Three years ago, I witnessed my dad wrestle with the Christmas lights all day on a Saturday and my mom offer unsolicited advice on the driveway. He swore an oath I dare not repeat, threw down a strand which broke on the concrete, and finally gave up by dinner. The house was as though Charlie Brown had painted it. My Ever Lights Hanging Christmas lights should not feel like community service and yet people still turn it into chaos every December and make it a test of patience and relationships.
People who hire Christmas light professionals cost between $250 to $3,000 depending on the size of your house and how lavish you feel. They'll design the whole setup, carry commercial quality equipment on ladders that you would never put your trust in and make your home place something you would consider taking pictures of. Most crews are through in a few hours what it would take you a whole weekend--unless you cut yourself in the first place. After the holidays they come back and take everything down, so you do not have to have the embarrassing February talk with neighbors about why you still have your lights up. Book them early in the month of October or you will have a meager pick.
Putting lights up yourself takes preparation, not just optimism. Begin by taking proper measurements of all the rooflines, windows, and doorways that you will be illuminating. Get extra strands beyond your original estimate--Murphys Law will see to it that you finish short. Get the right clips that fit your surface, be it shingles, gutters or brick. The generic clips tend to snap easily, and most of the time it is the initial windstorm that causes your carefully arranged masterpiece to fly into the bushes at 2 AM.
LED bulbs are more expensive in the short-term but are the only viable option for modern displays. They barely use any electricity and incandescents eat electricity aggressively. LEDs are also permanent-at least 25,000 years and remain cool to the touch, which is important when you need to drape them on trees that are alive or flammable decorations. The quality of colors has been enhanced significantly. LEDs are as warm as old-school bulbs without the risk of fire and electric bill shock.
Nobody brags about safety until something goes wrong. Always check the strands and then walk up. Always use outdoor rated extension cords, and never indoor. Stay connected at high level and dry. Never overload circuits--calculate amperage of your breaker and perform calculations. The location of the ladders is important: firm ground, the right angle, a person observing you. Shouting be careful by your spouse does not count as proper spotting.