How to make extra cash hanging Christmas lights

If you don't mind climbing a ladder or walking on a roof then hanging Christmas lights is a great way to make some extra money during the holidays. I will share my secrets with you here.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A ladder
• flyers or advertise
• Christmas light tester

1. 
    

   Alright the first thing you need to do is let people know that your available to hang Christmas lights and there are a number of ways to do this. Advertise in your local papers, create flyers to hang or hand out, have magnetic signs made for your car. Keep it simple though for example: Christmas Light Install [phone]

2. Now make sure that you have the right tools for the job. At the very least have an 8' ladder. I carry an 8' A frame and a 22' extension ladder on my truck. Pick up a couple of packs of the plastic roof clips and a x-mas light tester. The tester works great for older lights although I discourage new customers from using old lights as I charge more to sit and look/repair older lights.

3. When you get your first call make sure you offer a free estimate. Discuss with the customer what they would like or make suggestions to them on what you can do for them. The most common would be to trim the house (hang lights on roof edge), then would be lights on trees or shrubs. In an effort to entice customers into purchasing my services I also include the removal of the lights in my price.

4. It is up to you as far as how you would like to charge for the service, by the hour or by the foot. I charge by the foot when doing house trim which is typically between 100ft - 200ft at $1.00 a foot thats not to bad. As far trees and shrubs I charge a flat rate based on difficulty for example a set of net lights on a shrub may cost $10 where as a tree wrap (wrapping lights around the trunk of the tree) may cost $25 on larger trees with more lights I would charge $5 per light string. You should feel it out and do what works best for you and your area. While travelling through Texas I did and average of 4 - 5 house a day for about three weeks, so the potiential is there to make great extra cash.

5. After you have discussed what is needed for your customer, they can pick up the lights or you can. Keep the reciept to you can get reimbursed for the materials. Plan for extension cords, timers even offer to pick up plastic storage containers so you can keep the lights organized for next year when you return and trust me you will.

Tips & Warnings

• I always have a few extra extension cords, timers and plastic clips. If ou have extra cash carry several boxes of icicle lights that way you can do a job right on the spot.
• Keep reciepts so if you don't use an item you may return it.
• Good Luck
• As always be careful when climbing on ladders, ensure you are on a solid surface.
• Use extreme caution if you live in an area prone to morning frost. Climbing on roofs during the morning hours is not recommended.
• You will be working with electricity so use caution.

[rickmac]

on 3/21/2009 Good tips. I'm the one who has to climb on the roof at my house and at my Mom's so I'm a good fit for this.

[Jennywrites]

on 11/29/2008 Excellent article!!! Thanks for sharing!