You have finally decided to hire people to put up your holiday light installation. You won’t have to cope with thirty feet of wire or hang from the ladder with one mitten anymore. But let’s get to the point: do the pros provide you timers or smart controls, or will you have to plug in and unplug those lights every night like it’s the 1990s?
Most professional fitters include timers as a fundamental function. The simple, dependable timer is a must-have for the holidays, and for good reason. You don’t have to get up from a cozy movie night to turn on the outdoor light. Mechanical timers are still around. They have enormous dials that you spin to set when to turn on and off.
Smart controls are getting a lot of attention, though. If you ask for or choose certain light packages, more companies will add smart plugs or built-in controllers. Think about being able to use your phone to control all of your lights. The first time you use the program, you can even turn your house into a Christmas disco by mistake. Voice activation is immediately behind it. It might become a daily Christmas habit to say, “Alexa, light it up.”
Smart technology packages cost a little more, especially if they come with WiFi chips or LEDs that change color. People that like gadgets or need to be able to move things around want wireless solutions. One night, your house is red and green, and the next night, it’s blue and white for Hanukkah. You don’t even have to go to the outlet on the porch.
In short, professional holiday lights are acquiring more and more timers and advanced controls. Putting up decorations is a lot less stressful with them, and no one wants to be a human light switch in the cold after dessert. Let the pros handle the details so you can have cocoa and sing carols again.