags? Your lawn people must be superheroes. That would take my guys a minimum of 60 minutes and probably longer.  Anyway, in this area they charge $250 and up to put up lights - even just a strip across the front, and thats if you can find someone willing to do it.  I'd pay the $100 and be glad!