“One of my core beliefs is that you can learn everything you need to know about a man by the way he handles a string of Christmas lights. When confronted with tangled cords, burnedout bulbs and hanging hassles, does he joyfully whistle “Deck the Halls” or does he get red-faced, start swearing and send the dogs running o in search of a rescue? Throw a ladder, icy conditions and electricity into the mix and you are asking for a trip to the emergency room.
“Holiday lights are all about creating festive cheer, but untangling wires and climbing ladders can quickly go from falalalala to bah-humbug and in some cases risk,” said Angie Hicks, owner of Angi (formerly Angie’s List), a national home services platform that matches homeowners with service professionals in their area.
Another test of a man, and any human for that matter, is whether they know where their skills end and another person’s begins. Yes, I am talking to you up there on the ladder!
I was cheered to hear her online service has been bustling since Thanksgiving as more homeowners than ever are looking for professional holiday light installers in their area. “This is a smart move given that some of the most common and serious injuries around the home
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, physical handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.”
California also extends protection based on age and marital status. The Mountain Democrat makes every effort to comply with these federal and state regulations. We ask your assistance in maintaining an acceptable standard of advertising. While they may seem inconvenient at times, these laws are written to protect you, our readers and advertisers, as well as ourselves. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this paper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For further information, you can call the Dept. of Fair Employment & Housing at (916) 445-9918 or the State Dept. of Consumer Affairs at (800) 344-9940.Note: Rental ads that contain the phrase “Single Occupancy” refer only to the physical characteristics of the dwelling and are not intended to state a preference of either marital or familial status.
Winter is nearly here, and the almanacs predict it will be snowier and colder than last year for much of the country. Before those akes y and the ground freezes hard, get ahead of the season and make sure your home is snug, cozy and ready for the long winter. It’s about your family’s comfort, rst and foremost. But it’s also about your energy bills. The Department of Energy estimates homeowners can save up to 30% on their bills by taking some care with insulation, home heating and seasonal maintenance. That’s a serious chunk of change that you don’t want disappearing out of dra y windows and doors. Here are a few ideas to get you started to achieve a warmer, more economical winter.
Before your heater roars to life this year, have it checked out by an HVAC pro who will clean and maintain it, making sure you won’t have any surprises on cold nights. Remember to change the lter according to your manufacturer’s directions at least once per season, if not every month. Also consider
installing an ultra-e cient heat pump, which is a bit of a misnomer because it heats and cools your home. New federal tax laws are making it extremely a ordable, if not free, to make that energy-e cient change.
Insulating your garage with an insulated garage door can make your home more sustainable and improve energy e ciency, especially if you have an attached garage. If it’s not insulated, you know how chilly those adjacent rooms in your home can be. If your garage door is damaged or doesn’t close all the way, installing a new door is a no-brainer. But even if it seems to be in working order and the garage is still cold, it’s time to upgrade to a new door. Not sure where to start? The pros at Precision Garage Door Service, a Neighborly company, will schedule an on-site visit to examine your door and provide options that best meet your needs. In addition to keeping your car in a warmer garage (you’ll thank yourself on those below-zero mornings) an insulated garage can give you extra living space, like a workout room or a workshop.
Heat rises, right? If your attic isn’t properly insulated, all of that heat is going right out through the roof, especially if your attic is dra y. The Department of Energy recommends eight to 16 inches of berglass or cellulose insulation in your attic, and many homes don’t have that. This is a simple DIY job that will make a big di erence.
Whether you use window winterizing kits you can nd at the hardware store or DIY it with a heavy-duty sheet of plastic, it’s important to stop dra s before they get into your home. Ditto with checking and updating the weather stripping around your doors. Tips Continued from 3
Take advantage of the sun’s rays by
opening curtains or shades on the southfacing windows. Let the sun do its thing and warm up your rooms naturally.
involve ladders,” said Hicks. “People climb up and stretch too far, stand on the top step, or don’t have a spotter, and next thing ... boom!”
According to a recent survey by Angi, 67% of homeowners plan to put up holiday lights this year. Of those who put up lights last year, 81% reported running into snags such as tangled lights, burned-out bulbs, trouble securing their lights properly and blown electrical circuits.
Hicks recalls one Christmas at her house when the holiday lights overloaded the circuits and her family spent Christmas Eve in the dark waiting for an electrician. “Most people don’t understand how much electricity their lights are pulling,” she said. That frustration is largely why this year, 42% of those putting up outdoor lights are considering hiring professional help. Depending on the complexity and scope of work, homeowners can expect to pay from $200 to $1,000 for most projects, Hicks said. The price can include putting lights up, maintaining them, taking them down and sometimes storing them. Timely takedown is key: 31% of decorating
homeowners surveyed admitted they’ve le lights up longer than intended. In other words, they are that neighbor.
In the years I’ve had holiday lights on the roof of my two-story homes, I hired professionals. I’ve generally liked my husband enough to not want him scaling a 30-foot ladder. A few years ago, however, we stopped making a big light production of our house not only to save the $1,000 expense, but also because the lights were constantly blowing, maintenance was poor (I’d rather have no lights than a bad look.) and the workers were sketchy.
That’s what we get for hiring a guy who zipped up one day on a Vespa who was hanging lights in the neighborhood. He added holiday stress rather than reduced it.
When I shared this story with Hicks, she assured me that before allowing a business to join Angi’s Certi ed network, her team performs a criminal background check on company owners and has them attest to having proper licenses. “Homeowners, however, still need to do their own due diligence and ask for proof of insurance,” she said.
In a nutcracker, today’s holiday message is this. Before you get up on the roo op or nd someone you love dangling from a rain gutter, consider putting some of your holiday budget toward hiring a professional light installer. Some jobs are just not worth killing yourself over. Hanging Christmas lights is one. Here, said Hicks, are the reasons to consider hiring a pro:
• Avoid risk. “The main reason more homeowners are choosing to hire a pro to put up and take down lights is safety,” Hicks said. Seriously, folks, how are you ever going to make it down the chimney with both your arms in casts.
• Stay current. Decorative holiday lighting is getting more sophisticated, requiring more expertise. As the displays get more elaborate (thanks in part to peer pressure), installation gets more complicated and requires more expertise. According to the Angi survey, 21% of homeowners who put up lights last year said friendly competition with neighbors was a factor.
• Mind the warranty. Some lighting companies, such as those o ering permanent trim lighting, which stays up
year-round and lets you change light colors for the holiday, will not honor the product’s warranty if it is installed by anyone other than an authorized dealer. In other words, DIY installers may lose warranty protection.
• Eliminate stress. Hiring a pro to install, maintain and take down lights reduces stress and saves marriages. Take my word for it.
• Save time: With holiday schedules already packed, homeowners who outsource outdoor decorating can spend less time feeling like the Grinch and more time celebrating the season.
• Get a better look. No o ense, but no one wants their house to scream, “Look! We put up the lights ourselves!” Save yourself the embarrassment.
Marni Jameson is the award-winning author of seven books, including “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow,” “What to Do With Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want” and “Downsizing the Family Home.” You may reach her at marnijameson. com.
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