What to Ask Before Hiring a Permanent Lighting Installer in the Quad Cities

Permanent lighting is a multi-thousand-dollar decision you'll live with for 20+ years. The lights all look great in a brochure — the difference is the installer.

Here are the nine questions I'd ask any permanent lighting company in the Quad Cities before signing anything. (Including me — I welcome every one of these.)

1. Are you certified by the manufacturer?

This is the big one. A certified installer has been factory-trained on the product: proper mounting, wiring, controller setup, and app configuration. An uncertified installer is figuring it out on your roofline.

Ask which manufacturer certified them — and for what product, specifically.

2. What exact product are you installing?

If an installer can't name the product, that's a red flag. "Commercial-grade LEDs" is a vibe, not a spec.

We install Forever Lighting by Holiday Bright Lights: individual LED lights set in a color-matched aluminum channel, controlled from your phone. When you know the product name, you can look up real reviews, real specs, and the real warranty — instead of taking someone's word for it.

3. What's the warranty — on the product AND the labor?

Two warranties matter here, and they're different:

• Product warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the lights themselves.

• Labor/workmanship warranty comes from the installer and covers the install.

Get both in writing. "Don't worry, we'll take care of you" is not a warranty.

4. How does it mount to my house?

Cheap installs screw visible clips into your fascia or leave wires dangling. A proper install uses a color-matched channel that blends into your trim, with wiring tucked out of sight. By day, you should barely notice it's there.

Ask to see close-up daytime photos of their finished work — not just the glowing night shots everyone posts.

5. Who's actually doing the work?

Some companies sell the job and send a subcontractor crew you've never met. Ask whether the person quoting you is the person on your roof.

I'm a solo owner-operator: I quote it, I install it, I walk it with you when it's done. One person accountable, start to finish.

6. What can I actually control from the app?

"App-controlled" can mean anything from on/off to full scheduling, millions of colors. Ask for a live demo — any good installer can pull up the app and show you on the spot.

Our customers run everything from the app: colors, brightness, schedules, timers, holiday presets. Game day? One tap.

7. What happens when a light goes out?

LEDs are rated for tens of thousands of hours, but individual lights can occasionally fail. The question is what happens next: who do you call, how fast do they come, and does it cost you anything?

Get the service policy in writing before the install, not after something breaks.

8. Are you licensed and insured?

Anyone working on your roofline should carry proper insurance. If a ladder goes through a window or someone gets hurt, you don't want to find out they were uninsured.

This one's simple: ask, and ask to see proof.

9. Can I see your actual work — nearby?

Not stock photos. Not the manufacturer's gallery. Their installs, on homes near you. Drive-by addresses, customer reviews with names, before-and-afters.

A confident installer loves this question. A shaky one changes the subject.

Red Flags That Should Stop You

• 🚩 Can't name the specific product they install

• 🚩 No proof of insurance

• 🚩 "Today only" pricing pressure

• 🚩 No local photos or reviews of their own work

• 🚩 Vague answers about warranty or service

The Bottom Line

The right installer will answer all nine of these without flinching — and probably enjoy the conversation. If someone dodges, rushes you, or leans on pressure tactics, keep looking.

Want to run through these together? Every First Class project starts with a free home assessment and design — we'll walk your property, answer all nine questions, and give you a firm written price. No pressure, no obligation.

📞 (563) 271-6266 — call or text, Mon–Sat 7am–7pm
🌐 firstclasspws.com

First Class Holiday & Lighting Solutions — permanent LED lighting, holiday lighting, and power washing for the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.