What a holiday lighting change order is for
Owners add to the display when they see the first section lit, and some sections turn out to have no outlet nearby. A quick signed change order on install day keeps the extra trees and the dropped sections clear on the invoice and avoids a disagreement when the season bill arrives.
What to put on a holiday lighting change order
- What changed and why.
- Added lights or decorations.
- Sections dropped and credits.
- New total.
- Signature on install day.
A worked example
The owner adds a third tree, the back roofline is dropped because there is no outlet, and the garland goes on the railing instead of the door.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree wrap, third maple | 1 | each | Your price |
| Credit: back roofline, no outlet | -40 | ft | Your price |
| Garland moved to porch railing | 16 | ft | Your price |
Write why a section was dropped. A missing outlet is a reason the owner can fix before next season.
Line items holiday lighting installers use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Roofline lights, installed | ft | Bulb type and color; lights leased or sold. |
| Ridge line lights | ft | Higher work; second story or steep roof. |
| Tree wrap, trunk and branches | each | Tree height and wrap style. |
| Bush and shrub lights | each | Net or string lights per bush. |
| Wreath with lights | each | Size and placement. |
| Garland on railing or door | ft | Lit or unlit. |
| Ground stakes and pathway lights | each | Spacing along the walk. |
| Timer and outdoor cords | set | Outdoor-rated, on existing outlets. |
| Takedown after the season | ft | Lights removed, tested and boxed. |
| Storage until next season | set | Labeled for this house. |
| Mid-season service call | visit | Fix outages during the season. |
Terms and deposit language for holiday lighting
- Deposit. A deposit at booking holds the install date in a short season and covers lights ordered for this house. Follow your state's deposit rules.
- Payment. Balance due on install day after the owner sees the lights on.
- Warranty. Lights that fail during the season are fixed on a service call within the days stated. Damage from storms, animals or people unplugging the timer is not a lighting defect.
- Lights stay the property of the installer when leased, and are stored for next season.
- Lights plug into existing outdoor outlets; new outlets need an electrician.
- Install and takedown dates depend on weather; roofs are not walked when wet or icy.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for holiday lighting
- Christmas light installation cost calculator
- Roof measurement tool
- Labor rate calculator
- Estimate generator
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for holiday lighting installers: how holiday lighting installers run on Koira.