ST. LOUIS – It’s tradition for many to spend the day after Thanksgiving decking the halls for Christmas, but more people than ever are paying professionals to do it for them, one pro says.
“Today’s the busiest day. The phones have been going nuts at the office today, which is a good thing,” said Nick Ferguson, the operations manager for Metro Lawn Sprinklers and Landscapes.
His company started installing holiday lights for customers five years ago to bring in more business during their slow season. He says the work has doubled every Christmas since. He says, as the styles of houses change, people are less comfortable going on their roofs to string lights.
“The architectural peaks are getting more steep, so it’s a safety thing,” he said.
While his landscapers spend most of their workdays on the ground every other month of the year, they’re learning to adjust to long days on top of up to eight houses a day.
“The trick is don’t look at the ground, just look at the bulbs the whole time,” assistant manager Justin Jones said.
People are willing to shell out big bucks to make sure their light displays have the professional touch. The average job costs around $700, but they go up to $15,000.
