Most of the decision is made before anybody quotes you
The trouble with comparing lighting quotes is that two numbers can describe two completely different jobs. One company is pricing a standard package, another is quoting a design for your actual roofline, and you cannot tell from the page which is which.
Start with the design
The first question is simple: what does the plan for my house look like? A company that works from the building's own lines will be able to tell you why the light goes where it goes. A company that cannot is selling you a package.
Ask what happens after the install
Lighting sits out in the weather all year, so ask what happens when something needs attention. On holiday lighting, the storage question is the one that separates companies. For permanent systems, ask how the app works and who supports it.
What is in their lane
The trades overlap but are not identical: seasonal displays, yard lighting, permanent LED systems and security work. Ask the range so you can weigh the advice.
Ask about the kind of property they usually work on
Homes and businesses ask different things of a lighting plan. A home wants curb appeal and usable light after dark. A business wants to be visible and to look open, often in company colors. Ask which one they do more of, and weigh that against what you need done.
Signs to walk away from
A price that expires this afternoon says more about the company than the job. If nobody will write down what gets lit, the scope will be argued about later. Vagueness about what happens after
https://rentry.co/ruzde37r the install is the third.None of that means a company is dishonest. But lighting is going to live on the front of your house, and the written scope is what you fall back on later.Two quotes are worth getting, provided you compare the scope. If one company drew a plan and the other quoted a package, the two numbers are not comparable. Ask each one what they would cut first, since the answer shows what they think the design is doing.
Is this their area?
A company based near you knows the housing stock and the weather. EverCrest Lighting is a lighting contractor working out of Greenville, South Carolina, serving Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. They do permanent LED lighting, holiday lighting, landscape lighting, patio lighting, accent lighting and security lighting for homes and businesses. The consultation is free, and the design gets drawn before anybody quotes. Reach them at (864) 252-1732 or
[email protected].