You’ve decided to go through with it. This year, you’re going to hire a team to put up your affordable christmas lighting installation. But what do you really get? There are a lot of people on ladders with cords that are all tangled up. Here’s what’s normally in the package and why it’s a holiday lifesaver.

The first step is to come up with a design. Good installers don’t just stroll up and start putting up lights on whatever nail they find. Most of them send out an expert to chat about your concept before the service starts. You could show them your Pinterest board, your hand-drawn sketches, or just say, “That, but better,” while pointing to your neighbor’s house. They will take measurements, verify the power sources, and build a plan that works with your home’s style and your budget.

The next step is the product. You don’t have to go through dusty boxes in the attic to uncover burned-out bulbs or lights that are all knotted up. Installers bring everything you need, including as lights, clips, timers, extension cords, and more. Most businesses use commercial LEDs instead of the ones you can find at big box retailers since they last longer and are brighter. What would happen if a light bulb went out in the middle of December? Just call them. Most services include maintenance visits, so you don’t have to stand on a step stool and sing “Jingle Bells.”

We all know that time is money, and no one wants to spend their Saturday untangling knots. From the first twinkling to the last removal, professional installers do it everything. You won’t even have to touch a ladder to make a holiday display that appears like it came straight out of a book. That’s the best thing of all.