# Light AI > Light AI (light-ai.app) is quoting and AI mockup software for Christmas and holiday lighting contractors. It is not a lighting product. Christmas lighting contractor software: a quote builder with AI lighting mockups of the customer's own home, roofline measurements, priced line items and one quote link homeowners can review and approve online. A contractor enters the property address (the Street View front photo and a to-scale satellite plan view load from it), measures the rooflines, generates AI lighting mockups of the customer's own home, prices the job line by line, and sends one quote link the homeowner can open on any phone, review and approve online. Quotes can also be exported as PDFs. Who it is for: owners, estimators and sales staff at Christmas lighting installation companies, from solo installers to multi-crew operations. Permanent and landscape lighting workflows are planned for a later release. ## Features - AI lighting mockups from a single front photo: choose the features to light, C9 and mini bulb colours, patterns and ambiance (snow and more), with brush edits. Mockups illustrate a concept, not a guaranteed installation result. - Satellite plan view: the overhead view loads automatically from the address on a live satellite map; the contractor centres the roof and gets a to-scale image to measure on, with no calibration step. Uploading a Google Earth screenshot and calibrating it remains an option. - Street View front view: the front photo loads automatically from the address, with a photo upload fallback (Earth, Zillow and Maps links help find one). - Roofline measurements traced by category (starter, ridges, ground and more), merged line items and your own per-foot or per-item prices. Measurements support quoting; they are not survey-grade. - Review step: client message (with AI drafting), the schematics and mockups to include, a client action button for your own booking or payment link, and mobile, desktop and PDF previews. - Quote links: a branded quote website with customer approval in Light AI (or via Jobber or another service, or view only), optional extras and bulb colour choices, an optional Request a change link so the homeowner can ask for changes (the contractor is notified in the app and by email), link expiry, and updates on the same link. The link can be emailed from Light AI with your logo and a blurred preview of the design that opens the quote. Light AI never collects payments or deposits. - Quote analytics: published quotes, approvals and change requests on every plan; opens, open rate, viewing time and open alerts on paid plans. - Website request forms (Pro): a request form for your website (script or iframe), a share link and QR code, an optional instant AI mockup for the homeowner within a monthly budget you set, and a Requests inbox. - Sales pipeline: Request, Quote Drafted, Quote Sent, Approved, Completed and Closed Lost, with next actions. - API, webhooks and MCP server on Pro and Enterprise for CRMs and automation tools; developer docs at https://docs.light-ai.app. ## Plans and prices - Free: $0/month. 100 credits each month (no rollover), 1 user, unlimited quotes, quote links with customer approval, watermarked images, extra credits at 9¢ each. Photos and mockups are kept 90 days on Free. No card required. - Plus: $97/month standard. 1,000 credits each month (30-day rollover), 3 users, high-resolution mockups, white-labeled quotes with your logo and colours, quote open analytics and alerts, unlimited AI tools (fair use), extra credits at 4.5¢ each. - Pro: $297/month standard. 3,000 credits each month (30-day rollover), unlimited users, everything in Plus, quote emails from your own domain, website request forms (up to 10), the API, webhooks and MCP server, priority support, extra credits at 4¢ each. - Enterprise: custom credits, setup and support; contact sales from the Pricing page. - Founding offer: while founding spots remain, Plus is $49/month and Pro is $149/month for as long as that subscription stays active. Check https://light-ai.app/pricing for current availability. - Off-Season: Off-Season is $9.99 a month and keeps your storefront open. Your request forms keep taking leads (the first 10 requests each month still get AI mockups for the homeowner, included), quote links you already sent stay live and approvals still come in, and you can view all your quotes, clients and images. Creating or editing quotes, AI mockups and AI text, sending new quotes and buying credits are locked until you resume your plan. If you have a founding price, it’s kept. - Credits: every AI mockup image costs 5 credits on every plan (20 for a four-image set). On Free, AI writing and measuring helpers cost 1 credit per action; they are included on paid plans. ## Key pages - [Home](https://light-ai.app/): What Light AI does, product walkthrough, FAQ - [Pricing](https://light-ai.app/pricing): Plans, credits, plan comparison and pricing FAQ - [Product demo](https://light-ai.app/demo): The 3-minute "Before → Now" product walkthrough video - [Help center](https://light-ai.app/help): Short guides to every Light AI workflow - [Blog](https://light-ai.app/blog): Guides for Christmas lighting contractors - [Mockup gallery](https://light-ai.app/gallery): Reviewed AI lighting mockups from a real pilot property - [Roadmap](https://light-ai.app/roadmap): What is live, in progress and coming soon - [Consulting](https://light-ai.app/consulting): Consulting and services for lighting contractors - [Privacy policy](https://light-ai.app/privacy): How Light AI handles data - [Terms of service](https://light-ai.app/terms): Terms for Light AI accounts, credits and content ## Developer docs - [Light AI API docs](https://docs.light-ai.app): REST API, webhooks and MCP server (Pro and Enterprise) - [Docs llms.txt](https://docs.light-ai.app/llms.txt): the developer docs index for AI tools ## Help articles - [Creating your Light AI account](https://light-ai.app/help#sign-up): Start on the Free plan with 100 credits a month and no card required, then upgrade whenever you like. - [The guided walkthrough](https://light-ai.app/help#walkthrough): A hands-on tour on a sample home: measure, design mockups and publish a practice quote. - [Your first quote, start to finish](https://light-ai.app/help#first-quote): Every quote follows four steps: Intake, Measure, Mockup and Review. - [Signing in and resetting your password](https://light-ai.app/help#sign-in): Sign in with email and password or Google; reset a forgotten password from the sign-in page. - [Install Light AI on your phone or iPad](https://light-ai.app/help#install-app): Add Light AI to your home screen so it opens with one tap, full screen like an app, without the browser’s bars. Free, nothing to download from an app store. - [Creating a quote](https://light-ai.app/help#create-project): A quote ties a client and a property to its photos, measurements, mockups and pricing. - [Adding property photos](https://light-ai.app/help#photos): A front view is required for mockups; an overhead plan view gives the most accurate pricing. - [Getting the front of the house from Street View](https://light-ai.app/help#street-view): The front view loads from Google Street View and the plan view from satellite, by themselves. If either is missing, grab a screenshot with the Earth, Zillow or Maps links. - [Plan view: satellite or Google Earth](https://light-ai.app/help#plan-view): Let Light AI find the roof on a satellite map, or upload your own Google Earth screenshot. - [Calibrating and measuring](https://light-ai.app/help#measuring): Measure is where you calibrate, trace lighting runs and set every quantity and price. - [Generating AI mockups](https://light-ai.app/help#mockups): Turn the front photo and your measured lines into photo-realistic lighting concepts. - [How credits work](https://light-ai.app/help#credits): Every generated image costs 5 credits on every plan: 20 for a four-image set and 10 for an edit pair. - [Buying more credits](https://light-ai.app/help#top-ups): On an active plan, top-ups cost 9¢ per credit on Free, 4.5¢ on Plus and 4¢ on Pro. - [Building the quote in Review](https://light-ai.app/help#build-quote): Review is the customer-facing quote: message, images, client action and line items. - [Publishing a customer quote link](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-link): Share the quote as a website your customer opens on any phone or computer, with no account needed. - [Emailing a quote to your customer](https://light-ai.app/help#email-quote): Send the published link from Light AI with your logo and a picture of the design that opens the quote. - [Letting customers request changes](https://light-ai.app/help#request-change): Add a small "Request a change" link under Approve so customers can ask for changes instead of only approving. - [Mockup reveal on quote links](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-reveal): Choose how your mockup appears when a customer opens the quote (Plus and Pro). - [Exporting a quote PDF](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-pdf): Download a PDF of the quote to attach to your own email or CRM. - [Quote opens, approvals and alerts](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-activity): See when customers open and approve quotes in Quote Analytics. - [Branding your quotes](https://light-ai.app/help#branding): Add your logo, colours and fonts to quote links and PDFs (Plus and Pro). - [Request forms on your website (Pro)](https://light-ai.app/help#request-forms): Let homeowners request a quote from your own website. Pro includes up to 10 forms; Enterprise is unlimited. - [Working your Requests inbox](https://light-ai.app/help#requests-inbox): Every inbound request in one list: website forms, the API, ad lead forms and requests you enter. - [Managing clients](https://light-ai.app/help#clients): Keep each client's contact details, properties, quotes and notes together. - [Using the Pipeline](https://light-ai.app/help#pipeline): Six stages from first request to finished job: Request, Quote Drafted, Quote Sent, Approved, Completed and Closed Lost. - [Free, Plus and Pro](https://light-ai.app/help#plans): Plus is $97/month and Pro is $297/month; Free costs nothing. - [Warehouse and Job schematics builder · Pro, this winter](https://light-ai.app/help#coming-to-pro): Two features are coming to Pro this winter. Neither is available yet. - [Founder rates](https://light-ai.app/help#founder-rates): Founding subscribers pay $49/month for Plus or $149/month for Pro, for life. - [Upgrading, changing or cancelling](https://light-ai.app/help#manage-plan): The account owner manages the plan, card and invoices in Settings → Billing. - [Off-Season plan](https://light-ai.app/help#off-season): Keep your storefront open for $9.99/month between seasons; your founder rate waits for your return. - [Photo and mockup storage on Free](https://light-ai.app/help#free-retention): On the Free plan, photos and mockups are kept for 90 days. - [Inviting your team](https://light-ai.app/help#team): Free has 1 seat, Plus 3 seats and Pro unlimited seats. - [Roles and permissions](https://light-ai.app/help#roles): Owner, Admin, Quoter, Viewer and Custom roles decide what each person can do. - [API and webhooks (Pro)](https://light-ai.app/help#api): Connect any CRM or automation tool to your leads, quotes and mockups. - [MCP server for AI assistants (Pro)](https://light-ai.app/help#mcp): Let Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or n8n AI agents work in your Light AI account. - [Jobber CRM integration · Coming Soon](https://light-ai.app/help#jobber): A built-in Jobber sync is planned for Pro and is not available yet. - [Ask AI, the in-app assistant](https://light-ai.app/help#ask-ai): Click the round lightning-bolt button at the bottom right of any screen in the app. - [Talking to a person](https://light-ai.app/help#support-tickets): Open a support ticket from Ask AI, or email support@light-ai.app. - [Common fixes](https://light-ai.app/help#troubleshooting): Quick answers for the problems we see most. ## Blog Each guide also has a plain-Markdown copy at the same URL plus .md. - [Strandr Alternatives for Christmas Lighting Contractors (2026)](https://light-ai.app/blog/strandr-alternatives): Looking for a Strandr alternative? Compare hand-drawn lighting mockups with AI mockups, satellite measuring and a quote link homeowners approve on their phone. (2026-11-04, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/strandr-alternatives.md) - [Best Christmas Light Quoting & Business Software in 2026: Top 10 Compared](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-christmas-light-quoting-software): The 10 best Christmas light quoting and business software tools for 2026, compared on AI mockups, roofline measuring, quote approval, CRM fit and price. (2026-11-03, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/best-christmas-light-quoting-software.md) - [Best Quote Builder for Christmas Lighting Contractors (2026)](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-quote-builder-christmas-lighting-contractors): 2026 buyer's guide to Christmas lighting quote builders: Light AI, LightQuoter, LightHawk, Strandr and Light Design Hero, and how each fits beside your CRM. (2026-10-31, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/best-quote-builder-christmas-lighting-contractors.md) - [Light AI vs Other Christmas Lighting Software](https://light-ai.app/blog/light-ai-vs-christmas-lighting-software): How Light AI compares with Strandr, LightQuoter, LightHawk and Light Design Hero, and why it pairs with Jobber or Housecall Pro instead of replacing them. (2026-10-28, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/light-ai-vs-christmas-lighting-software.md) - [Adding AI Mockups to Your Website Request Form](https://light-ai.app/blog/ai-mockups-website-request-form): How to add an instant AI lighting mockup to your website request form: setup, monthly credit cap, domains, script vs iframe, QR codes and expectations. (2026-10-22, Light AI Team; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/ai-mockups-website-request-form.md) - [From a Photo to an Approved Quote: The Light AI Workflow](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-to-approved-quote-light-ai-workflow): A step-by-step walkthrough of Light AI: Intake, Measure, Mockup and Review, from a property photo to a published quote link the homeowner can approve. (2026-10-06, Light AI Team; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-to-approved-quote-light-ai-workflow.md) - [What's a Good Close Rate for Holiday Lighting Quotes (and How to Raise Yours)](https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate): How to measure your own holiday lighting quote close rate by lead source, salesperson and week, plus the practical levers that help more quotes get approved. (2026-09-24, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate.md) - [How to Follow Up on Christmas Lighting Quotes Without Being Pushy (Texts and Timing)](https://light-ai.app/blog/follow-up-on-lighting-quotes): A respectful follow-up cadence for Christmas lighting quotes, with example texts and emails, timing tables and when to stop, so you close more without pressure. (2026-09-15, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/follow-up-on-lighting-quotes.md) - [How to Get More Christmas Lighting Leads: Website Request Forms, Yard-Sign QR Codes and Google](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-leads-request-forms-qr-google): Where Christmas lighting leads really come from: website request forms, yard-sign QR codes, Google Business Profile, local pages, referrals and renewals. (2026-09-03, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-leads-request-forms-qr-google.md) - [Measuring a Roofline From Your Desk: Satellite Plan View vs the Tape Measure](https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view): How to measure a roofline for Christmas lights from satellite imagery: a to-scale plan view, pitch corrections for rakes, and when you still need a tape. (2026-08-25, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view.md) - [Quote Links vs PDF Quotes: What Homeowners Approve Faster](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes): Quote links vs PDF quotes for Christmas lighting: why homeowners approve links faster on a phone, and when a PDF is still right for HOAs and commercial. (2026-08-11, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes.md) - [Should You Offer Christmas Light Removal and Storage? How to Price and Sell It](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-light-removal-and-storage): How to design, price and sell Christmas light removal and storage: service models, per-bin pricing math, labelling, warehouse setup, insurance and renewals. (2026-07-28, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-light-removal-and-storage.md) - [Why Photo Mockups Win More Christmas Lighting Jobs Than Written Quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-mockups-win-more-christmas-lighting-jobs): Why a photo mockup of the homeowner's own house sells Christmas lighting better than a written quote, and how to present mockups honestly so approvals stick. (2026-07-14, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-mockups-win-more-christmas-lighting-jobs.md) - [Warm White, Cool White or Multicolor? How to Show Homeowners Before They Buy](https://light-ai.app/blog/warm-white-cool-white-or-multicolor): Warm white, cool white or multicolor Christmas lights? Choose by house style, brick and siding colour and HOA rules, and show homeowners before they buy. (2026-06-29, Light AI Team; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/warm-white-cool-white-or-multicolor.md) - [Running a Christmas Lighting Business: The Season Calendar From August to January](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-business-season-calendar): A month-by-month calendar for running a Christmas lighting business, August to January, with checklists for pricing, sales, hiring, installs and takedown. (2026-06-16, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-business-season-calendar.md) - [How to Price Christmas Light Installation: Per Foot, Per House, and the Hidden Costs](https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation): Set your Christmas light installation price from your own costs: a per-foot formula, job minimums, per-house packages and the hidden costs that eat margin. (2026-06-02, Ricardo Corona; Markdown: https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation.md) ## Optional - [Full text for AI tools](https://light-ai.app/llms-full.txt): this file plus every help article, the FAQs and every blog post - [Blog RSS feed](https://light-ai.app/blog/rss.xml) - [Sitemap](https://light-ai.app/sitemap.xml) - Contact: support@light-ai.app --- # Light AI: full reference Light AI is web-based quoting software for residential Christmas and holiday lighting contractors (a quote maker for Christmas light contractors). A contractor enters the property address (the Street View front photo and a to-scale satellite plan view load from it), measures the rooflines, generates AI lighting mockups of the customer's own home, prices the job line by line, and sends one quote link the homeowner can open on any phone, review and approve online. Quotes can also be exported as PDFs. Who it is for: owners, estimators and sales staff at Christmas lighting installation companies, from solo installers to multi-crew operations. Permanent and landscape lighting workflows are planned for a later release. ## Cancelling and Off-Season Yes. If you cancel, you keep your quotes and clients on the Free plan, and photos and mockups are kept for 90 days, but your founding price is gone for good. Off-Season ($9.99/month) keeps your founding price, your request forms and your live quote links, and you can resume any time. ## Frequently asked questions (home page) ### How reliable are the photo measurements? Results depend on the quality of the photo and the reference distance you provide. Light AI keeps the measurements visible and editable so you can check every value before it affects a customer quote. ### Can I customize the platform with my company branding? Yes. Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans include white labeled quotes with your logo and brand colors, and no Light AI document watermark on quote websites or PDFs. ### Can Light AI connect to my CRM or automations? Yes, on Pro and Enterprise. Pro includes an API, webhooks and an MCP server, so you can connect Claude, ChatGPT or any CRM or automation tool, including n8n, Zapier, HighLevel and HubSpot, to your leads, quotes and mockups. See the developer docs at docs.light-ai.app . ### Is there a built-in Jobber integration? Not yet. Two-way Jobber sync is planned for Pro, with more CRM connections to follow. At launch, Light AI lets you quickly copy line-item values into your existing CRM and share interactive quote websites or PDFs by email or text. You can use a customer-facing Jobber link for approval and payment; those actions do not sync back automatically. ### What happens if I use my monthly credits? You can buy more credits at any time on an active plan (9¢ per credit on Free, 4.5¢ on Plus, 4¢ on Pro), and purchased credits never expire. Owners can also enable automatic top-up in Billing, choose the low-balance trigger and purchase amount, and set a monthly spending cap. It stays off until you authorize it, and you can turn it off anytime. On Free, automatic top-up opens after your first credit purchase, with a $25 monthly cap by default (up to $100). ### What if business slows down after the season? Plus and Pro subscribers can switch to Off-Season from Billing for $9.99/month and keep their storefront open: your request forms keep taking leads (the first 10 requests each month still get AI mockups for the homeowner, included), quote links you already sent stay live and approvals still come in, and you can view all your quotes, clients and images. Creating or editing quotes, AI mockups and AI text, sending new quotes and buying credits are locked until you resume your plan. No monthly credits arrive, and credits already in your balance are frozen until you resume (any expiry dates still apply). Your founder rate is kept for your return, on your first billing date in September or sooner whenever you choose. Automatic return is on by default; you can turn it off in Billing until 24 hours before the return (Billing and the 7-day email show the exact time), and we email you 7 days and 1 day before. ### Can I cancel anytime? Yes. If you cancel, you keep your quotes and clients on the Free plan, and photos and mockups are kept for 90 days, but your founding price is gone for good. Off-Season ($9.99/month) keeps your founding price, your request forms and your live quote links, and you can resume any time. ### Can I start for free? Yes. The Free plan is not time-limited and includes 100 credits refreshed each month, with no card required. Paid plans start and charge immediately when you subscribe. ### How is client data protected? Signed-in project access is organization-scoped, and customer photos stay in private storage for authorized team members. Your organization chooses when to publish a customer link or export a PDF. Customer links are excluded from search indexing; anyone with a link can view it until you disable it. ## Frequently asked questions (pricing) ### How do credits work? Every generated image uses 5 credits: 20 for a four-image mockup set and 10 for an edit pair with two images to choose from. Image generation has no separate usage cap on any plan; it is limited by your credit balance. On every plan you can add credits anytime. On Plus and Pro, estimating, measurement, design-guidance, and client-writing tools do not use additional credits. On Free, each use of one of those tools costs 1 credit. ### What can Light AI help me create besides mockups? Light AI can guide you through calibrating your measurements, help plan lighting designs, write quote descriptions, and draft client follow-up messages. These tools are unlimited on Plus and Pro for normal business use (fair use applies); Free uses 1 credit per action. AI mockup images always use credits. ### Can Light AI connect to my CRM or automations? Yes, on Pro and Enterprise. Pro includes an API, webhooks and an MCP server to connect Claude, ChatGPT or any CRM or automation tool, including n8n, Zapier, HighLevel and HubSpot, to your leads, quotes and mockups. Free and Plus do not include API access. Developer docs are at docs.light-ai.app . A built-in Jobber sync is coming soon on Pro. ### Can homeowners request a quote from my website? Yes, on Pro and Enterprise. Add your own request form to your website with a script or an iframe, or share its link and QR code; AI install instructions help you put it on any site. Homeowners can see an instant AI mockup of their home (5 credits each, with a monthly cap you set), and every request lands in your Requests inbox. Pro includes up to 10 forms; Enterprise is unlimited. ### Do unused credits roll over? Free credits refresh each month and do not roll over. On Plus and Pro, unused monthly credits remain available for 30 days after the billing period ends, then expire. Enterprise rollover is set with your custom plan. ### What if I run out of credits? Buy more credits at any time on an active plan: 9¢ per credit on Free, 4.5¢ on Plus and 4¢ on Pro. Purchased credits never expire. A paid plan also includes monthly credits (Plus: 1,000 a month) and every feature it unlocks. Owners can enable automatic top-up in Billing, choose a low-balance trigger and purchase amount, and set a monthly spending cap. It stays off until you authorize it, and you can turn it off anytime. On Free, automatic top-up is available after your first credit purchase, with a $25 monthly cap by default (up to $100). A plan that is past due or canceled, or on Off-Season, cannot buy credits. ### Do mockups have watermarks? Free images include a light-ai.app watermark in the middle and a small light-ai.app badge in the bottom-right corner. Paid images have neither. Every image retains a small blue corner symbol to identify it as AI-generated. ### Is there a free trial? The Free plan includes 100 monthly credits with no card required. Paid subscriptions charge immediately at checkout and provide their included credits once payment succeeds. ### Can I change plans anytime? Yes. Move to a higher plan at any time and the new plan starts right away. If you move to a lower plan, its lower price begins at your next renewal. Moving below Pro pauses API keys and webhooks until you return to Pro. ### Are there project limits? No. Every plan, including Free, lets you save unlimited quotes. Each mockup or edit image uses 5 credits (20 for four mockups, 10 for two edit images); on Free, the estimating and writing tools use 1 credit per action. ### What payment methods do you accept? Secure checkout shows the payment methods eligible for your purchase based on factors such as location, currency, and device. The exact options available appear at checkout. ### What if business slows down after the season? Plus and Pro subscribers can switch to Off-Season from Billing for $9.99/month. It starts when your paid month ends and keeps your storefront open: your request forms keep taking leads (the first 10 requests each month still get AI mockups for the homeowner, included), quote links you already sent stay live and approvals still come in, and you can view all your quotes, clients and images. Creating or editing quotes, AI mockups and AI text, sending new quotes and buying credits are locked until you resume your plan. No monthly credits arrive, credits already in your balance are frozen until you resume (any expiry dates still apply), and your founder rate is kept for your return. Your plan returns automatically on your first billing date in September, or sooner whenever you choose. Automatic return is on by default; you can turn it off in Billing until 24 hours before the return (Billing and the 7-day email show the exact time), and we email you 7 days and 1 day before. ### Can I cancel anytime? Yes. If you cancel, you keep your quotes and clients on the Free plan, and photos and mockups are kept for 90 days, but your founding price is gone for good. Off-Season ($9.99/month) keeps your founding price, your request forms and your live quote links, and you can resume any time. Either way there is no penalty, and a canceled plan stays active until the end of the current billing period. ## Help center ### Creating your Light AI account Start on the Free plan with 100 credits a month and no card required, then upgrade whenever you like. 1. Open Pricing and choose Free, Plus or Pro. 2. Fill in your details and choose a password to create your account. 3. Verify your email from the message we send you (check spam or promotions if it does not arrive, or use Resend verification email). The link works in any browser or device, not only the one you signed up on. 4. If you picked Plus or Pro, review secure checkout in Settings → Billing. Your account is created on Free first, and nothing is charged until checkout is completed. - A short setup asks which lighting you sell and how you work, then lets you play the homeowner: send a request with your own house photo, get a free AI mockup and see the quote link your customer would open. Christmas lighting is the available workflow today; you can Skip setup and Resume it later from Home. - Joining a team? Use the link in your invitation email instead of signing up separately. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#sign-up ### The guided walkthrough A hands-on tour on a sample home: measure, design mockups and publish a practice quote. The walkthrough uses a sample quote ("Sample Christmas quote") so you can practise every step without touching real customer work. Blue outlines show what to look at and the pulsing gold outline shows what to click next. Each card is read aloud, and you can mute it. For the first practice run in your organization, up to 4 mockups and 2 edit results are on us. Later runs use normal credits; the Generate button always shows the cost. On the Free plan, the tour also previews every paid feature where it lives, with sample content that is never saved, and tags each one with the plan that includes it: open tracking and open alerts, your logo, quote style and mockup reveal (Plus), and website request forms, quote emails from your own address, the API, webhooks and MCP server, and a call with Ricardo (Pro). Owners then see what paid plans add, with a button to the plans. Paid and trial accounts see their real features instead. 1. On Home, click Take a quick tour on the "A quick tour. A faster first quote." card. 2. Inside a quote, use the Quick tour link at the top right of the step. 3. To replay it any time: Settings → Preferences → Explore Light AI → Replay guided tour. 4. On Free, to see only the paid feature previews again: Settings → Preferences → Refreshers → What paid plans add. - If you stop part-way, Resume walkthrough on Home continues the sample where you left off. - It works on your phone, but it is best on a computer. Signed up on your phone? Tap Email me the link on Home and open it on your computer to start the walkthrough there. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#walkthrough ### Your first quote, start to finish Every quote follows four steps: Intake, Measure, Mockup and Review. 1. Home → New Quote (or Quotes → New Quote) opens the Create New Quote wizard: pick a template, a client and a property, then Create Quote. 2. Intake: add a front photo of the home and, ideally, an overhead plan view. 3. Measure: calibrate, trace the rooflines and features you will light, and check your prices. 4. Mockup: generate AI lighting mockups and pick your favourite. 5. Review: write the client message, choose what to include, then publish the customer link, email it or export a PDF. - Already started a job? Resume it from Home → Get Back to It, Quotes, or the Next action on a Pipeline card instead of creating a duplicate. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#first-quote ### Signing in and resetting your password Sign in with email and password or Google; reset a forgotten password from the sign-in page. - Use the same method you signed up with: email and password, or Continue with Google. - Forgot your password? on the sign-in page sends a reset link. New passwords need at least 8 characters, and an expired link offers Request a new reset link. - To change your sign-in email, go to Settings → Profile → Change sign-in email and confirm the links sent to both the old and the new inbox. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#sign-in ### Install Light AI on your phone or iPad Add Light AI to your home screen so it opens with one tap, full screen like an app, without the browser’s bars. Free, nothing to download from an app store. In the app, open your account menu → Install the app, or Settings → Preferences → Install the app → Show me how, for the same steps with animated pictures. On phones and iPads, Light AI may also suggest it once you have used the app a little; turn Remind me on this device off there to stop that. 1. iPhone: In Safari, tap the menu button (☰) at the left of the address bar. It is inside the address field at the bottom, not the tabs button on the right. Already see a Share button (a square with an arrow pointing up)? Tap it and skip to step 3. 2. iPhone: Tap Share. It is in the menu that opens, under Translate. 3. iPhone: Tap Add to Home Screen. Scroll down the list if you need to. Not there? Tap View More, or Edit Actions to add it. 4. iPhone: Keep Open as Web App on, then tap Add. Add is at the top right. You can rename the icon first if you like. 5. iPhone: Open Light AI from your Home Screen. It opens full screen, like an app. Sign in once there: the app keeps its own sign-in, separate from Safari. 6. iPad: In Safari, tap Share at the top right. It is the square with an arrow pointing up, next to the address field. Using the compact tab bar? Tap the menu button (☰) at the left of the address field first, then Share. 7. iPad: Tap Add to Home Screen. Scroll down the list if you need to. Not there? Tap View More, or Edit Actions to add it. 8. iPad: Keep Open as Web App on, then tap Add. Add is at the top right of the box. 9. iPad: Open Light AI from your Home Screen. It opens full screen, like an app. Sign in once there: the app keeps its own sign-in, separate from Safari. 10. Android: In Chrome, tap ⋮ at the top right. The three dots next to the address bar. 11. Android: Tap Add to home screen. Some versions of Chrome call it Install app. 12. Android: Tap Install. Confirm in the box that opens. Chrome adds the icon to your home screen. 13. Android: Open Light AI from your home screen. It opens full screen, like an app, already signed in. - iPhone and iPad: use Safari. In Chrome, Firefox or an app’s built-in browser, open light-ai.app in Safari first. - On iPhone and iPad the installed app keeps its own sign-in, so sign in once inside it. Android stays signed in. - The installed app opens to Home and shows the same account, quotes and credits as the website. - To remove it, press and hold the icon and choose Remove App (iPhone and iPad) or Uninstall (Android). Source: https://light-ai.app/help#install-app ### Creating a quote A quote ties a client and a property to its photos, measurements, mockups and pricing. 1. Click New Quote on Home or Quotes (or New Quote on a client's page to preselect that client). 2. Template: pick a Christmas Lights template. 3. Client: search for an existing client or + Add Client (first name, last name and phone are required; email is optional). 4. Property: pick the address or + Add Property. 5. Confirm: optionally add a quote name and internal notes, then Create Quote. The quote builder opens on Intake. - Quotes are never permanently deleted. Archive them from the quote menu and restore them from Quotes → View Archived. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#create-project ### Adding property photos A front view is required for mockups; an overhead plan view gives the most accurate pricing. On Intake, upload a Front View Image (required) and a Plan View Image (Overhead), which is optional but recommended: without a plan view, measurements from a front photo miss depth and roof slope. Add Another Front View adds up to five front views. The Earth, Zillow and Maps links beside the address open it in a new tab, which helps you find a good photo. A Street View or listing screenshot works well for the front; as a last resort, ask the client for a photo. - Use JPG, PNG or WebP. Large photos are made smaller automatically, up to 32 megapixels (a normal 12 or 24 MP phone photo is fine). - iPhone HEIC photos cannot be read by browsers: export the photo as JPG, or set iPhone Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible, and upload again. - Replacing a photo clears that view's calibration and drawn shapes; Light AI asks first when there is work to lose. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#photos ### Getting the front of the house from Street View The front view loads from Google Street View and the plan view from satellite, by themselves. If either is missing, grab a screenshot with the Earth, Zillow or Maps links. Open a quote that has an address and no front photo yet, and Intake looks for Google Street View by itself. When it finds one, the Front View slot shows the street, already aimed at the house. 1. Drag to look around. Click down the street, or use Google's arrows on the road, to move to a better spot. 2. The ◀ ▶ step buttons move one spot along the street and turn the camera back to the house. 3. Level straightens the camera. Zoom with the slider or the − and + buttons (or pinch on a phone). Scrolling the page never moves the camera. 4. Click Use this view. What you see is what lands on the canvas, and it saves like any uploaded photo. 5. Front View 1 has a Front View source switch: Street View (auto) or Upload my own / Google Earth. Extra front views have their own Use Street View button under their frame, and an empty one opens on Street View. 6. Already have a front photo? Replace with Street View on that card swaps only that card's photo. It asks first, naming the card, when that photo has measurements. - The plan view works the same way: Satellite (auto) finds the roof from the address. See Plan view: satellite or Google Earth. - No Street View or no satellite view for an address? Intake shows the normal upload and highlights the Earth, Zillow and Maps links beside the address. Open one, screenshot the house (or the roof, for the plan view), and drop it in. - Prefer your own photo? Upload a photo instead switches the slot back to the normal upload. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#street-view ### Plan view: satellite or Google Earth Let Light AI find the roof on a satellite map, or upload your own Google Earth screenshot. When the plan view card shows Plan View source, Satellite (auto) finds the house from the address and opens a live satellite map. Drag, zoom or rotate it (North up straightens it), centre the roof in the square and click Use this view. A satellite plan view is already to scale, so Measure skips calibration for it. Find the house again re-runs the lookup after you fix an address. If the house cannot be found or the map does not load, Intake switches to Upload my own / Google Earth so you can upload a screenshot instead. Google Earth in a browser, in three steps: find the clearest roof with View → Show historical imagery; turn on View → Show gridlines and look straight down at the whole roof; measure between two grid crossings with Tools → Measurement so you can click the same two points when calibrating. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#plan-view ### Calibrating and measuring Measure is where you calibrate, trace lighting runs and set every quantity and price. 1. Calibrate each uploaded view: type a known distance in the Calibrate box, click Set Manual, then click that distance's two endpoints. Presets offers Double Garage (16 ft), Single Garage (9 ft) and Front Door (7 ft). Calibrate with AI can estimate it for you. 2. Choose a category in the toolbar (Starter, Ridges, Ground, Garage, Windows and so on), click points along the feature and finish with right-click (or a two-finger tap on a laptop) or Finish Shape. On a phone or tablet, tap Finish Shape. 3. Other, the last category, is for anything else you charge for by the piece: draw it on the plan and front views like the rest, name it in the Line Item Breakdown, and set its quantity and price each (like Add custom item, with no bulb type). 4. Check the Line Item Breakdown: rename items, add a +10% cushion, merge rows or Add custom item for separately priced work. 5. Set this quote's prices in Pricing Settings, or Save to my default template so new quotes start from them. Add a discount or a deposit under Quote Totals: new quotes start at the template's Default deposit, 0% unless you set one in Settings → Templates. - With a plan view, plan measurements are what you bill; lines on the front view only show the AI where lights go. - Measurements support quoting; they are not survey-grade. Review shows these values but cannot edit them: go back to Measure to change anything. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#measuring ### Generating AI mockups Turn the front photo and your measured lines into photo-realistic lighting concepts. 1. Open the Mockup step and use + Add Mockup for each design you want to try (up to eight per quote). 2. In Features to Include, pick the drawn features to light, then choose C9 and mini bulb colours, the C9 pattern and any Ambiance Controls (snow, darker sky, holiday glow and more). 3. Under Advanced Settings, choose One image (5 credits) or Four images (20 credits). The Generate button always shows the cost. 4. Click a result to select it for the quote, or open it full screen and click Use on quote (or press Enter or S). A green check marks the image that is on the quote. You can move to other steps while images generate. - Each mockup card names itself from its light colours (Warm White, Candy Cane, Red & Green, and so on) and follows colour changes. Click the name on the Mockup or Review step to rename it; clearing the name brings the automatic one back. - To change an image, use its blue pencil: mark areas to ADD or REMOVE (or just describe the change) and Apply Edit. Each edit makes two versions for 10 credits, and you choose the one to keep. - Mockups illustrate a concept, not a guaranteed installation result. Free images carry a Light AI watermark; paid plans remove it, while every image keeps a small mark identifying it as AI-generated. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#mockups ### How credits work Every generated image costs 5 credits on every plan: 20 for a four-image set and 10 for an edit pair. - Monthly credits: Free 100, Plus 1,000, Pro 3,000. Image generation has no other usage cap; it is limited by your balance. - Free credits refresh on the 1st of each month and do not roll over. On Plus and Pro, unused monthly credits stay available for 30 days after their billing period ends. - Purchased credits never expire. Credits are used in this order: plan credits first (soonest expiring), then gifted or trial credits, then purchased credits. - Need more? Buy credits anytime on an active plan: 9¢ each on Free, 4.5¢ on Plus, 4¢ on Pro. - Ask AI and the AI writing and measuring helpers are included on active paid plans for normal business use. On Free each reply or helper action costs 1 credit. - A generation that fails with "No credits were charged" did not use credits. Retrying a pending generation reuses the same request, so it is never charged twice. - Your balance shows in the credits ring at the top of the app. The owner sees the full breakdown in Settings → Billing. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#credits ### Buying more credits On an active plan, top-ups cost 9¢ per credit on Free, 4.5¢ on Plus and 4¢ on Pro. 1. The account owner opens Settings → Billing → Buy Credits. 2. Pick a pack or enter a custom amount from $5 to $500. 3. Pay with the saved card or Use a different card. Credits usually appear within seconds. - Auto Top-Up buys credits when your balance drops below a threshold you choose, up to a Monthly safety cap. It stays off until you authorize it, and it turns off if a payment fails. - On Free, Auto Top-Up can be turned on after your first credit purchase goes through. Its Monthly safety cap starts at $25 and can go up to $100. Every automatic charge e-mails a receipt with a link to turn it off. - Purchased credits never expire. A paid plan adds monthly credits and every feature it unlocks. - Credits can't be bought during Off-Season, or while a plan is past due or cancelled. - Only the owner can buy credits; teammates should ask the owner. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#top-ups ### Building the quote in Review Review is the customer-facing quote: message, images, client action and line items. - Client Message: write it yourself or use AI Write Message for a warm first draft (it never states prices or sizes, so type any figures yourself). - Include in Quote: choose the schematics and AI Mockups to include; the first selected mockup is the cover. - Client Action: add a button label (for example Book now or Submit deposit) and your own https link for booking, payment or your CRM. - Preview the quote as Mobile, Desktop or PDF. In the PDF preview, click a part of the page to adjust its width, spacing or page breaks. - Edits save automatically. Done saves your latest changes and returns Home. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#build-quote ### Publishing a customer quote link Share the quote as a website your customer opens on any phone or computer, with no account needed. 1. In Review (or Quote Details → Share quote), open Share as a website. 2. Choose Customer approval: Approve in Light AI, Approve with Jobber or another service, or View only. With Approve in Light AI you can also let customers choose optional extras and adjust bulb colours. 3. Edit the Proposal terms and, if you like, set an Optional link expiration. 4. Click Publish customer link, then Copy link to text or paste it anywhere, or Open to preview it as your customer will see it. - Draft edits stay private until you click Publish update, which refreshes the same link. Disable link stops access; Replace link creates a new address and turns off the old one. - A Light AI approval moves the quote to Approved. Light AI never collects payments or deposits: if you add a payment link, confirm it matches the approved work so the customer sees your payment button. - Once approved, the link panel shows Approved · terms locked. The approved version (scope, prices, terms and design) cannot be edited or deleted, and Light AI keeps it on every plan. Download approval record gives you a PDF of it with an Approval record page: who approved and when, the approved items and total, the full terms, the consent wording shown and the device. - Links are not search-indexed. Your own previews never count as visits or approvals. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#quote-link ### Emailing a quote to your customer Send the published link from Light AI with your logo and a picture of the design that opens the quote. 1. Publish the customer link first (Publish update after any changes, so the email shows the latest version). 2. In Share quote or Review, click Email to customer. 3. Check the To field (it starts with the client's email, up to three addresses), the subject and message, and use Preview to see the exact email. 4. Click Send email. Quote Details → Quote emails then shows delivery status. - Without your own domain, quote emails come from " via Light AI" and replies go to you. On Pro, Settings → Email sending lets you send from your own verified domain. - The email shows your quote's design as a softly blurred picture with Tap to reveal your lights; tapping it opens the quote. A quote without a design gets an Open quote button instead. The header uses Light AI blue unless you picked your own brand color in Settings → Company → Brand. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#email-quote ### Letting customers request changes Add a small "Request a change" link under Approve so customers can ask for changes instead of only approving. 1. In the quote's Review step, with Customer approval set to Approve in Light AI, turn on Let customers request changes (it is off by default). 2. Click Publish update (or Publish customer link) so the live link shows it. 3. Your customer sees "Not quite right? Request a change" under Approve quote, types what they’d like changed in the design (up to 500 characters; optional items are simply selected or unselected on the page) and taps Send request. 4. You get a notification and an email, and Home shows the request under Needs your attention. Open the quote to read it, then Edit quote, Reply, or Mark resolved. - One open request at a time: your customer can send another after you mark it resolved, publish an update, or after 24 hours (at most three a day per quote). - The quote keeps its pipeline stage; its Pipeline card shows a Change requested badge until the request is resolved. Your customer can still approve the quote. - Save as template default under the approval options turns it on for new quotes from that template. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#request-change ### Mockup reveal on quote links Choose how your mockup appears when a customer opens the quote (Plus and Pro). Owners and admins on Plus or Pro set it in Settings → Company → Brand → Mockup reveal → Quote links: pick a reveal style, whether the before/after slider follows the reveal, and whether a full-screen intro plays. Links published from then on use it. In Review, the larger preview's Replay button shows the reveal again. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#quote-reveal ### Exporting a quote PDF Download a PDF of the quote to attach to your own email or CRM. In Review, check every page in the PDF preview, then click Export PDF in the bottom bar. The file downloads and is also saved under Quote Details → Quote PDFs. A PDF keeps the branding it was made with. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#quote-pdf ### Quote opens, approvals and alerts See when customers open and approve quotes in Quote Analytics. - Every plan sees published quotes and approvals, and gets approval emails. - Paid plans also see opens, open rate, viewing time and each quote's visit timeline, and can get an email when a quote is opened. - Open and approval emails go out right away. The notification bell also shows Quote opened (paid plans) and Quote approved (click it to open the quote). - Turn alerts on or off with the toggle at the top of Analytics. They go to the quote's creator and its quote representative. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#quote-activity ### Branding your quotes Add your logo, colours and fonts to quote links and PDFs (Plus and Pro). Owners and admins on Plus or Pro use Settings → Company → Brand: upload a logo, pick a Look or set your own colours, fonts, header and buttons, then Save look. A template's Quote Design can override it. Quotes already shared keep the brand they were published with. To update a live link, open the quote and click Publish update (use Apply Template Design in Review to pull new template styling into a draft). Source: https://light-ai.app/help#branding ### Request forms on your website (Pro) Let homeowners request a quote from your own website. Pro includes up to 10 forms; Enterprise is unlimited. 1. Open Requests → Forms. Your workspace already has one ready-made form, Website form, on the Classic template. Open it, or click New form and start from Classic, Early Bird, Black Friday or Last Chance. 2. Work through Basics, Fields & photo, Questions, Copy & consent, Design & offer, and AI mockup preview & budget. 3. In Install, list every website domain allowed to show the form, then paste the script snippet (or the iframe snippet for site builders that do not allow scripts). Copy instructions for AI helps if an AI site builder makes your site. 4. Share your form gives a shareable link and a QR code for flyers, yard signs and texts. It starts on for new forms (save once to get them); turn it off to keep the form on your website only. - Each request lands in Requests and in Pipeline in the Request stage, with the homeowner's answers and photo. - With the instant AI preview on, a homeowner who adds a photo sees one AI mockup of their home. Each preview costs 5 credits from your balance, up to the monthly cap you set. When credits run low or the cap is reached, the form hides the preview and still captures every request. - On Off-Season, forms keep taking requests and the first requests each month get AI mockups included (see Off-Season plan). - Free and Plus can't create forms. If a form does not show on your site, check the snippet is on the page and the exact domain is listed. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#request-forms ### Working your Requests inbox Every inbound request in one list: website forms, the API, ad lead forms and requests you enter. - Open a request to see contact details, address, photo, answers and AI preview, then Start quote: the homeowner's photo waits on Intake under From your client's request. - A request without an address becomes a quote once you Add address. Mark junk as Spam, or Archive it. - "In Pipeline · check customer" means it may belong to an existing client: Review match to merge it or Keep separate. - Pre-qualified: a budget answer of $1,000 or more shows Pre-qualified, and those requests are listed first within each status (sort by Newest first to turn that off). Change the amount in the form's budget question (Pre-qualify at), or set Pre-qualified, Not pre-qualified or Automatic on any request. The budget ranges themselves are fixed so pre-qualification stays accurate: you can remove one, but not rename or add one. Homeowners never see it and every request still arrives. - Turn email notifications for new requests on or off in Settings → Preferences → Website request notifications. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#requests-inbox ### Managing clients Keep each client's contact details, properties, quotes and notes together. - Clients → Add Client: first name, last name and phone are required, email is optional, and a client can have several properties. - A client's page shows Contact Information, Quick Stats, their quotes and Communication History, where Add Note logs calls, emails, meetings and texts. - Pick the existing client and property when starting a quote instead of creating duplicates. - Export CSV is on the Clients and Quotes pages; Settings → Company → Export your data has every export. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#clients ### Using the Pipeline Six stages from first request to finished job: Request, Quote Drafted, Quote Sent, Approved, Completed and Closed Lost. - Publishing a quote link and a customer approval move quotes automatically. - To move a card yourself, drag its grip or use Change stage, then confirm Move quote. A manual stage records your progress; it does not send a quote or record a payment. - Use Completed after installation (Mark installation complete on an approved quote). - Each card's Next action opens the right step, and badges such as Opened (paid plans) and ASAP flag what needs attention. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#pipeline ### Free, Plus and Pro Plus is $97/month and Pro is $297/month; Free costs nothing. - Free: 100 credits a month, 1 seat, quote links with customer approval, and Light AI attribution on quotes. Ask AI costs 1 credit per reply. Free can buy credits at 9¢ each, and photos and mockups are kept for 90 days. - Plus: 1,000 credits a month, 3 seats, custom branding, quote open analytics and alerts, no attribution, and Ask AI included. - Pro: 3,000 credits a month, unlimited seats, everything in Plus, quote emails from your own domain, website request forms, the API, webhooks and MCP server, and priority support with Book a call. - Every plan includes unlimited quotes. Enterprise terms are set in each agreement; contact us from Pricing. Compare plans on Pricing: https://light-ai.app/pricing Source: https://light-ai.app/help#plans ### Warehouse and Job schematics builder · Pro, this winter Two features are coming to Pro this winter. Neither is available yet. - Warehouse: every tote logged, a digital copy of your warehouse with digital totes for each job’s lights. - Job schematics builder: printable crew copies in English and Spanish, iPhone and iPad friendly for on-the-go drawings. - Both will be part of Pro (and Enterprise). Until then, a project’s measurements, front photo and line items show what each house had. See the roadmap: https://light-ai.app/roadmap Source: https://light-ai.app/help#coming-to-pro ### Founder rates Founding subscribers pay $49/month for Plus or $149/month for Pro, for life. - A founder rate lasts as long as that subscription stays active, and switching between Plus and Pro keeps it. - Your founder rate stays reserved while you're on Off-Season and applies again when your plan returns; Off-Season itself is $9.99/month for everyone. - Cancelling ends founder pricing for good; subscribing again later is at the standard price. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#founder-rates ### Upgrading, changing or cancelling The account owner manages the plan, card and invoices in Settings → Billing. - Upgrade from Free with Upgrade to Plus or Upgrade to Pro; nothing is charged until checkout is completed. A higher plan starts right away; a lower plan's price begins at your next renewal. - Payment method shows the saved card, with Update card to change it. Invoices & cancellation opens the secure Stripe billing portal for invoices, receipts and cancelling. - After cancelling, your plan stays active until the end of the paid period, then moves to Free. - Yes. If you cancel, you keep your quotes and clients on the Free plan, and photos and mockups are kept for 90 days, but your founding price is gone for good. Off-Season ($9.99/month) keeps your founding price, your request forms and your live quote links, and you can resume any time. - If a payment fails, paid features stop until the owner updates the card; Light AI retries the payment right away. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#manage-plan ### Off-Season plan Keep your storefront open for $9.99/month between seasons; your founder rate waits for your return. Owners of an active monthly Plus or Pro subscription can switch to Off-Season in Settings → Billing for $9.99/month. It starts when your paid month ends, and nothing is charged the day you switch. New sign-ups can't choose it. During a Plus or Pro trial you can choose it too: it starts when your trial ends, so your first charge is $9.99 instead of your plan price. Your trial continues until then, and unused trial credits still expire when it ends. Your request forms keep taking leads (the first 10 requests each month still get AI mockups for the homeowner, included), quote links you already sent stay live and approvals still come in, and you can view all your quotes, clients and images. Creating or editing quotes, AI mockups and AI text, sending new quotes and buying credits are locked until you resume your plan. A locked button offers Resume my plan to owners and admins. No monthly credits arrive. Credits already in your balance (bought, gifted or left from your plan) are frozen until you resume your plan: they can’t be spent until then, and any expiry dates still apply. Those included mockups use no credits. After the first 10 requests in a month, your forms still take every request and tell the homeowner you'll follow up with a design. Your plan returns automatically on your first billing date in September, or sooner whenever you choose. Automatic return is on by default; you can turn it off in Billing until 24 hours before the return (Billing and the 7-day email show the exact time), and we email you 7 days and 1 day before. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#off-season ### Photo and mockup storage on Free On the Free plan, photos and mockups are kept for 90 days. Each photo or mockup is deleted 90 days after the later of when it was added and when the workspace moved to Free. The owner gets an email 14 days before the first deletion. Quotes with their text and pricing, clients, sent quote PDFs and approved quotes are kept, and so are the photos and mockups shown in a quote you sent or that was approved. Paid plans, trials and Off-Season keep everything. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#free-retention ### Inviting your team Free has 1 seat, Plus 3 seats and Pro unlimited seats. 1. Owners and admins open Settings → Team and click Invite member. 2. Enter the email address and choose Admin, Quoter, Viewer or a Custom role. 3. Click Send invite. The invitee creates their account from the email link. - Pending invites reserve a seat and can be resent or revoked. Deactivating a member frees their seat; removing access keeps their history. - Invites expire after 7 days. An invite is cancelled automatically when the person who sent it is removed or deactivated, loses permission to invite, or (for an Admin invite) is no longer the owner. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#team ### Roles and permissions Owner, Admin, Quoter, Viewer and Custom roles decide what each person can do. - Owner: everything, including billing. Only the owner sees Billing and can transfer ownership. - Admin: quotes, clients, templates, pricing, the team (except other admins) and analytics, but not billing. - Quoter: measures, designs and sends quotes, but cannot change templates, the team or billing. - Viewer: can look but not change anything. - Custom: exactly the permissions the owner or an admin picks. - The AI access switch in Settings → Team can turn Ask AI and AI generation off for one member. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#roles ### API and webhooks (Pro) Connect any CRM or automation tool to your leads, quotes and mockups. Pro (including Pro trials) and Enterprise include a REST API and signed webhooks: send leads in from ad forms and other channels, get quotes, approvals and mockups out, and generate mockups from your credits. Tools like n8n, Zapier, HighLevel and HubSpot can connect. Create keys in Settings → Developers → API keys; start with a test key to work on test data only. Free and Plus have no API access, and moving below Pro suspends existing keys and webhooks until you return to Pro. On Off-Season, API and MCP writes are locked, though new leads sent through the API still arrive. Developer docs at docs.light-ai.app: https://docs.light-ai.app Source: https://light-ai.app/help#api ### MCP server for AI assistants (Pro) Let Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or n8n AI agents work in your Light AI account. The Light AI MCP server lets an AI assistant look up leads, clients, projects and quotes, add leads, move projects through the pipeline and generate mockups. It uses an API key from Settings → Developers, with the same permissions and limits as the API. Keep the key in the assistant's secret settings, never in a chat message. MCP setup guide: https://docs.light-ai.app/mcp Source: https://light-ai.app/help#mcp ### Jobber CRM integration · Coming Soon A built-in Jobber sync is planned for Pro and is not available yet. Today you can link your quote's approval button to Jobber or another service (Approve with Jobber or another service), though nothing syncs back automatically. On Pro, ready-made n8n recipes connect Jobber, HighLevel and HubSpot through the API. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#jobber ### Ask AI, the in-app assistant Click the round lightning-bolt button at the bottom right of any screen in the app. - Ask how to do something and Light AI answers with the exact steps for your screen, role and plan. It can also prepare some actions, such as publishing a quote link, but nothing changes until you confirm. - It can look up your clients and quotes by name (any spelling of the full name), email or address, or find your newest client, and it suggests close matches when a name is slightly off. - Included on active paid plans; on Free each reply costs 1 credit. - You can attach a screenshot to a question. Chat history is private to each member. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#ask-ai ### Talking to a person Open a support ticket from Ask AI, or email support@light-ai.app. - Ask Light AI first. If it can't solve the problem, or you ask for a person, an Open a support ticket button appears under the answer. The conversation can be attached, and you can add screenshots or files before you click Send ticket. - Replies arrive by email and under My support tickets in your account menu. - Pro members can also Book a call: a 30-minute call with our founder, from the Book a call tab in the Ask AI panel. - Found a bug or have an idea? Use Feedback in the Ask AI panel or Send feedback in your account menu. Email support@light-ai.app: mailto:support@light-ai.app Source: https://light-ai.app/help#support-tickets ### Common fixes Quick answers for the problems we see most. - "Not saved" or "Offline": keep the tab open, reconnect and press Retry rather than reloading. - A button is greyed out: check the step's required inputs (for example a front photo before Continue to Measurements, or calibration before pricing), your credit balance and your role. - A customer says the link does not work: it may be disabled, replaced or expired. Check Share as a website, enable or publish it, then send the link again. - An email did not arrive (verification, invitation, password reset or quote alert): check spam and promotions, then resend from the same screen or ask an owner or admin to resend an invitation. - A preview stays blank: press Try again in the preview, then reload the page. If it keeps happening, report it with a screenshot. Source: https://light-ai.app/help#troubleshooting ## Blog posts ## Strandr Alternatives for Christmas Lighting Contractors (2026) URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/strandr-alternatives Published: 2026-11-04 · Category: Product how-tos · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI Looking for a Strandr alternative? Compare hand-drawn lighting mockups with AI mockups, satellite measuring and a quote link homeowners approve on their phone. The best Strandr alternative for most Christmas lighting contractors is Light AI. Strandr is a design tool: you upload a photo and place every strand by hand, and its own site says it has no CRM and no quoting beyond exporting the image. Light AI generates AI mockups of the customer's own house, measures rooflines on a to-scale satellite plan view, turns them into priced line items and sends one quote link the homeowner approves on their phone, then hands the won job to the CRM you already use. This guide uses only what each company states on its own website, checked on Nov 4, 2026. For the wider market, see our [top 10 Christmas light quoting software guide](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-christmas-light-quoting-software). ## What does Strandr do well? Credit where it is due. Strandr is focused and simple. According to its homepage, you: - upload a photo of the house and click along rooflines to place lights, - set bulb size, spacing and up to five colours, including stripe patterns, - drag in wreaths, bows, garland or your own uploaded decorations, - measure rooflines from the photo with its INCHR tools (part of the Professional plan), - export a high-resolution image, with a 16:9 frame that fits proposal templates, and - work in a browser on a PC, Mac or tablet, with saved project files you can reopen and edit. It offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. On Nov 4, 2026 the homepage did not show a plan price, so check the current price in the trial before you budget for it. If all you need is a picture of lights on a house, that list covers it. Most contractors searching for an alternative have found that a picture is only one part of the job. ## Why do contractors look for a Strandr alternative? Three reasons come up again and again, and each one traces back to what Strandr's own site says. **1. Every design is drawn by hand.** Strandr does not mention AI anywhere on its homepage. Each roofline, window and tree is clicked into place by you, house after house. That is fine for ten quotes. In late October, when request forms are filling up faster than you can answer them, hand-drawing becomes the bottleneck between a lead and a quote. **2. The picture is not the quote.** Strandr states "No CRM," and the only quote-related feature it lists is exporting the image for a text, an email or a proposal template. Pricing, line items, approval and follow-up have to happen somewhere else, which means a second tool and a second round of copying the same house details. **3. Measuring from a photo misses depth.** INCHR measures from the photo. A photo taken from the street shows the front of the roof well, but it cannot show how far back the roof runs, so hidden ridges, rear gables and back runs are easy to miss or guess. A to-scale overhead view shows every run from above. We explain why in [measuring a roofline from your desk](https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view). ## How does Light AI compare with Strandr? ✓ means the vendor's own website states the feature. ✗ means the vendor says it does not offer it. "Not stated" means we could not find it on their public pages, not that it is impossible. | Feature | Light AI | Strandr | LightQuoter | |---|---|---|---| | AI mockups of the customer's own house | ✓ | Not stated (placed by hand) | Not stated (drawn on a photo) | | Edit a design by hand | ✓ Brush edits | ✓ | ✓ | | Several looks to compare in one go | ✓ Sets of AI mockups | Partial (draw each version) | Not stated | | House loads from the address | ✓ Street View front photo and satellite plan view | Not stated (upload a photo) | ✓ Satellite map | | Roofline measuring | ✓ To-scale satellite plan view | From photos (INCHR) | ✓ Satellite tracing | | Priced line items from your own rates | ✓ | Not stated | ✓ | | Quote link the homeowner approves on a phone | ✓ | Not stated (image export) | ✓ Digital signature | | Quote open and viewing-time tracking | ✓ (paid plans) | Not stated | Not stated | | Website request form with an instant AI mockup | ✓ (Pro) | Not stated | Not stated | | Built-in CRM | ✗ Pairs with your CRM | ✗ "No CRM" | ✓ Customer profiles, crew calendar | | Sends leads and approvals to Jobber-class CRMs | Partial (API, webhooks, Zapier and n8n on Pro) | Not stated | Not stated | | Free plan or trial | ✓ Free plan | 7-day trial | Free first signed job each season | ## What makes Light AI the strongest Strandr alternative? ### AI mockups instead of hand-drawn strands In Light AI you pick the features to light, C9 or mini bulbs, colours, patterns and extras like snow, and it generates a set of AI mockups of that exact house. If one detail is off, brush over it and regenerate that part. You compare looks side by side instead of redrawing the roof for each version. Each image is clearly an AI mockup, so set expectations with the homeowner the same way you would with any design preview. ![A set of four AI mockups of the same house in warm white, cool white, multicolor and warm white with snow](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-set-of-four.webp "One set of AI mockups gives the homeowner four looks to compare") ### Measuring on a to-scale plan view Type the address and Light AI loads the Street View front photo and a live satellite map. Centre the roof, click Use this view, and you are tracing on a to-scale overhead image with no calibration step. Trace starter, ridges, ground and other runs, merge them into one line per category, and price them from your own rates or a saved template. If the satellite image is out of date or the house is new, upload your own photos instead. ![Satellite plan view of a house with rooflines traced in colour by category](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/plan-view-traced-rooflines.webp "Every run on the roof is visible from above, including the back") ### One quote link instead of an image file Strandr gives you an image to attach. Light AI gives the homeowner a branded quote website that opens on any phone. They can switch between designs, choose bulb colours, add optional extras and approve online, and the project moves to Approved. You can still export a PDF when a customer asks for one. For why links beat attachments, read [quote links vs PDF quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes). ![A homeowner's phone showing the Light AI quote link with bulb colour choices](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-link-bulb-colors.webp "The homeowner picks bulb colours on the quote link itself") ### Speed to lead, with signals on when to follow up Speed wins lighting jobs. In a widely cited [Harvard Business Review study](https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads), firms that tried to contact an online lead within an hour were nearly seven times as likely to qualify it as firms that waited even an hour longer. Light AI is built so a desk quote starts with the house already loaded, and on paid plans you see who opened the quote and for how long, so you call while the homeowner is still deciding. On Pro, your website request form shows the homeowner an AI mockup of their own home before you even call back. ### It keeps the CRM you already trust Strandr has no CRM, and Light AI is not one either, but the difference is what happens after the quote. Light AI is built to hand off: on Pro, the API and webhooks with ready-made Zapier and n8n recipes send leads and approved quotes into Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan or GoHighLevel. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap, not live. **Light AI handles the quote; your CRM handles the job.** Some lighting tools go the other way and build their own all-in-one CRM. In our experience, contractors stay with the most reliable, best-supported platform they already run their crews and books in, so we chose to master the quote and connect to it. ## What about LightQuoter? LightQuoter is the other name that comes up in Strandr comparisons. Its site describes satellite roofline tracing with automatic pitch adjustment, lights you draw on a photo of the house, digital signatures, Stripe deposits, customer profiles and a calendar for up to five crews. It lists a free tier for your first signed job each season, then $79 a month from September to January and $9 a month the rest of the year, or $397 a year. It solves Strandr's pricing gap, but not the drawing gap: designs are still placed by hand. And because it is built to be your CRM, it asks you to run jobs in a lighting-only system instead of the field-service platform you already trust. For a side-by-side of more tools, see [Light AI vs other Christmas lighting software](https://light-ai.app/blog/light-ai-vs-christmas-lighting-software). ## Light AI plans Light AI has a Free plan with 100 credits a month, Plus at $97/month and Pro at $297/month. Quote-open tracking is on paid plans, and request forms with instant AI mockups, quote emails from your own domain, the API, webhooks and the MCP server are on Pro. Light AI never takes payments, deposits or e-signatures; add your own payment or booking link to the quote, or take payment in your CRM. Compare plans on the [pricing page](https://light-ai.app/pricing). ## How to test a Strandr alternative this week - [ ] Pick one real house you quoted recently with Strandr. - [ ] Quote it again in Light AI from the address: plan view measure, a set of AI mockups, line items and a quote link. - [ ] Compare the two side by side: time spent, footage found, and what the homeowner would receive. - [ ] Send the quote link to your own phone and approve it as if you were the homeowner. - [ ] Check how the approved job would reach your CRM through Zapier or n8n. ## Sources Strandr features and terms were checked on Nov 4, 2026, on strandr.com. LightQuoter features and prices were checked on Nov 4, 2026, on lightquoter.com. Light AI integration paths are documented in the [integration docs](https://docs.light-ai.app). Lead-response research: Oldroyd, McElheran and Elkington, "The Short Life of Online Sales Leads," Harvard Business Review, March 2011. Product names are trademarks of their owners. Spot something out of date? Email support@light-ai.app and we will fix it. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best Strandr alternative? For contractors who want to quote fast, Light AI. It replaces hand-drawn strands with AI mockups of the customer's own house, measures on a to-scale satellite plan view, and sends a quote link the homeowner approves on their phone. ### Does Strandr use AI? Its homepage does not mention AI as of Nov 4, 2026. Lights and decorations are placed by hand on an uploaded photo. ### Does Strandr make quotes or have a CRM? Strandr's site states "No CRM" and lists image export for texts, emails and proposal templates rather than priced quotes or online approval. Light AI builds the priced quote and approval, then passes the job to your CRM. ### Can I switch from Strandr to Light AI mid-season? Yes. Light AI loads each house from the address, so there is nothing to import before you start. Begin on the Free plan with your next lead and keep your CRM exactly as it is. ### Does Light AI replace Jobber or Housecall Pro? No. Light AI is a quoting specialist that pairs with them. On Pro, leads and approved quotes reach Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan or GoHighLevel through the API, webhooks, Zapier or n8n. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap. ## Best Christmas Light Quoting & Business Software in 2026: Top 10 Compared URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/best-christmas-light-quoting-software Published: 2026-11-03 · Category: Product how-tos · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI The 10 best Christmas light quoting and business software tools for 2026, compared on AI mockups, roofline measuring, quote approval, CRM fit and price. The best Christmas light quoting software in 2026 is Light AI if your goal is to quote fast and send the highest-quality quote you can, while keeping the CRM you already run. It loads the house from the address, measures the roofline on a to-scale satellite plan view, creates AI mockups of the customer's own home and sends one branded quote link they approve on a phone. The other tools on this list either make you draw every design by hand, measure from a street photo that can't see the back of the roof, or try to replace the CRM you already trust. Every fact below comes from each company's own website, checked on Nov 3, 2026. Full disclosure: I'm Ricardo Corona, and I built Light AI. Every competitor fact here comes from that company's own website, checked on Nov 3, 2026. If anything is out of date, tell us and we will fix it. ## How did we pick and judge these tools? We looked for software that Christmas and holiday lighting contractors actually use to win jobs, then judged each one on the five things that decide whether a quote gets approved: 1. **Speed to a quote.** How few steps stand between "please quote my house" and a priced quote on the homeowner's phone? 2. **The visual.** Does the homeowner see their own house lit, and who has to draw it? 3. **Measuring.** Can you measure every run from your desk, including the back of the roof? 4. **Approval and follow-up.** Can the homeowner approve online, and can you see when they opened it? 5. **Fit with your stack.** Does it pair with the CRM you already trust, or ask you to replace it? Speed matters more than most contractors expect. In the Harvard Business Review study [The Short Life of Online Sales Leads](https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads) (2011), companies that tried to contact a lead within an hour were nearly seven times as likely to qualify it as those that waited even an hour longer. A lighting lead is no different: the first good quote on the phone usually sets the price everyone else is compared against. ## The top 10 at a glance ✓ means the vendor's own website states the feature. "Not stated" means we could not find it on their public pages, not that it is impossible. Prices are what each site listed on Nov 3, 2026; check before you buy. | Tool | AI mockup of the customer's home | How you measure | Approve online | Works beside your CRM | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Light AI** | ✓ AI mockup sets, brush edits | ✓ To-scale satellite plan view from the address | ✓ Quote link | ✓ API, webhooks, Zapier, n8n (Pro) | | Light Design Hero | ✓ AI render or drawing | Roofline measured from the address | ✓ Proposals (Pro) | Partial (Jobber, Housecall Pro push, beta) | | LightMaster | ✓ AI mockups or drawing | Photos and satellite | ✓ E-sign and deposit | ✗ Built to be your CRM | | LightQuoter | ✗ Drawn by hand | Satellite tracing with pitch | ✓ E-sign | ✗ Built to be your CRM | | Light Designer | ✓ AI design from one photo | The front photo | Not stated (PDF) | Partial (webhooks) | | Strandr | ✗ Drawn by hand | Photos (INCHR tools) | Not stated | ✗ "No CRM" | | LightHawk | ✗ Drawn by hand | Lines drawn on a photo | Not stated | Not stated | | QuoteIQ | Partial (general AI image) | Satellite (MapMeasure Pro) | ✓ E-sign | ✗ It is a CRM | | Holiday Home Concepts | ✗ Drawn by hand | Measurements set on a photo | Partial (proposal page) | Not stated | | Your field-service CRM | ✗ | ✗ | Varies | It is the CRM | Follow-up and price, as listed on Nov 3, 2026: | Tool | Quote open tracking | Listed price | |---|---|---| | **Light AI** | ✓ Plus and Pro, with open alerts | Free; Plus $97/month; Pro $297/month | | Light Design Hero | Not stated | Free; Design $37/mo billed annually | | LightMaster | Not stated | Free; Lite $24.99/mo | | LightQuoter | Not stated | Free (1 signed job a season); $397/yr | | Light Designer | Not stated | $50/mo or $500/yr | | Strandr | Not stated | $197/yr | | LightHawk | Not stated | $399/yr or $149 per 3 months | | QuoteIQ | ✓ Open notifications | From $29.99/mo | | Holiday Home Concepts | Not stated | $90/mo billed yearly | ## 1. Light AI: the fastest, highest-quality quote, beside your CRM Light AI is a quoting specialist for Christmas lighting contractors. You type the address: the front photo loads from Street View and the plan view loads from a live satellite map. Centre the roof and you have a to-scale overhead image to measure on, with no calibration step. You trace starter, ridges, ground and other runs into priced line items from your own rates, generate AI mockups of the customer's own house (choose what to light, C9 and mini bulb colours, patterns and ambiance such as snow) and brush-edit the one you like. ![Satellite plan view of a home with rooflines traced in green, yellow and blue in Light AI's Measure step](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/plan-view-traced-rooflines.webp "A to-scale satellite plan view shows every run, including the back of the roof") The homeowner gets one branded quote link. On any phone they can switch between designs, add optional extras, pick bulb colours, ask for a change and approve. Paid plans show who opened the quote, how many times and for how long, with open alerts, so you follow up while they are still looking. On Pro, website request forms show homeowners an instant AI mockup of their own home and can pre-qualify their budget, quote emails go out from your own domain, and the API, webhooks and MCP server hand leads and approvals to your CRM. ![AI mockup of a two-story home with snowy gables lit in warm white roofline lights](https://light-ai.app/gallery/hero-mockup-04.webp "AI mockup from the Light AI gallery. Mockups illustrate a concept, not a guaranteed install") **What it leaves to your CRM:** Light AI never collects payments, deposits or e-signatures (add your own payment or booking link as the quote's button), and it does not schedule crews or send invoices. That is deliberate: your CRM already does those jobs. Plans: Free with 100 credits a month and no card, Plus at $97/month and Pro at $297/month; each AI mockup image uses 5 credits. ## 2. Light Design Hero: what it does and where it falls short Light Design Hero pulls a house from the address, measures the roofline, and lets you draw the lights yourself or use Render with AI; its fully automatic AI design mode is labelled beta. Its Pro plan adds proposals customers can accept and a beta push of proposals into Jobber or Housecall Pro. Plans listed: Free, Design at $37 a month billed annually and Pro at $99 a month billed annually. **Where it falls short:** its full AI design and its CRM push are both still beta, and its site does not list quote-open tracking or a quote the homeowner can switch between designs, extras and bulb colours on. Light AI has all of those, with open alerts on Plus and Pro. ## 3. LightMaster: what it does and where it falls short LightMaster is an all-in-one platform for lighting businesses. Its site lists QuickMeasure from photos and satellite, AI mockups with a manual draw option, and a quote link with e-sign and deposits, wrapped in its own CRM, scheduling, dispatch, invoicing, routing, crew and inventory tools. Plans: Free, Lite $24.99, Standard $79.99 and Professional $99.99 a month. **Where it falls short:** it is a niche all-in-one CRM trying to replace Jobber-class platforms. Most established contractors won't move their customers, crews and books off the reliable, well-supported CRM they already run, least of all in December. Its site does not list quote-open tracking or a website request form with an instant AI mockup. ## 4. LightQuoter: what it does and where it falls short LightQuoter traces rooflines on satellite imagery with pitch adjustment, and you place lights, wreaths and garland on a photo of the house with a day and night preview. Customers sign digitally and can pay deposits through Stripe, and it adds its own customer profiles, job board, crew calendar, routing and invoices. Plans: Free with one signed job per season, Season at $79 a month from September to January and $9 a month from February to August, or $397 a year. **Where it falls short:** no AI mockups of the customer's own home, so every design is drawn by hand, house after house. Like LightMaster, it is built to be your CRM too, and its site does not list quote-open tracking or a website form with an instant mockup. ## 5. Light Designer: what it does and where it falls short Light Designer (lightdesigner.app) creates an AI lighting design from one driveway photo, or lets you trace lights first and have the AI render them, and totals footage and strand counts. Quotes go out as itemised PDFs by text, email or print, with a pipeline board, a lead page and webhooks. It lists $50 a month or $500 a year. **Where it falls short:** it measures from a front photo, which cannot see how deep the roof runs, so back runs and hidden ridges are easy to miss; Light AI measures on a to-scale satellite plan view of the whole roof. Its quote is a PDF rather than a link the homeowner approves on a phone. Here's [why quote links beat PDF quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes). ## 6. Strandr: what it does and where it falls short Strandr is a design tool. You upload a house photo, click to add lights along rooflines, drag decorations into place and export a high-resolution image, and it measures from photos with its INCHR tools. Its homepage says it has "No CRM." It listed a Professional plan at $197 a year. **Where it falls short:** no AI mockups, so you draw every strand by hand; measuring comes from photos rather than a to-scale overhead view; and pricing, approval and follow-up all happen somewhere else. ## 7. LightHawk: what it does and where it falls short LightHawk, from Christmas Lights by Design, has you lay out lights on a property photo with day and night views, measures footage from the lines you draw (or numbers you type), and prints or emails itemised estimates. A job tracker moves jobs from Quoted to Sold, Installed and Removed. It listed $399 a year or $149 per three months. **Where it falls short:** designs are drawn by hand, and measuring from a street photo misses what the street can't see. Its site does not mention an online approval link or open tracking. Our guide to [measuring a roofline on a satellite plan view](https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view) shows the difference. ## 8. QuoteIQ: what it does and where it falls short QuoteIQ is a general field-service platform that lists holiday lighting among many industries. It measures on satellite imagery with MapMeasure Pro, makes a before and after image with AI, and sends quotes with open notifications, e-sign and deposits, alongside its own CRM, scheduling and invoicing. Plans start at $29.99 a month. **Where it falls short:** it is built for many trades, so its site does not describe a lighting design tool with bulb colours, patterns and design options on the quote. And as a full CRM, it asks you to move off the one you already run. ## 9. Holiday Home Concepts: what it does and where it falls short Holiday Home Concepts lets you upload a photo, set measurements and draw lights on the house, with animated previews for permanent lighting and a one-click proposal page. It listed $90 a month billed $1,080 a year for Christmas. **Where it falls short:** no AI design stated, so each house is drawn by hand, and measurements are set on a photo rather than taken from a to-scale satellite view. ## 10. Your field-service CRM: the other half of the stack Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot and GoHighLevel are not Christmas light quoting tools, and they don't try to be. They run the job: scheduling, routing, crews, invoicing and payments. What none of them include is a purpose-built lighting quote with a satellite plan view, AI mockups of the customer's house and a holiday quote link. That is why the best stack for most established contractors is a quoting specialist plus the CRM they already trust. **Light AI handles the quote; your CRM handles the job.** The two are complementary, not either-or. Today Light AI connects through the API and webhooks on Pro, with recipes for Jobber through Zapier or n8n, Housecall Pro through n8n or Zapier, ServiceTitan through Zapier, Service Autopilot through n8n and GoHighLevel through workflows and webhooks. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap, not live. ## Why Light AI is the best pick Go through what wins a lighting job, and Light AI is the only tool here built around every step of the quote: | What you need | How Light AI handles it | The gap in the others | |---|---|---| | Fast quotes | The front photo and a to-scale satellite plan view load from the address, with no calibration step, so you go straight to measuring | Strandr, LightHawk, Light Designer and Holiday Home Concepts start from a photo you supply, and the hand-drawn tools make you draw each design before the homeowner sees anything | | Quote quality | AI mockups of the customer's own home in sets of looks, with bulb colours, patterns, snow and brush edits | LightQuoter, Strandr, LightHawk and Holiday Home Concepts are hand-drawn; Light Design Hero's full AI design is beta | | Accurate roof measuring | Rooflines traced on a to-scale satellite plan view that shows every run, including the back of the roof | Strandr, LightHawk, Light Designer and Holiday Home Concepts measure from photos taken from the street | | Keep your CRM | Pairs with Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot and GoHighLevel through the API, webhooks, Zapier, n8n and Make (Pro) | LightMaster, LightQuoter and QuoteIQ are built to replace your CRM; others list beta or no hand-off | | Lead capture | Website request forms that show the homeowner an instant AI mockup of their own home and pre-qualify their budget (Pro) | Light Design Hero lists a lead widget (Pro); none of the hand-drawn tools list a website form with an instant AI mockup | | Follow-up timing | Who opened the quote, how often and for how long, with open alerts (Plus and Pro) | Only QuoteIQ lists open notifications | The all-in-one tools make a bet most contractors won't take. Contractors stay on the most reliable CRM they already run, whether Jobber, Housecall Pro, GoHighLevel or ServiceTitan, because their customers, crews and books live there. Light AI plugs into that CRM, so you don't need a niche all-in-one: a fast, beautiful quote from Light AI, and the job in the CRM you trust. Our [step-by-step Light AI workflow](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-to-approved-quote-light-ai-workflow) shows a quote from start to finish, and [why photo mockups win more jobs](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-mockups-win-more-christmas-lighting-jobs) explains why the visual matters so much. ![Four AI lighting mockups of one home in warm white, cool white, multicolor and warm white with snow](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-set-of-four.webp "One house, four AI mockup looks to choose from on the quote link") ### Run every free trial the same way - [ ] Quote one real house from your desk, from the address to an approval on your own phone - [ ] Time it, including the design, and note who had to draw what - [ ] Check the back of the roof: did the measuring see every run? - [ ] Open the quote on a phone the way a homeowner would; could you approve without a PDF? - [ ] Find out how a won quote reaches your CRM, and who re-types what - [ ] Compare the cost in December with the cost in March You can start on Light AI's Free plan or [compare plans and pricing](https://light-ai.app/pricing). For a closer look at the quote itself, see [the best quote builder for Christmas lighting contractors](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-quote-builder-christmas-lighting-contractors). ## Sources Features and prices were checked on Nov 3, 2026, on each company's own website: lightdesignhero.com, lightmaster.io, lightquoter.com, lightdesigner.app, strandr.com, christmaslightsdesign.com (LightHawk), myquoteiq.com (QuoteIQ) and holidayhomeconcepts.com. Light AI integration recipes are documented in the [integration docs](https://docs.light-ai.app). Lead-response research: Oldroyd, McElheran and Elkington, "The Short Life of Online Sales Leads," Harvard Business Review, March 2011. Product names are trademarks of their owners. We make Light AI. If anything here is out of date, email support@light-ai.app and we will correct it. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best Christmas light quoting software in 2026? For contractors who want fast, high-quality quotes and want to keep their existing CRM, Light AI: it loads the house from the address, measures on a to-scale satellite plan view, makes AI mockups of the customer's home and sends a quote link with open tracking. The all-in-one lighting tools ask you to replace that CRM, and the design-only tools make you draw every house by hand. ### What is the best Christmas light business software? Most established lighting businesses run two tools: a field-service CRM such as Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot or GoHighLevel for scheduling, crews and invoicing, and a lighting quote tool such as Light AI for measuring, mockups and the quote. Light AI is built to be the quote half of that stack and plugs into the CRM through the API, webhooks, Zapier, n8n or Make on Pro. ### Which Christmas lighting software makes AI mockups of the customer's house? On their own websites, Light AI, Light Design Hero, LightMaster and Light Designer describe AI lighting designs of the customer's home. LightQuoter, Strandr, LightHawk and Holiday Home Concepts describe designs you draw on a photo. Light AI goes furthest for the quote: a set of AI mockup looks per house, brush edits, and design options and bulb colours the homeowner can switch on the quote link. ### Can I keep Jobber or Housecall Pro and still use Light AI? Yes. That is what Light AI is built for. It handles the quote and passes leads and approvals to your CRM through the API, webhooks, Zapier, n8n or Make on Pro. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap, not live. ### Is there free Christmas light quoting software? Yes. Light AI's Free plan includes 100 credits a month with no card, so you can measure, mock up and send a real quote link before you pay for anything. ### Does Light AI take deposits or e-signatures? No. Light AI never collects payments or deposits and has no e-signature. Add your own payment or booking link as the quote's button, or take payment in your CRM. ## Best Quote Builder for Christmas Lighting Contractors (2026) URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/best-quote-builder-christmas-lighting-contractors Published: 2026-10-31 · Updated: 2026-11-03 · Category: Product how-tos · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI 2026 buyer's guide to Christmas lighting quote builders: Light AI, LightQuoter, LightHawk, Strandr and Light Design Hero, and how each fits beside your CRM. The best quote builder for a Christmas lighting contractor is Light AI: it gets an accurate, good-looking quote in front of the homeowner fastest, then hands the won job to the CRM you already use (Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot or GoHighLevel). This guide compares it with LightQuoter, LightHawk, Strandr and Light Design Hero, using only what each company states on its own website, checked on Nov 3, 2026. We make Light AI, so read our section with that in mind. For a feature-by-feature chart, see [Light AI vs other Christmas lighting software](https://light-ai.app/blog/light-ai-vs-christmas-lighting-software), and for a wider field of ten tools, including all-in-one lighting CRMs, see [the best Christmas light quoting and business software in 2026](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-christmas-light-quoting-software). ## What does a Christmas lighting quote builder need to do? A lighting quote has more moving parts than a PDF of line items, and the homeowner is buying something they cannot see yet. It needs to: - **Measure the house** without driving out: rooflines, ridges and ground runs. - **Show the house lit** so the homeowner can picture the result, either a design you draw or an AI mockup. - **Price from your own rates**: per foot, per item, install and takedown. Our guide to [pricing Christmas light installation](https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation) covers the math. - **Send something the homeowner can approve on a phone** without downloading a file. - **Know when to follow up**, ideally because you can see the quote was opened. - **Hand the won job to your CRM** for scheduling, crews, invoicing and payment. The first five are the quote; the last one is the job. ## Should your quote tool also be your CRM? No. Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot and GoHighLevel run the job: scheduling, routing, crews, invoicing and payments. Contractors who keep their customers, crews and books in one of them stay there, because reliability matters more in December than another calendar. What those platforms do not include is a purpose-built Christmas lighting quote: a to-scale satellite plan view for measuring rooflines, AI mockups of the customer's own house, and a branded quote link built around holiday designs. Light AI fills that gap; the two are complementary, not either-or. Some niche lighting tools take the other route and build their own job tracker, calendar or payments for lighting only, asking you to move off the CRM you already trust. Most contractors won't, and they don't need to: Light AI plugs into that CRM instead. ## The quick comparison ✓ means the vendor's own website states the feature. "Not stated" means we could not find it on their public pages, not that it is impossible. Prices are what each site showed on Nov 3, 2026; check before you buy. | | Light AI | LightQuoter | LightHawk | Strandr | Light Design Hero | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | How the design is made | AI mockups of the customer's house | Drawn on a house photo | Drawn on a property photo | Drawn on a house photo | Drawn by hand or AI render | | Measuring | Satellite plan view, to scale | Satellite tracing with pitch | Lines drawn on the photo | Photos (INCHR tools) | Satellite roofline measure | | Priced quote | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ Itemized estimate | Not stated | ✓ Price book (Pro) | | Homeowner approves online | ✓ Quote link | ✓ Digital signature | Not stated (print or email) | Not stated | ✓ Proposals (Pro) | | Quote open tracking | ✓ Paid plans | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | | Website lead form | ✓ Instant AI mockup (Pro) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | ✓ Lead widget (Pro) | | Payments and deposits | ✗ Add your own link | ✓ Stripe | Not stated | Not stated | Not yet ("open soon") | | Own CRM, tracker or calendar | ✗ Pairs with your CRM | ✓ Pipeline, crews, calendar | ✓ Job tracker, calendar | ✗ "No CRM" | Partial (leads, seats) | | Connects to Jobber-class CRMs | Partial (API, webhooks, Zapier, n8n on Pro) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Partial (push to Jobber or Housecall Pro, beta) | | Starting price shown | Free plan; Plus $97/month | Free (1 signed job a season) | $149 per 3 months or $399 a year | Professional $197 a year; 7-day trial | Free; Design $37 a month billed annually | ## How do the lighting quote builders compare? ### Light AI Light AI is a quoting specialist for Christmas lighting contractors. You type the address: the front photo loads from Street View and the plan view loads from a live satellite map, so you centre the roof and get a to-scale overhead image to measure on. You trace the rooflines into priced line items, generate AI mockups of the customer's own house, and send one branded quote link the homeowner opens on any phone. They can switch between designs, pick optional extras and bulb colours, and approve online. Paid plans show who opened the quote and for how long. ![Satellite plan view of a home with traced rooflines in Light AI's Measure step](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/plan-view-traced-rooflines.webp "Rooflines traced on a to-scale satellite plan view become priced line items") On Pro you also get website request forms that show homeowners an instant AI mockup of their own home, quote emails from your own domain, and an API, webhooks and MCP server. Those are how Light AI hands leads and approvals to your CRM: ready-made recipes connect Jobber through Zapier or n8n, Housecall Pro through n8n or Zapier, ServiceTitan through Zapier, and GoHighLevel through workflows and webhooks. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap, not live. What it does not do: Light AI never collects payments, deposits or e-signatures (add your own payment or booking link to the quote), and it does not schedule crews or send invoices. Plans: Free with 100 credits a month and no card, Plus at $97/month and Pro at $297/month. Each AI mockup image uses 5 credits. ### LightQuoter LightQuoter traces rooflines on satellite view with automatic pitch adjustment, and you draw lights, wreaths and garland on a photo of the customer's house with a day and night preview. Customers sign digitally and can pay deposits by card through Stripe. It also builds customer profiles, a job pipeline, up to five crews on a calendar and route optimization. Plans: Free with one signed job per season, Season at $79 a month from September to January and $9 a month from February to August, or Annual at $397 a year. Where it falls short: every design is drawn by hand, its site does not state quote-open tracking, and it is built to be your CRM rather than plug into the one you run. ### LightHawk LightHawk, from Christmas Lights by Design, has you place rooflines, ground lights, garland, wreaths and trees on a property photo, with day and night views, and measures footage from the lines you draw. Branded, itemized estimates print or email from the app, and a job tracker moves each job from Quoted to Sold, Installed and Removed, with follow-up reminders and an install calendar. It lists $399 a year or $149 per three months, with no contract. Where it falls short: designs are drawn by hand, and its job tracker runs jobs outside the CRM you already use. Note the measuring method: a photo taken from the street cannot show how deep the roof runs, so back runs and hidden ridges are easy to miss. A satellite plan view shows every run from above; see [how to measure a roofline on a satellite plan view](https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view). ### Strandr Strandr is a focused design tool. You upload a house photo, click to add lights along rooflines and drag in decorations, and it measures with INCHR tools from photos. Its homepage says plainly that it has "No CRM," so you price, send and follow up elsewhere. Its homepage listed a Professional plan at $197 a year when we checked, with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Where it falls short: no AI mockups, measuring from photos, and pricing, approval and follow-up all happen somewhere else. ### Light Design Hero Light Design Hero is the closest tool to Light AI. You type an address, it pulls the house from Street View and measures the roofline, and you draw the lights by hand or render them with AI. Pro adds branded proposals customers can accept, a price book, a lead widget and a beta push of proposals into Jobber or Housecall Pro. Its pricing page says payments are opening soon. Plans: Free (five projects, watermarked exports), Design at $37 a month billed annually ($449 a year) and Pro at $99 a month billed annually ($1,188 a year), with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Where it falls short: its CRM push is beta, and its site does not state quote-open tracking or a quote where the homeowner switches designs, extras and bulb colours. ## Why is Light AI the best pick? Go through the steps that cost you deals, and Light AI covers each one the others leave open: | What costs you deals | How Light AI handles it | The gap in the others | |---|---|---| | Showing homeowners their own house lit, fast | AI mockups of the customer's house in sets of looks, with brush edits | LightQuoter, LightHawk and Strandr are drawn by hand | | Measuring from your desk, including roof depth | A to-scale satellite plan view loaded from the address | LightHawk and Strandr measure from photos taken from the street | | Knowing when the homeowner opened the quote | Opens, visits and viewing time, with alerts (Plus and Pro) | None of the four state open tracking | | Leads from your website | Request forms with an instant AI mockup and budget pre-qualification (Pro) | Only Light Design Hero lists a lead widget (Pro) | | Keeping the CRM you trust | Plugs into Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot and GoHighLevel via the API, webhooks, Zapier, n8n and Make (Pro) | LightQuoter and LightHawk run their own trackers; Light Design Hero's push is beta | Speed matters more than most contractors expect. In a 2011 [Harvard Business Review study](https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads), firms that contacted an online lead within an hour were nearly seven times as likely to qualify it as firms that waited longer. A quote builder that starts from the address, with the photos already loaded, shortens the gap between "please quote me" and a quote on the homeowner's phone. Once it is sent, [follow up on lighting quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/follow-up-on-lighting-quotes) while they are still looking. ### Questions to ask in every free trial - [ ] Can I quote a real house from my desk in one sitting, from address to approval? - [ ] Does the design look like the customer's own house, and would I put my name on it? - [ ] Can the homeowner approve on a phone without creating an account or opening a PDF? (Here is [why quote links beat PDF quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes).) - [ ] How does a won quote reach my CRM, and who re-types what? You can try Light AI on the Free plan or compare plans on the [pricing page](https://light-ai.app/pricing). ## Sources Features and prices were checked on Nov 3, 2026, on each company's own website: LightQuoter (lightquoter.com), LightHawk (christmaslightsdesign.com), Strandr (strandr.com) and Light Design Hero (lightdesignhero.com). Light AI integration paths are documented in the [integration docs](https://docs.light-ai.app). Lead-response research: Oldroyd, McElheran and Elkington, "The Short Life of Online Sales Leads," Harvard Business Review, March 2011. Product names are trademarks of their owners. If anything here is out of date, email support@light-ai.app and we will correct it. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best quote builder for Christmas lighting contractors? Light AI. It is the one quote builder here that combines AI mockups of the customer's own house, measuring on a to-scale satellite plan view loaded from the address, and a quote link with open tracking, while your CRM keeps running the job. LightQuoter, LightHawk and Strandr make you draw each design by hand. ### Do I need a quote builder if I already use Jobber or Housecall Pro? Many contractors use both. Jobber and Housecall Pro run scheduling, invoicing and payments; a lighting quote builder adds roofline measuring, mockups of the customer's house and a holiday quote link. Light AI passes leads and approvals to them through Zapier, n8n or the API on Pro. ### Which Christmas lighting quote builders use AI mockups? Among the five tools compared here, Light AI and Light Design Hero describe AI designs of the customer's house on their own websites, while LightQuoter, LightHawk and Strandr describe designs you draw on a photo. Our [top 10 software guide](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-christmas-light-quoting-software) covers more tools with AI images. ### Can I measure a roofline from satellite? Light AI loads a to-scale satellite plan view from the address. LightQuoter and Light Design Hero describe measuring rooflines on satellite view. LightHawk measures from lines drawn on a photo, and Strandr from photos. Always confirm footage on site before install. ### Is there a free Christmas lighting quote builder? Light AI, LightQuoter and Light Design Hero each list a free plan, with different limits. Strandr offers a 7-day trial. ### Does Light AI collect deposits? No. Light AI never collects payments or deposits and has no e-signature. Add your own payment or booking link as the button on the quote, or take payment in your CRM. ## Light AI vs Other Christmas Lighting Software URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/light-ai-vs-christmas-lighting-software Published: 2026-10-28 · Updated: 2026-11-02 · Category: Product how-tos · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI How Light AI compares with Strandr, LightQuoter, LightHawk and Light Design Hero, and why it pairs with Jobber or Housecall Pro instead of replacing them. Light AI is a quoting specialist for Christmas lighting contractors. It loads the house from the address, measures the roofline on a to-scale satellite plan view, generates AI mockups of the customer's own home and sends one branded quote link the homeowner approves on their phone. It is not a CRM: it pairs with the one you already run, such as Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan. This page compares it with other Christmas-lighting tools, using only what each company states on its own website (checked on Nov 2, 2026). If you want the short buyer's guide instead, read [Best quote builder for Christmas lighting contractors](https://light-ai.app/blog/best-quote-builder-christmas-lighting-contractors). ## What does Light AI actually do? Every Light AI quote follows four steps: Intake, Measure, Mockup and Review. - **Intake from the address.** The Street View front photo loads automatically, and the plan view loads from a live satellite map. You centre the roof and click Use this view to get a to-scale overhead image, with no calibration step. You can always upload your own photos instead. - **Measure into priced line items.** Trace starter, ridges, ground and other runs, merge them into one line per category, and price them from your own rates or a saved template. - **AI mockups of the customer's own house.** Choose the features to light, C9 and mini bulb colours, patterns and ambiance such as snow, generate a set of looks and edit any image with a brush. - **One quote link.** The homeowner opens a branded quote website on any phone, with a mockup reveal (Plus and Pro), switches between designs, picks optional extras and bulb colours, and approves online. Paid plans see who opened the quote and for how long. You can also export a PDF. - **Pro extras.** Website request forms that show homeowners an instant AI mockup of their own home, quote emails from your own domain, and the API, webhooks and MCP server. ![Measure step with a satellite plan view of the house and traced rooflines beside the front photo with matching guides](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/measure-plan-and-front.webp "Plan view lines are what you bill; front view lines show the AI where the lights go") What Light AI does not do: it never collects payments, deposits or e-signatures (add your own payment or booking link to the quote), and it does not schedule crews or send invoices. That work belongs in your CRM. Plans: Free with 100 credits a month, Plus at $97/month and Pro at $297/month. ## Why does Light AI pair with your CRM instead of replacing it? Field-service platforms like Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Service Autopilot and GoHighLevel run the job: scheduling, routing, crews, invoicing and payments. They are good at it, and a contractor who has already put their customer list, crews and books into one of them rarely wants to move. None of them include a purpose-built Christmas-lighting quote: a satellite plan view for measuring rooflines, AI mockups of the customer's own house, and a branded quote link built around holiday designs. So Light AI does one job and hands off the rest. **Light AI handles the quote; your CRM handles the job.** The two are complementary, not either-or. Today that hand-off runs through the Light AI API and webhooks on Pro, with ready-made recipes in the [integration docs](https://docs.light-ai.app): - **Jobber:** leads become Jobber requests and approved quotes become Jobber clients and quotes, through Zapier's Jobber app or n8n. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap, not live. - **Housecall Pro:** n8n creates Housecall Pro leads through its public API on the MAX plan; on other plans, Zapier creates the customer. - **ServiceTitan:** Zapier turns Light AI leads and approvals into bookings for your office to accept. - **GoHighLevel:** workflows post leads into Light AI, and quote outcomes go back to contacts and opportunities through an inbound webhook or n8n. Some niche lighting tools take the opposite route and build their own CRM, calendar and job tracker for lighting only. That can work for a small crew starting from nothing. In our experience most contractors stay with the platform that is the most reliable and best supported, which is why we chose to master the quote and connect to that platform rather than ask you to switch. ## How does Light AI compare with other Christmas lighting tools? ✓ means the vendor's own website states the feature. ✗ means the vendor says it does not offer it. "Not stated" means we could not find it on their public pages, not that it is impossible. | Feature | Light AI | Strandr | LightQuoter | LightHawk | Light Design Hero | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | AI mockups of the customer's house | ✓ | Not stated (drawn by hand) | Not stated (drawn on Street View) | Not stated (drawn on a photo) | ✓ | | Draw lights by hand | Brush edits on AI images | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Roofline measuring | ✓ Satellite plan view | From photos (INCHR) | ✓ Satellite tracing | From lines drawn on a photo | ✓ Satellite tracing | | Street View photo from the address | ✓ | Not stated | ✓ | Not stated | ✓ | | Priced quote or proposal | ✓ | Partial (visual quotes, no pricing tool stated) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (Pro) | | Homeowner approves online | ✓ | Not stated | ✓ Digital signature | Not stated (print or email) | ✓ (Pro) | | Quote open and viewing-time tracking | ✓ (paid plans) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | | Website lead form with an instant mockup | ✓ (Pro) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | ✓ Lead widget (Pro) | | Payments and deposits | ✗ Add your own link | Not stated | ✓ Stripe | Not stated | Coming soon | | Built-in CRM, job tracker or calendar | ✗ Pairs with your CRM | ✗ "No CRM" | Partial (customer profiles, crew calendar) | ✓ Job tracker, reminders, install calendar | Partial (lead pipeline) | | Connects to Jobber-class CRMs | Partial (API, webhooks, Zapier and n8n on Pro) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Partial (push to Jobber or Housecall Pro, Pro, beta) | | Free plan or trial | ✓ Free plan | 7-day trial | Free until your first booked job | Video demo | ✓ Free plan | ## Where do the other tools fall short? ### Strandr Strandr is a focused design tool. You upload a photo and draw lights along rooflines, around windows or free-form on trees, drag decorations into place, and export a visual quote. Its site says it measures from photos with INCHR tools and states plainly that it has no CRM. The trade-off is time: every strand is placed by hand, where Light AI generates a set of AI mockups of the house and lets you brush-edit the one you like. It also leaves pricing, approval and follow-up to some other tool. ### LightQuoter LightQuoter covers satellite roofline tracing with automatic pitch adjustment, mockups you draw on Street View photos, digital signatures, Stripe deposits and a crew calendar. It is free until your first booked job, then $79 a month from September to January and $9 a month off-season, or $397 a year. The gap is the mockup: LightQuoter's are drawn by hand, house after house, while Light AI's are AI images of the customer's own home. It is also built to be your CRM, so it competes with the Jobber-class platform you already trust instead of plugging into it. ### LightHawk LightHawk lays out lights, garland and wreaths on a property photo you upload, calculates footage from the lines you draw, and wraps that in a job tracker (Quoted, Sold, Installed, Removed), follow-up reminders and an install calendar. It lists $399 a year or $149 per three months. Designs are drawn by hand, and its job tracker asks you to run jobs outside the CRM you already use. Measuring on a front photo is fast, but a photo taken from the street cannot show how deep the roof runs, so hidden ridges and back runs are easy to miss. Light AI measures on a to-scale satellite plan view, where every run is visible from above. Read more in [how to measure a roofline on a satellite plan view](https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view). ### Light Design Hero Light Design Hero is the closest tool to Light AI. It pulls the house from Street View, lets you draw the design, sketch it and let AI finish it, or let AI design the whole thing, measures rooflines on satellite imagery into a per-foot price book, and offers a website lead widget that shows homeowners a lit render with a price. Pro adds proposals customers can accept and a one-way push into Jobber or Housecall Pro (beta). Its site lists a Free plan, Design at $37 a month billed annually and Pro at $99 a month billed annually. Where it falls short: its full AI design and its CRM push are both labelled beta, and its site does not state quote-open tracking or a quote link where the homeowner switches designs, extras and bulb colours. ## Where is Light AI strongest? Light AI was built around two things: speed and quality. Speed matters because leads go cold fast. In a widely cited 2011 [Harvard Business Review study](https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads), firms that responded to an online lead within an hour were nearly seven times as likely to qualify it as firms that waited longer. Quality matters because the homeowner is comparing your quote with someone else's. - **Speed from the address.** The front photo and a to-scale satellite plan view load from the address, so a desk quote starts with images already in place. - **AI mockups of the real house,** in sets of looks you can compare, with brush edits. - **A quote link built for phones,** with a mockup reveal, design switching, optional extras, bulb colour choices and online approval that moves the project to Approved. - **Know when to follow up.** Paid plans show who opened the quote and for how long, so you call while the homeowner is still deciding. See [how to follow up on lighting quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/follow-up-on-lighting-quotes). - **Leads that arrive with a mockup.** On Pro, the website request form shows the homeowner an AI mockup of their own home before you call back. - **It fits the stack you already have.** Quote emails from your verified domain, plus an API, webhooks and MCP server to send leads and approvals into your CRM. ![A homeowner's phone showing the AI mockup of their home revealed at the end of a website request form](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/request-form-reveal.webp "A Pro request form shows the homeowner an AI mockup of their own home") ## How to test Light AI against the rest - [ ] Keep the CRM you trust for scheduling, invoicing and payments, and check how each quote tool hands a won job to it. - [ ] List the three steps where you lose the most time or the most deals: measuring, design, or getting the homeowner to say yes. - [ ] Quote the same real house in each trial, from address to approval, and time it. - [ ] Show the results to someone who has never seen the house and ask which one they would sign. Our guide to [why photo mockups win more jobs](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-mockups-win-more-christmas-lighting-jobs) covers what homeowners respond to. - [ ] Price each option for a full year, including the off-season months. You can start on the Free plan or compare plans on the [pricing page](https://light-ai.app/pricing). ## Sources Features and prices were checked on Nov 2, 2026, on each company's own website: Strandr (strandr.com), LightQuoter (lightquoter.com), LightHawk (christmaslightsdesign.com) and Light Design Hero (lightdesignhero.com). Integration paths are documented in the Light AI [integration docs](https://docs.light-ai.app). Lead-response research: Oldroyd, McElheran and Elkington, "The Short Life of Online Sales Leads," Harvard Business Review, March 2011. Product names are trademarks of their owners. Spot something out of date? Email support@light-ai.app and we will fix it. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Light AI a CRM? No. Light AI is a quoting specialist. It measures, mocks up and sends the quote, then passes the lead or approval to the CRM you already use, such as Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan or GoHighLevel, through Zapier, n8n or the API on Pro. ### Can I use Light AI with Jobber? Yes, side by side. Light AI leads can become Jobber requests and approved quotes can become Jobber clients and quotes through Zapier or n8n. A native Jobber sync is on the roadmap. ### How is Light AI different from LightQuoter or LightHawk? Light AI generates AI mockups of the customer's own house and measures on a to-scale satellite plan view loaded from the address. LightQuoter and LightHawk describe mockups you draw yourself, and LightHawk measures from lines drawn on a photo. ### How is Light AI different from Light Design Hero? Both offer AI designs, satellite measuring and a website lead form. Light AI's quote link lets the homeowner switch designs, pick optional extras and choose bulb colours, and paid plans track opens and viewing time; Light Design Hero's site does not state these. Light Design Hero adds hand-drawing tools and a beta push into Jobber or Housecall Pro. ### Does Light AI take payments? No. Light AI never collects payments or deposits and has no e-signature. Add your own payment or booking link as the button on the quote, or take payment in your CRM. ## Adding AI Mockups to Your Website Request Form URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/ai-mockups-website-request-form Published: 2026-10-22 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Product how-tos · By Light AI Team, The team behind Light AI How to add an instant AI lighting mockup to your website request form: setup, monthly credit cap, domains, script vs iframe, QR codes and expectations. An AI mockup on your website request form shows the homeowner their own house with lights while they finish the form, which gives them a reason to complete it and gives you a photo and a design direction before you ever call. In Light AI, you turn it on in the form's AI mockup preview and budget step, set a monthly credit cap, list the websites allowed to show the form, and paste one snippet into your site. Website request forms are a Pro feature (Enterprise too). This guide covers why the preview helps, how to set it up, how to budget for it, what happens when the cap runs out, and how to set expectations so the concept does not turn into a promise. ## Why put an AI mockup on the request form A standard contact form asks the homeowner to do work and gives them nothing back. They type their name, wait, and maybe hear from you in two days. A lighting form with a preview flips that: they answer a few taps about what to light and what color, add a photo of the front of the home, and see a concept of their house lit before they leave the page. What that does for you: - **More complete requests.** A homeowner who wants to see their house will add the front photo, and that photo is what you need to start a quote. - **A design direction before the first call.** You see what they picked (surfaces, color, trees and bushes) and the concept they saw. - **A head start on the quote.** When you click Start quote on the request, the homeowner's photo is waiting on Intake. ![Homeowner's revealed AI mockup on a phone after finishing the request form](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/request-form-reveal.webp "The homeowner sees a concept of their own home, labeled as an AI reference") ## Setting up the form step by step Open Requests, then Forms, and click New form. You can start from a ready-made template such as Classic, Early Bird, Black Friday or Last Chance, each with its own look and offer, and change anything afterward. ![Form editor with template choices and a live phone preview](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/request-form-design-offer.webp "Start from a seasonal template and watch the live preview as you edit") The editor walks you through these steps: 1. **Basics:** name the form so you recognize it in your inbox (for example "Website home page" or "Yard signs"). 2. **Fields and photo:** decide what contact details you collect and keep the photo upload on. The preview needs a photo. 3. **Questions:** the lighting questions the homeowner taps through, like what to light and which light color. 4. **Copy and consent:** your headline, button text and consent wording. 5. **Design and offer:** colors, the look, and any seasonal offer. 6. **AI mockup preview and budget:** turn on the instant preview and set your monthly cap. 7. **Install:** list the allowed websites, copy the snippet, and optionally turn on the share link and QR code. Full details are in the [request forms help article](https://light-ai.app/help#request-forms). ## Budgeting the preview: credits and the monthly cap Each preview is one AI mockup of the homeowner's home, generated in the light color they picked. It starts while they finish the rest of the form, so it is usually ready by the time they reach the end. Each preview uses 5 credits from your balance. Requests themselves never use credits. While the preview is on, a monthly credit cap is required. The editor shows what you have used this month, your cap, your credit balance and an estimate of how many previews are left. ![Form editor AI mockup preview and monthly budget settings](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/request-form-mockup-budget.webp "Set the cap and watch usage, balance and estimated previews left") To size your cap, work backwards from the requests you expect: | Planning question | How to work it out | |---|---| | How many photo requests do I expect this month? | Look at last season's requests, or your website visits times your current form completion rate | | How many previews does that mean? | One per request that includes a photo | | What cap do I need? | Previews x 5 credits | | Will my balance cover it? | Compare the cap with your monthly credits plus any purchased credits | | What happens in peak weeks? | Raise the cap for October and November, lower it after | Example: if you expect about 40 requests with photos in November, set a cap of at least 40 x 5 credits, and make sure your balance can carry that alongside the mockups you generate for quotes. Two safety details worth knowing. Previews only spend credits above your Auto Top-Up threshold, so they will not drain the reserve you set aside for your own quoting. And website visitors never trigger an Auto Top-Up; only you spend money on credits. ## What happens when the cap or credits run out Nothing breaks. When your credits run low or the monthly cap is reached, the form hides the preview and keeps capturing every request. The homeowner still submits their answers and photo, and the request still lands in your Requests inbox and the Pipeline in the Request stage. You just lose the instant "wow" for those visitors. Two habits help here: - **Check the estimate weekly in peak season.** If "previews left" is getting small in mid-November, raise the cap or top up credits. - **Follow up fast on requests without a preview.** Generate a mockup yourself when you build the quote, so the homeowner still sees their house lit. If you run Plus or Pro and switch to Off-Season between seasons, your forms keep taking requests, and the first requests each month get AI mockups included without using credits. After that, the form takes the request and tells the homeowner you will follow up with a design. See the [Off-Season article](https://light-ai.app/help#off-season). ## Installing the form: domains, script or iframe ### The domain allow-list Only the websites you list can show the form; anywhere else it stays blank. That protects your credits from someone copying your snippet onto their own site. Add every version of your address the form will appear on: - Your domain with and without www (example: yourcompany.com and www.yourcompany.com). - The temporary address your site builder uses while you build (example: yoursite.squarespace.com). - Enter just the website address, not a page path. If the form does not show up, the two usual causes are a missing domain on this list or a snippet that did not get saved on the page. ### Script or iframe | Option | Use it when | Notes | |---|---|---| | Script snippet (recommended) | Your site lets you paste custom code in an HTML block | Resizes itself to fit each step | | Iframe snippet | Your builder does not allow scripts | Sized to fit the whole form; place it full width | | Iframe plus optional script | Your builder allows inline scripts after an iframe | Fits each step exactly | Paste the snippet where the form should appear, ideally on its own "Free quote" page and near the top of your home page. If an AI site builder makes your website, the Install step has a Copy instructions for AI button you can paste straight into it. ### The share link and QR code Turn on Share your form to get a link and a QR code that open the form on its own page. Use the link in texts, social posts and email signatures. Download the QR code as SVG for print (yard signs, door hangers, flyers, truck wraps) and PNG for posts and texts. For tracking, consider a separate form for print so those leads show their own form name in your inbox; [our lead sources guide](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-leads-request-forms-qr-google) explains why. ## Setting homeowner expectations The preview is a concept, not a promise. AI mockups illustrate an idea; they are not a guaranteed installation result, and the reveal itself tells the homeowner it is an AI concept for reference and that the final design may differ. Back that up in your own words: - **On the form:** keep the consent and copy honest. "See a concept of your home with lights. Final design and price come with your quote." - **On the first call or text:** refer to the preview as a starting point. "Saw you liked warm white on the roofline. I'll put together a few options." - **In the quote:** replace the preview with mockups you generated from your own measured lines, so the design matches what you will actually install. - **On price:** the preview does not show pricing. Do not let it imply one. ## Launch checklist - [ ] Pro plan active and a form created from a template - [ ] Photo upload on, questions trimmed to what you need to quote - [ ] Instant AI mockup preview on, monthly credit cap set - [ ] Balance checked against the cap for your busiest month - [ ] Every domain listed, with and without www, plus the builder's temporary address - [ ] Script (or iframe) pasted and the form tested on a phone - [ ] Share link and QR code turned on; SVG downloaded for print - [ ] A test request submitted and found in Requests and the Pipeline - [ ] Request notification emails on in Preferences - [ ] Copy on the form says the preview is a concept ## Frequently asked questions ### Which Light AI plans include website request forms with AI mockups? Website request forms, including the instant AI mockup preview, are on Pro and Enterprise. Free and Plus can't create forms. ### What happens if my monthly cap runs out? The form hides the AI preview and still captures every request, with the homeowner's answers and photo. You can raise the cap or add credits at any time to turn previews back on. ### Can a website visitor run up my credit bill? No. Previews only spend credits up to the monthly cap you set and only above your Auto Top-Up threshold, and website visitors never trigger an Auto Top-Up. ### Should I use the script or the iframe? Use the script if your website builder lets you paste custom code, because it resizes itself for each step. Use the iframe if scripts are not allowed, and place it full width. ### Is the AI mockup what the homeowner will get? No. It is a concept to show the idea, and the reveal says the final design may differ. Your quote should include mockups built from your own measurements and the design you will install. ## From a Photo to an Approved Quote: The Light AI Workflow URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-to-approved-quote-light-ai-workflow Published: 2026-10-06 · Updated: 2026-10-30 · Category: Product how-tos · By Light AI Team, The team behind Light AI A step-by-step walkthrough of Light AI: Intake, Measure, Mockup and Review, from a property photo to a published quote link the homeowner can approve. Light AI turns a property photo into an approved Christmas lighting quote in four steps: Intake (add the photos), Measure (scale, trace the runs and set prices), Mockup (generate AI lighting concepts) and Review (write the message, choose the images and publish a quote link). The homeowner opens that link on any phone, picks options and approves, and the project moves to Approved. This post walks through each step with screenshots, plus the habits that keep quotes accurate and fast to approve. If you are comparing tools, it is also an honest look at what a quote maker for Christmas light contractors should and should not do for you. ## The four steps at a glance | Step | What you do | What you need | What you get | |---|---|---|---| | Intake | Load the Street View front photo and the satellite plan view from the address (or upload your own) | The property address | Images ready to measure | | Measure | Calibrate uploaded views, trace runs, check line items and prices | A known distance for any uploaded view | Priced line items | | Mockup | Pick features, colors and ambiance, then generate | Credits | AI lighting concepts to choose from | | Review | Write the message, choose images, set approval, publish | Your proposal terms | A quote link, email or PDF | Every quote starts the same way: New Quote, pick a Christmas Lights template, a client and a property, then Create Quote. The quote builder opens on Intake. If a request came in through your website form, Start quote puts the homeowner's photo on Intake for you. ## Step 1: Intake, the photos You need one front view of the home; that is what the AI uses for mockups. You can add up to five front views if the house has more than one face worth lighting. The overhead plan view is optional but recommended. Without it, measurements come from the front photo alone, which misses depth and roof slope. With it, plan measurements become what you bill. Where to get photos without driving out: - **Front:** the Street View front photo loads automatically from the address. If there is no Street View for the house, upload one instead: the Earth, Zillow and Maps links next to the address open the property in a new tab, and as a last resort the client can send a photo from the street. - **Plan view:** the satellite plan view also loads from the address. Centre the roof on the live map, click Use this view, and you get a to-scale overhead image ready to measure. You can still upload your own Google Earth screenshot instead. [Measuring a roofline from your desk](https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view) covers both. > Tip: iPhone HEIC photos will not upload in a browser. Export as JPG, or switch the camera to Most Compatible in iPhone settings. ## Step 2: Measure, from traced lines to priced line items Measure is where the quote becomes real numbers. A satellite plan view is already to scale. Calibrate any view you uploaded yourself: type a known distance, click Set Manual, and click that distance's two endpoints. On a front photo, the presets (double garage, single garage, front door) are handy; Calibrate with AI can also estimate it for you. Then pick a category (Starter, Ridges, Ground, Garage, Windows and so on), click along each feature and finish the shape. ![Measure step showing a calibrated overhead plan view with traced rooflines next to the front photo with matching guide lines](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/measure-plan-and-front.webp "Plan view lines are billed; front view lines show the AI where lights go") On the front photo, the lines you draw are guides that tell the AI where to put lights in the mockup. If you are in a hurry, Light AI can also generate a mockup straight from the photo without guides, but drawn guides give you more control over exactly what gets lit. Next, check the Line Item Breakdown. You can rename items, add a +10% cushion, merge rows into one line per color, or add a custom item for work you price separately, like a wreath or a tree wrap. ![Line item breakdown merged to one line per colour: Starter, Ridges and Ground with measurements and unit prices](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/line-items-merged.webp "Merged line items read cleanly on the homeowner's quote") Set prices for this project in Pricing Settings, or click Save to my default template so every new quote starts from your rates. Discounts and deposits go under Quote Totals. Measurements support quoting; they are not survey-grade, so confirm footage on site before install. ## Step 3: Mockup, show them their house lit This is the step that changes the conversation with the homeowner. Instead of reading "84 ft of C9 on the roofline," they see their own house at night. Click + Add Mockup for each design you want to try. In Features to Include, pick the drawn features to light. Then choose C9 and mini bulb colors, the C9 pattern and any ambiance, like snow or a darker sky. ![Mockup controls: features to include, C9 and mini bulb colour, C9 pattern and ambiance options](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-style-pickers.webp "Pick what to light, the bulb colors, the pattern and the ambiance") Under Advanced Settings you choose one image (5 credits) or a four-image set (20 credits); the Generate button always shows the cost before you click. You can keep working on other steps while images generate. ![Four AI mockups of the same home: warm white, cool white, multicolor, and warm white with snow](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-set-of-four.webp "Give the homeowner a real choice: same house, different looks") If an image is close but not right, use the blue pencil to mark areas to add or remove, or just describe the change. Each edit gives you two versions to choose from. Remember that a mockup illustrates a concept, not a guaranteed installation result. Say that to the homeowner in plain words. ## Step 4: Review, the quote the homeowner sees Review is the customer-facing quote. A good quote maker for Christmas light contractors should make this step fast without making it generic, and this is where you add the human part. **Client message.** Write it yourself or click AI Write Message for a warm first draft. The AI never states prices or sizes, so type any figures yourself. ![Review step with the client message card and the AI Write Message button](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/review-client-message.webp "Start from an AI draft, then make it sound like you") **Include in quote.** Choose which schematics and mockups to include. The first selected mockup becomes the cover image. **Client action.** Add a button with your own link for booking or a deposit. Light AI never collects payments or deposits; the button sends the homeowner to your own payment or booking page. **Preview.** Check the quote as Mobile, Desktop and PDF. Most homeowners will open it on a phone, so the mobile preview matters most. ## Publishing the link and getting the approval Open Share as a website and choose how the customer approves: Approve in Light AI, approve with Jobber or another service, or view only. With Approve in Light AI, you can let customers choose optional extras and adjust bulb colors on their own. Edit your proposal terms, set an optional expiration date, and click Publish customer link. Then send it. Copy the link and text it from your own phone (Light AI does not send text messages), or click Email to customer to send it from Light AI with your logo. On Pro, quote emails can come from your own verified domain. ![Homeowner quote link on a phone with the company header, pinned mockup, design thumbnails and proposal intro](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-link-mobile.webp "What the homeowner sees: no account, no app, just the quote") The homeowner opens it with no account needed, switches between designs, checks any optional add-ons and watches the total update, then approves with their name. ![Proposal card with line items, an optional extra, the total, a deposit line and approve with name](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-proposal-approve.webp "Line items, optional extras and the approval in one card") An approval in Light AI is recorded and moves the project to Approved in your Pipeline. Publishing the link already moved it to Quote Sent, so the board stays current without dragging cards. ![Pipeline board with stage columns from Request to Approved and totals](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/pipeline-board.webp "Publishing and approvals move cards automatically") Every plan sees published quotes and approvals. Plus and Pro also show opens, viewing time and each quote's visit timeline, with optional alerts when a quote is opened, which tells you exactly when to follow up. If you change something after publishing, click Publish update; the homeowner's link stays the same. ## Before-you-publish checklist - [ ] Satellite plan view used, or every uploaded view calibrated against a real known distance - [ ] All lit features traced, including ridges, ground runs and extras - [ ] Rakes and vertical runs accounted for (cushion or custom item) - [ ] Prices checked; discount and deposit set if you use them - [ ] At least one mockup selected; the cover is the strongest one - [ ] Client message read out loud once and figures typed by you - [ ] Client action button points to your own booking or payment link - [ ] Approval mode and optional extras set the way you want - [ ] Mobile preview checked - [ ] Link texted or emailed, with a follow-up date on your calendar Want a PDF too? Review has Export PDF, which downloads the file and saves a copy under the project. For more on which format homeowners act on, read [quote links vs PDF quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes). The [first quote guide](https://light-ai.app/help#first-quote) in the help center covers each step with the exact button names, and the [demo](https://light-ai.app/demo) shows the whole flow on a sample home. ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does it take to build a quote in Light AI? It depends on the house and how many mockups you generate. Most of the time goes into tracing rooflines in Measure; once your prices are saved to a template, Review and publishing are quick. ### Does the homeowner need an account to approve a quote? No. The quote link opens on any phone or computer without an account, and with Approve in Light AI the homeowner approves by typing their name. The approval is recorded and the project moves to Approved. ### Can Light AI collect a deposit when the customer approves? No. Light AI never collects payments or deposits. You can add your own payment or booking link as the client action button so the homeowner can pay you directly after approving. ### Can I send the quote by text message? Light AI does not send text messages. Copy the published link and text it from your own phone, or use Email to customer to send it by email from Light AI. ### Do I need an overhead image to make a quote? No, a front photo is the only required image. An overhead plan view is recommended because it gives more accurate measurements, especially for roof depth and slope. ## What's a Good Close Rate for Holiday Lighting Quotes (and How to Raise Yours) URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate Published: 2026-09-24 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Selling & quoting · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI How to measure your own holiday lighting quote close rate by lead source, salesperson and week, plus the practical levers that help more quotes get approved. A good close rate for holiday lighting quotes is one you measure the same way every season and that beats your own last season, lead source by lead source. There's no universal number worth chasing: a referral and a cold ad click close very differently, and your price position changes everything. This guide shows how to define and track your close rate properly, then the levers that actually move it. ## What close rate means for a lighting company "Close rate" gets used for four different numbers. Pick your definitions once, write them down, and never mix them. | Metric | Formula | What it tells you | |---|---|---| | Quote close rate | Approved quotes / quotes sent | How well your quotes sell | | Lead-to-quote rate | Quotes sent / leads received | How many leads you actually price | | Lead-to-close rate | Approved quotes / leads received | Your whole funnel, end to end | | Dollar close rate | Approved quote value / quoted value | Whether you win the big jobs or only the small ones | The quote close rate is the one most owners mean. But watch the dollar close rate next to it. If you close many small rooflines and lose every full-front package, your count looks fine while revenue leaks. ## What counts as a sent quote Most close-rate numbers are wrong because nobody decided what counts. Set these rules before the season: - **One quote per household per season.** A revised price or a second design option is the same quote, not a new one. Counting revisions inflates the denominator and makes you look worse. - **It has a price and it reached the homeowner.** A link they received, an email, a PDF, or a priced verbal estimate at the door. A draft sitting on your laptop doesn't count. - **Exclude tests and internal quotes.** Sample projects, family and your own house stay out. - **Count closed-lost on purpose.** A quote is lost when the homeowner says no, goes silent past your cut-off date, or the season ends. Mark it; don't leave it open forever. - **Pick a date rule.** Count each quote in the week it was sent, not the week it was approved. That's what makes cohorts work (more below). ## Track close rate per lead source and per salesperson An overall close rate hides almost everything useful. Break it down. ### By lead source Tag every lead with where it came from: website form, referral, yard sign, past customer, door hanger, paid ads, Google Business Profile. Then compare. This is an **example** of the table to keep, filled with made-up numbers to show the math. They are not benchmarks: | Lead source (example) | Quotes sent | Approved | Close rate | Approved value | |---|---|---|---|---| | Source A | 20 | 10 | 10 ÷ 20 = 50% | $15,000 | | Source B | 40 | 10 | 10 ÷ 40 = 25% | $12,000 | | Source C | 10 | 1 | 1 ÷ 10 = 10% | $900 | Put your own sources in the rows (past customers, referrals, website form, paid ads and so on) and the comparison starts asking real questions. Is the ad spend worth it once you divide it by approved jobs, not leads? Is your website form bringing in tire-kickers, or good leads that need a faster response? ### By salesperson If more than one person quotes, track each one separately with the same rules. Differences usually come from process, not talent: one rep sends quotes the same day, another sends them three days later; one shows a mockup, another sends a line-item list. Find what the best closer does and make it the standard. ## Cohort your quotes by week sent Holiday lighting has a hard deadline, and quotes sent in late November behave differently from quotes sent in September. Group quotes by the week they were sent and watch each group's close rate grow as approvals come in. | Week sent (example) | Quotes sent | Approved after 7 days | Approved after 21 days | Final | |---|---|---|---|---| | Sep 15 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | Oct 6 | 30 | 9 | 15 | 17 | | Nov 3 | 45 | 18 | 24 | 25 | Cohorts stop you from panicking over a "low" close rate on quotes that went out two days ago. They also show when early-season homeowners need more follow-up time, and when your install calendar is full enough that late quotes stop being worth chasing. ## How to raise your close rate Once you're measuring, these are the levers that matter in this trade. ### Quote fast Homeowners who ask for lighting usually ask several companies. The first clear, priced quote sets the bar. Aim to send the same day or the next morning, and track your time from lead to quote as its own number. ### Show the house lit, not just a list of feet A homeowner can't picture "185 ft of warm white C9 on the roofline." A mockup of their own house makes the decision concrete. Treat it as a concept, not a promise of the exact result, and say so. More on this in [why photo mockups win more jobs](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-mockups-win-more-christmas-lighting-jobs). ![Four AI lighting mockups of the same home in warm white, cool white, multicolor and warm white with snow](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-set-of-four.webp "One home, four looks, before the homeowner commits") ### Make approval easy on a phone Every extra step between "I like it" and "yes" costs approvals: printing a PDF, signing, scanning, calling back. A quote link that opens on a phone with a clear approve button and an obvious next step (your deposit or booking link) removes most of that friction. Read [quote links vs PDF quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes) for the trade-offs. ### Offer options without overwhelming Two or three design choices and a couple of optional extras give homeowners a way to say yes at their budget instead of a flat no. Too many options slow the decision down. ### Follow up on a schedule Most lost quotes are never actually rejected; they go quiet. Set a follow-up rhythm and stick to it, ideally timed to when the homeowner is looking at the quote. Our [follow-up guide](https://light-ai.app/blog/follow-up-on-lighting-quotes) has timing and message examples. ### Use the install calendar honestly Real scarcity works: "We have two install slots left the week of November 10." Invented deadlines don't, and homeowners can tell. ## How to measure close rate in Light AI Light AI's Pipeline gives each project a stage: Request, Quote Drafted, Quote Sent, Approved, Completed and Closed Lost. Publishing a quote link moves a project to Quote Sent, and a homeowner approval through the link moves it to Approved automatically, so your two core counts stay current without manual entry. Move quiet or rejected quotes to Closed Lost yourself so they leave the open count. ![Light AI Pipeline board with stage columns and totals](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/pipeline-board.webp "Stage counts and totals give you sent, approved and lost at a glance") Quote Analytics shows published quotes and approvals on every plan. Plus and Pro also show opens, open rate, viewing time and each quote's visit timeline, with an optional email when a quote is opened, which helps you follow up when the homeowner is actually looking. See [Quote opens, approvals and alerts](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-activity). ![Quote Analytics showing published quotes, approvals, open rate, average viewing time and a first-opens chart](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-analytics.webp "Sample data: published, approved and opened quotes") One caution: approvals are recorded in Light AI when the link uses Approve in Light AI. If you approve through Jobber or another service, or send view-only links, count approvals wherever they actually happen. Clients, projects and analytics can be exported as CSV from Settings if you keep your lead-source sheet elsewhere. ## Close rate tracking checklist - [ ] Write down your definition of a sent quote and a lost quote - [ ] Tag every lead with its source when it arrives - [ ] Record who quoted each job - [ ] Log the date each quote was sent and the date it was approved - [ ] Review close rate by source and by salesperson every week in season - [ ] Track dollar close rate next to count close rate - [ ] Group quotes by week sent and compare cohorts at 7 and 21 days - [ ] Move silent quotes to closed lost after your cut-off - [ ] Compare this season against last season, not against someone else's number ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a good close rate for Christmas lighting quotes? The useful benchmark is your own last season, broken down by lead source. Warm leads such as past customers and referrals usually behave differently from cold ad clicks, so compare each source with itself. Industry-wide averages hide too many differences to set a target from. ### Should revised quotes count as new quotes? No. Count one quote per household per season. A revised price or a new design option is the same opportunity, and counting it twice makes your close rate look lower than it is. ### When should I mark a lighting quote as lost? When the homeowner says no, when they go silent past a cut-off you set (for example, after your last follow-up and a set number of days), or when your install calendar closes for the season. Marking lost quotes keeps your open pipeline honest. ### How do I know if a homeowner opened my quote? If you send a quote link, open tracking tells you. In Light AI, Plus and Pro plans see opens, viewing time and a visit timeline per quote, and can get an email when a quote is opened. Every plan sees approvals. ### What raises close rate the fastest? Usually speed and clarity: send a priced quote quickly, show the homeowner their own house lit, and make approval a single tap on their phone. Then follow up on a schedule instead of waiting. ## How to Follow Up on Christmas Lighting Quotes Without Being Pushy (Texts and Timing) URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/follow-up-on-lighting-quotes Published: 2026-09-15 · Updated: 2026-10-27 · Category: Selling & quoting · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI A respectful follow-up cadence for Christmas lighting quotes, with example texts and emails, timing tables and when to stop, so you close more without pressure. To follow up on a Christmas lighting quote without being pushy, send a short, helpful text within a day, a second check-in a few days later, and a final, low-pressure note about your install calendar, then stop. Each message should give the homeowner something useful (an answer, an option, a real date) instead of just asking "any update?" Text from your own phone, keep it to two or three sentences, and make it easy to say no. Below are the timing, the exact messages, and the rules that keep follow-up feeling like service instead of pressure. ## Why most lighting quotes need a follow-up A homeowner who doesn't reply usually hasn't said no. They've gotten busy. Holiday lighting is a want, not an emergency, so it slides behind school pickups, work and everything else in October and November. The usual reasons a quote goes quiet: - They meant to show their spouse and haven't yet. - They have a question but don't want to call. - They're waiting on another bid. - The price was higher than expected and they don't know how to say so. - They forgot. A good follow-up solves for each of these. It reminds them, invites the question, offers a smaller option, and gives a real reason to decide. A bad follow-up just repeats "did you get a chance to look?" until they stop answering. ## The respectful follow-up cadence Here's a cadence that works for most residential quotes sent in the fall. Adjust the gaps tighter as your calendar fills in November. | When | Channel | Purpose | |---|---|---| | Day 0 (same day) | Text | Send the link with a one-line personal note | | Day 1 | Text | Confirm it opened fine, invite questions | | Day 3 or 4 | Text | Offer an option or answer a likely question | | Day 7 | Email | A fuller note with the mockup, scope and dates | | Day 10 to 14 | Text | Honest install-calendar update, then close the loop | | After that | None | Mark it lost, add to next season's list | That's four or five touches over about two weeks. It's enough that a busy homeowner won't slip through, and few enough that nobody feels hunted. > Tip: If a homeowner says "next week," believe them. Reply "Sounds good, I'll check back Thursday," and then actually check back Thursday. Doing what you said is the opposite of pushy. ## Example follow-up texts you can copy Send these from your own phone, with your name. Edit them so they sound like you. Short beats clever. ### Day 0: sending the quote "Hi Sarah, it's Mike from Northside Lighting. Here's the design and quote for your house: [link]. The first image is the warm white roofline we talked about. Any questions, just text me back." ### Day 1: making sure it landed "Hi Sarah, just checking the quote link opened okay on your phone. Happy to walk through it or change anything, like swapping the bushes for the front tree." ### Day 3 or 4: answering the likely question Pick the version that fits what you heard on the call. - Price: "Hi Sarah, if you'd like a lighter version, I can do just the roofline and ridges and leave the ground lighting off. Want me to send that option?" - Spouse: "Hi Sarah, if it helps, the link works fine to forward. Easy way for Tom to see the design." - Colour: "Hi Sarah, if you're torn between warm white and multicolor, I can add both to the quote so you can compare." - Timing: "Hi Sarah, no rush on this. Just so you know, we're booking installs for mid-November right now." ### Day 10 to 14: the honest close "Hi Sarah, our install schedule is filling up for the first two weeks of December. If you'd like a spot, just reply here or approve on the link. If this year isn't the right time, no problem at all, I'll reach out next fall." That last line matters. Giving people a graceful way to say "not this year" often gets you a reply, and sometimes a yes. It also keeps the door open for next season. ## Example follow-up email Email works well for the Day 7 touch, because it can carry a little more detail and it's easy to forward. Keep it short anyway. **Subject:** Your Christmas lighting design "Hi Sarah, Following up on the lighting design for your house on Oak Street. You can see it here anytime: [link]. A quick recap: warm white C9 on the front roofline and ridges, mini lights on the two front trees, with install, maintenance through the season and takedown in January. If you'd like to change anything, add the garage or try a different colour, just reply and I'll update the same link. We're currently scheduling installs for the week of November 17. Thanks, Mike Northside Lighting (555) 555-0123" If you email quotes from Light AI, the message shows a picture of the design that opens the quote, and replies come to you; on Pro it can go out from your own verified domain. See [emailing a quote](https://light-ai.app/help#email-quote). ## What not to send Pushy follow-up loses jobs and reviews. Avoid these: | Instead of | Try | |---|---| | "Just following up!" (with nothing new) | An option, an answer or a real date | | "Price only good until Friday!" (when it isn't) | Your actual install calendar | | Calling three times in a day | One text, then wait for your next touch | | "Did you go with someone else?" | "If this year isn't right, I'll reach out next fall." | | Long paragraphs | Two or three sentences | | Messages after 8 pm | Daytime or early evening | The rule of thumb: every message should be something you'd be glad to receive. Fake deadlines and guilt trips might move one job, but homeowners talk to their neighbors, and lighting is a neighborhood business. ## Use quote activity to time your follow-up Follow-up is easier when you know what the homeowner has done. If they opened the quote three times last night, a quick "any questions?" text this morning is helpful. If they never opened it, the problem is delivery, not persuasion: resend it, or try email. On paid plans (Plus and Pro), Light AI shows when a quote is opened, how many visits, viewing time and a visit timeline, and can email you when a quote is opened. Every plan sees published quotes and approvals. ![Your shared quotes list showing opened, not opened and approved quotes with visits and viewing time](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/shared-quotes-tracking.webp "Who opened, who hasn't, and who approved, at a glance") Here's how to read the signals: | What you see | What it likely means | Your next text | |---|---|---| | Not opened after a day | Missed it or link got buried | Resend with a one-line note | | Opened once, briefly | Skimmed it, busy | Day 3 option text | | Opened several times | Interested, maybe sharing it | "Any questions I can answer?" | | Long viewing time, no approval | Weighing price or options | Offer a smaller or alternate option | | Approved | Ready to book | Thank them, confirm install date | Don't mention the tracking in your messages. "I saw you looked at it four times" feels like surveillance. Just let it guide your timing. Approvals made on a Light AI link move the project to Approved in your [Pipeline](https://light-ai.app/help#pipeline), so you can see at a glance which quotes are still waiting on you. ![Pipeline board with Request, Quote Drafted, Quote Sent, Approved, Completed and Closed Lost columns](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/pipeline-board.webp "Quotes that still need a follow-up sit in Quote Sent") ## Your follow-up checklist Set this up once and you won't have to think about it in the rush. - [ ] Save your five follow-up texts as phone shortcuts or notes - [ ] Send every quote the same day you measure, if you can - [ ] Put the next follow-up date on each quote, in your CRM or calendar - [ ] Check which quotes were opened before you send a check-in - [ ] Have a lighter, roofline-only option ready for price objections - [ ] Update your real install dates every week in November - [ ] Text between 9 am and 7 pm, never late at night - [ ] After the final touch, mark the quote lost and note it for next fall - [ ] Measure your own close rate and time to approval each season Track how many quotes you send, how many get approved, and how long approval takes. That's your baseline. Change one thing at a time, such as sending same-day or adding a lighter option, and compare next season. The [close rate post](https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate) covers how to measure it. ## Frequently asked questions ### How soon should I follow up on a Christmas lighting quote? Send the quote the same day if you can, then a short check-in the next day to make sure the link opened. A second, more helpful follow-up three or four days later covers most busy homeowners. ### How many times should I follow up before giving up? Four or five touches over about two weeks is a reasonable limit. End with a friendly note that leaves the door open for next season, then stop. ### Is it okay to text homeowners about a quote? Yes, if they gave you their number for the quote. Text from your own phone, keep it short, use your name, and send during the day. Light AI doesn't send texts; you copy the quote link and text it yourself. ### Should I offer a discount in a follow-up? Usually not as a first move. Offering a smaller scope, such as roofline only, protects your price and often solves the real objection. Save discounts for a genuine reason, like booking an early install date. ### What if the homeowner opened the quote but didn't reply? That usually means interest plus a question or hesitation. Send a short text offering to answer questions or change an option, and don't mention that you saw them open it. ## How to Get More Christmas Lighting Leads: Website Request Forms, Yard-Sign QR Codes and Google URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-leads-request-forms-qr-google Published: 2026-09-03 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Operations · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI Where Christmas lighting leads really come from: website request forms, yard-sign QR codes, Google Business Profile, local pages, referrals and renewals. The most reliable Christmas lighting leads come from six places: a request form on your website, QR codes on yard signs and door hangers, your Google Business Profile, local service pages, referrals, and renewals from last year's customers. The contractors who grow are not the ones with the most channels; they are the ones who know which channel each lead came from and put next season's money behind the winners. This guide covers how to set up each source, what it costs you, and how to track it so you are not guessing in January. ## Start with the place every lead should land Before you add channels, decide where leads go. If website leads arrive by email, Facebook leads arrive by Messenger and yard-sign leads call your cell, you will lose some in the November rush and you will never know which source worked. Pick one inbox. Every lead, no matter where it came from, should end up in the same list with a name, address, phone, and a source. In Light AI that is the Requests inbox: website forms, leads sent in through the API, and requests you type in yourself all land in one list, and each one also appears in the Pipeline in the Request stage. ![Requests inbox listing website form, ads, API and manual leads with their status](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/requests-list.webp "One inbox for every source, with the source shown on each request") Whatever tool you use, the rule is the same: a lead without a recorded source is a lead you cannot learn from. ## The six lead sources compared | Source | Best for | Typical timing | How to track it | |---|---|---|---| | Website request form | Visitors already looking for you | August to early December | Name the form for the page it lives on | | Yard-sign and door-hanger QR codes | Neighbors of homes you light | From install day through December | Separate form (or link) per sign batch | | Google Business Profile | "Christmas light installers near me" searches | Starts as early as late summer | Link your website button to a tracked page or form | | Local service pages | Searches by city or neighborhood | Needs to be live before the season | One form or tracked link per page | | Referrals | Friends of happy customers | Install week and after | Ask "how did you hear about us" and log it | | Past-customer renewals | Repeat installs | Late summer early-bird window | Tag as renewal when you create the project | The timing column is a planning guide, not data. Your market and weather will shift it. ## Website request forms that actually convert Your website gets traffic from Google, from your truck wraps and from people checking you out after a referral. A phone number and a generic contact form leave that interest on the table. A request form built for lighting asks the questions you need to quote: what to light, what color, any trees or bushes, and a photo of the front of the home. ![Homeowner request form on a phone asking What should we light?](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/request-form-what-to-light.webp "A request form that asks lighting questions, one card at a time") What makes a lighting request form work: - **Ask for a photo.** A front photo lets you start a quote before you ever drive out. - **Keep the questions short and tap-friendly.** Most homeowners fill this out on a phone. - **Give them something back.** In Light AI, a form can show the homeowner an instant AI mockup of their own home with lights, which gives them a reason to finish. [Adding AI mockups to your website request form](https://light-ai.app/blog/ai-mockups-website-request-form) covers how to set that up and budget for it. - **Put the form on its own page and on your home page.** Do not bury it behind a "Contact" link. Website request forms in Light AI are a Pro feature (Enterprise too). You can embed them with a script or an iframe, and every submission lands in Requests and the Pipeline. See [request forms in the help center](https://light-ai.app/help#request-forms) for the setup steps and [Pricing](https://light-ai.app/pricing) for plan details. ## Yard signs, door hangers and QR codes The best advertising you have is a house you just lit. Neighbors see it every night for six weeks. A yard sign with a QR code turns that attention into a request instead of a vague "who did your lights?" How to do it well: - **Ask the homeowner first.** Many will say yes, especially if you offer a small thank-you. Never place a sign without permission. - **Give the QR code one job.** "Scan to see your home with lights" or "Scan for a free quote" beats a code that opens your home page. - **Size it for the distance.** A common rule of thumb is that a QR code should be about a tenth of the scanning distance wide. People scan yard signs from the sidewalk, not the street, so make the code big and place the sign near the walk. - **Use the print file.** In Light AI, the Share your form option gives you a link and a QR code; download the SVG for print and the PNG for posts and texts. - **Test it.** Scan the printed proof with two different phones before you order a stack. Door hangers follow the same logic. Hang them on the streets around homes you have installed, while those homes are lit, so the hanger points at proof the neighbor can see from their porch. ### Tracking yard signs separately If your yard-sign QR code and your website form feed the same form, you cannot tell them apart. Create a separate form for signs and hangers, named so you know where it lives (for example "Yard signs 2026"). In Light AI, a website request shows the form's name next to its source, so you can count sign leads in the Requests inbox without a spreadsheet. ## Google Business Profile and local pages When homeowners search for Christmas light installers, the map results often show up before regular websites. Your Google Business Profile is free and it is worth an afternoon. - **Pick the most specific category Google offers** for what you do, and list holiday lighting installation as a service with a plain description. - **Set your service area** to the towns you will actually drive to. - **Post real photos** of your installs, at night, with the street name blurred or left out if the homeowner prefers. - **Ask for reviews right after install,** when the homeowner is happiest. Send the review link by text the evening the lights go on. - **Send the website button to your request form page,** not your home page. If you use web analytics, add UTM tags to that link so Google traffic shows up as its own source. Local pages are the website side of the same idea: a page for each main town or area you serve, with photos of real installs there and a request form on the page. Write them for people, not for search engines. A page that says the same thing as five others with the town name swapped will not help you. ## Referrals and past-customer renewals Referrals and renewals cost the least and close the easiest, and they are the sources most contractors track the worst. **Referrals:** make it easy. Leave a card at install with a simple offer for the customer and the friend they send. Ask every new lead "how did you hear about us?" and record the answer in the lead itself, not in your memory. **Renewals:** your past customers are your first sales of the next season. Reach out in late summer with an early-bird offer before they start shopping. Light AI's request form templates include an Early Bird design if you want to send past customers to a form with that offer. When they come back, create the new project under the same client and property so you can see their history. If you plan to stay visible between seasons, Plus and Pro accounts can switch to Off-Season, which keeps your storefront open: request forms keep taking requests, and the first requests each month still get AI mockups. The [Off-Season help article](https://light-ai.app/help#off-season) has the details. ## A simple lead tracking routine You do not need a marketing department. You need a habit. - [ ] Every lead lands in one inbox, with a source recorded - [ ] Separate forms or tracked links for website, signs, hangers and each local page - [ ] "How did you hear about us?" asked and logged for calls and referrals - [ ] Weekly in season: count leads, quotes sent and approvals by source - [ ] Note what each source cost (sign printing, hangers, ad spend, your time) - [ ] In January: rank sources by approved jobs per dollar spent - [ ] Before next August: cut the bottom source, double down on the top one The weekly count is the important part. Leads are nice; approved jobs pay the bills. A source that brings in plenty of requests but few approvals may be sending you the wrong customers, while a quiet source with a high approval rate deserves more budget. For the approval side, see [what a good close rate looks like and how to measure yours](https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best way to get Christmas lighting leads? For most contractors, the strongest sources are a request form on their website, yard signs at installed homes, a well-kept Google Business Profile, and past-customer renewals. Track each source separately so you know which ones turn into approved jobs in your market. ### How do I track which leads came from yard signs? Give yard signs and door hangers their own form or link and QR code, separate from your website form. In Light AI, each website request shows which form it came from, so sign leads are easy to count. ### Do I need a website to use a request form? Not strictly. In Light AI you can turn on Share your form to get a link and QR code that open the form on its own page, which you can text, post or print. A website still helps with Google searches. ### Which Light AI plan includes website request forms? Website request forms are included on Pro and Enterprise. Free and Plus can't create forms; see the Pricing page for plan details. ### When should I start marketing for Christmas lights? Start renewals and Google profile updates in late summer, have forms and local pages live before fall, and put signs out as soon as your first installs are lit. Adjust to when requests start arriving in your own market. ## Measuring a Roofline From Your Desk: Satellite Plan View vs the Tape Measure URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/measure-roofline-satellite-plan-view Published: 2026-08-25 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Product how-tos · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI How to measure a roofline for Christmas lights from satellite imagery: a to-scale plan view, pitch corrections for rakes, and when you still need a tape. You can measure most of a roofline for a Christmas lighting quote from your desk: get a straight-down, to-scale overhead image of the roof (in Light AI the satellite plan view loads from the address; a calibrated Google Earth screenshot also works) and trace the eaves and ridges. What an overhead view cannot show you is slope and height, so gable rakes, hips and vertical runs come out short unless you correct for pitch. Use desk measurements to quote, then verify with a tape or a site visit before you build strands. This guide covers how to get a clean overhead image, how to scale it, which lines an overhead view gets right and which it understates, and when the tape measure still wins. ## What an overhead view measures well (and what it misses) An overhead image is a map. Anything that runs level, like a gutter line or a ridge, shows up at its true length, because a level line has no vertical component to hide. Anything that climbs or drops gets squashed: the image only shows its horizontal run. | Feature | Overhead view | Why | |---|---|---| | Eaves and gutter lines | Accurate | Level runs, seen at true length | | Ridges | Accurate | Level, as long as the ridge is visible and not under trees | | Gable rakes | Understated | Sloped; you only see the horizontal run | | Hips and valleys | Slightly understated | Sloped diagonals, less steep than rakes | | Vertical corners and drops to outlets | Invisible | Purely vertical, zero length from above | | Walkways, driveways, ground runs | Accurate | Flat ground | | Windows, columns, door frames | Not visible | Use the front photo | That table is the whole game. Measure the level lines with confidence, correct the sloped ones, and add the vertical ones from a front photo or on site. ## The quickest route: a satellite plan view in Light AI In Light AI, the plan view loads automatically from the property address. On the Intake step, the plan view card shows **Plan View source: Satellite (auto)**: Light AI finds the house and opens a live satellite map. You drag, zoom or rotate it (North up straightens it), centre the roof in the square and click **Use this view**. The image you get is already to scale, so Measure skips the calibration step and you go straight to tracing. If the address is wrong, fix it and use **Find the house again**; if the house cannot be found or the map does not load, Intake switches to uploading your own Google Earth screenshot. The front view works the same way: the Street View front photo loads automatically from the address. When there is no Street View for a property, upload a photo instead; the Earth, Zillow and Maps links beside the address help you find one. The [adding property photos](https://light-ai.app/help#photos) and [plan view](https://light-ai.app/help#plan-view) help articles cover both. ## How to get a usable overhead image from Google Earth If you prefer your own capture, or the satellite map cannot find the house, a Google Earth screenshot still works. It is only as good as the screenshot: a tilted 3D view, a fuzzy capture or a roof hidden under an oak will cost you more time than it saves. 1. Find the address and look for the clearest capture. Historical imagery often has a sharper or leaf-off version of the same roof, which helps a lot with tree cover. 2. Turn on gridlines and reset the view so you are looking straight down with north up. In Google Earth Pro, the U key resets tilt and R resets tilt and heading together. Any tilt stretches one side of the house and shrinks the other. 3. Zoom until the whole roof fills most of the screen with a little margin. More pixels per foot means more precise clicks. 4. Use the measurement (ruler) tool to measure between two grid crossings, or along a long straight edge such as the driveway or the front gutter line, and write the number down. You will click the same two points again when you calibrate. 5. Take the screenshot. > Tip: measure your calibration line as long as you can. A 2-foot click error on an 80-foot reference line is a small percentage. The same error on a 10-foot reference throws off the whole house. Satellite and aerial images are rarely perfectly straight down. On a tall two-story house, the roof can appear shifted relative to the ground beneath it. Calibrating along a roof-level edge you have measured (rather than a curb far from the house) keeps that lean from creeping into your numbers. ## Scaling and tracing the plan view The plan view has to know how many feet each pixel represents. A Light AI satellite plan view arrives to scale. An uploaded screenshot needs calibrating in Measure: type the known distance, click Set Manual, and click the two endpoints you measured in Google Earth. Then you choose a category (Starter, Ridges, Ground and so on), click along each feature and finish the shape. The [plan view help article](https://light-ai.app/help#plan-view) and [measuring guide](https://light-ai.app/help#measuring) walk through each click. ![Overhead plan view with coloured traced rooflines and an 82 ft calibration ruler](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/plan-view-traced-rooflines.webp "An uploaded plan view calibrated with a ruler; a satellite plan view needs no ruler") With a plan view in the project, the plan measurements are what you bill. Lines you draw on the front photo are there to show the AI where the lights go in the mockup. ![Measure step showing the overhead plan view with traced rooflines next to the front photo with matching guides](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/measure-plan-and-front.webp "Plan view for billing, front view for showing the AI where lights go") ## Correcting for pitch: rakes and hips Here is where desk measuring goes wrong for most people. A gable rake on a steep roof can be noticeably longer than it looks from above, and those rakes are often the most visible lines on the house. To correct a rake, you need the roof pitch (rise in inches per 12 inches of run) and a multiplier. Multiply the overhead length by the factor for that pitch. | Roof pitch | Rake multiplier | Hip/valley multiplier | |---|---|---| | 4/12 | 1.05 | 1.03 | | 6/12 | 1.12 | 1.06 | | 8/12 | 1.20 | 1.11 | | 10/12 | 1.30 | 1.16 | | 12/12 | 1.41 | 1.22 | The rake multiplier is the square root of 1 + (rise/12) squared. The hip column assumes both roof planes share the same pitch. Example: a rake that traces at 20 feet from above on an 8/12 roof is about 20 x 1.20 = 24 feet of actual edge. Two rakes per gable, three gables, and you are suddenly short a full strand. ### Estimating pitch without a ladder - Use a straight-on front or Street View photo of the gable. Measure the gable's height from eave to peak and half its width; rise divided by half-width, times 12, gives pitch. - Count siding courses or brick rows if you know their exposure. - Ask the homeowner if they have roofing paperwork. Roofers record pitch. - When in doubt, round up to the next pitch in the table. Being a little long on a quote is cheaper than being short on install day. ### When to add a cushion instead For a simple ranch with low-slope rakes, a blanket cushion is often faster than calculating each rake. Light AI's line item breakdown has a +10% cushion option for exactly this. On steep, cut-up roofs with many gables, calculate the rakes individually; a flat percentage can still leave you short. ## What the overhead view cannot see at all Some footage never shows up from above. Build these into the quote separately: - **Vertical runs:** corners lit top to bottom, drops from a second-story roofline to a first-story one, and the run from the roofline down to the outlet or timer. - **Lead and extension runs:** distance from power to the start of each run. This is cord and labor, not lit footage, but it is real cost. - **Front-facing details:** windows, columns, door frames and garage outlines. Measure these on a calibrated front photo; garage doors and front doors make handy reference distances. - **Anything under tree canopy:** if you cannot see the gutter line, you are guessing. - **Recent changes:** additions, new porches or a replaced roof that postdate the imagery. A good habit is to trace everything you can see on the plan view, then walk the front photo and list what is vertical or hidden. If the list is long, that is your sign the job needs eyes on site. ## When a site visit or tape measure is still required Desk measuring is a quoting tool. It is not survey-grade, and it does not replace verification. Plan on a site visit or a tape check when: - The job is large or high-value enough that a 10 percent miss would hurt your margin. - The roof is steep, multi-level or cut up with dormers and valleys you cannot read from above. - Trees cover the eaves in every available capture. - You need to see the gutters, shingles or fascia to choose clips and confirm the attachment method. - Power is unclear: outlet locations, GFCI status, and whether a circuit can carry the load. - Ladder or lift access matters to the price (tight side yards, slopes, landscaping in the way). - You build custom-length strands or cut wire to length. Measure before you cut, every time. For everything else, quote from the desk, set clear expectations that final footage is confirmed at install, and have your crew lead confirm measurements on day one before the first strand goes up. ## Checklist for measuring from your desk - [ ] Satellite plan view loaded from the address, roof centred, north up (or the clearest Google Earth capture found) - [ ] For an uploaded screenshot: straight down, gridlines on, calibration measured along a long, roof-level edge - [ ] Same two endpoints clicked when calibrating an upload - [ ] Eaves, ridges and ground runs traced on the plan view - [ ] Pitch estimated and rake multipliers applied (or cushion added) - [ ] Vertical runs, drops and window/column work added from the front photo - [ ] Power locations noted or flagged for the site check - [ ] Quote states that footage is verified on site before install If you want to see how measured footage turns into line items and a priced quote, read [From a photo to an approved quote](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-to-approved-quote-light-ai-workflow). For how to set the rates you multiply that footage by, see [How to price Christmas light installation](https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is satellite imagery accurate enough to measure a roof for Christmas lights? It is accurate enough to quote level runs like gutters and ridges on a straight-down, to-scale view (a Light AI satellite plan view, or a carefully calibrated Google Earth screenshot). It understates sloped edges and cannot see vertical runs, so correct for pitch and verify footage on site before install. ### How do I measure a gable rake from a satellite image? Measure the rake's horizontal length on the overhead image, estimate the roof pitch, then multiply by the rake factor for that pitch (for example about 1.12 for a 6/12 roof). Round up when the pitch is uncertain. ### Does Light AI have a built-in satellite view? Yes. The plan view loads automatically from the address as a live satellite map; you centre the roof, click Use this view and get a to-scale image to measure on, with no calibration step. The front view loads from Street View the same way, and you can always upload your own photos instead. ### How much cushion should I add to desk measurements? A cushion around 10 percent is a common starting point for simple, low-slope roofs, and Light AI's line item breakdown has a +10% option. On steep roofs with many gables, calculate each rake with a pitch multiplier instead of relying on a flat percentage. ### Can I skip the site visit entirely? For many simple homes you can quote without one, but someone should still confirm measurements, power and attachment on install day before strands are built or cut. Complex, steep or tree-covered roofs deserve a visit before you quote. ## Quote Links vs PDF Quotes: What Homeowners Approve Faster URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes Published: 2026-08-11 · Updated: 2026-10-27 · Category: Selling & quoting · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI Quote links vs PDF quotes for Christmas lighting: why homeowners approve links faster on a phone, and when a PDF is still right for HOAs and commercial. For most residential Christmas lighting jobs, homeowners approve a quote link faster than a PDF, because a link opens instantly on a phone, shows the mockup first and puts the approve button one tap away. A PDF is still the better choice when the buyer has to print, file, forward to a board or run your quote through procurement. The practical answer is to send the link by default and keep a clean PDF ready for the buyers who need one. Here's how the two formats compare, where each one wins, and how to set up a quote link so homeowners can say yes without calling you first. ## How homeowners actually read your quote Picture where your quote lands. It's a text on the homeowner's phone, read in a parking lot, on the couch or at their kid's practice. Whatever you send has to work there, in about a minute, with one thumb. A PDF on a phone means tapping to download, pinching to zoom, scrolling sideways to read a table, and then figuring out how to reply. To approve, they usually have to print and sign, take a photo of a signature, or write back "ok let's do it" and hope that counts. Each step is a chance to set it aside for later, and later is where quotes go to die. A quote link opens like a web page. The design is at the top, the price is clear, and there's a button at the bottom. If the homeowner likes what they see, the path to yes is short. ## Quote link vs PDF: side by side Neither format is wrong. They solve different problems. Here's a fair comparison for a residential lighting quote. | Factor | Quote link | PDF quote | |---|---|---| | Opening on a phone | Opens like a web page, no download | Download, then pinch and zoom | | Showing the mockup | Large, first thing they see | Fixed size on the page | | Approving | Tap approve and type a name | Print, sign, scan or reply by email | | Choosing options | Can toggle add-ons or colours, total updates | Options listed, homeowner has to tell you | | Updating after a change | Same link shows the new version | New file, risk of two versions floating around | | Knowing it was opened | Possible with open tracking | No way to know | | Printing and filing | Not designed for paper | Prints cleanly, easy to file | | Forwarding to a board or buyer | Works if they accept links | Expected format for many organizations | | Working offline or archived | Needs a connection | Works anywhere, forever | The pattern is clear. Links win on speed and interaction. PDFs win on paper, permanence and formality. ## Why quote links tend to get approved faster Approval speed comes down to how many steps stand between "I like this" and "yes." A good quote link removes most of them. - **No download, no app, no account.** The homeowner taps and the quote is there. - **The mockup leads.** People decide on the picture first and the price second. A link can put the design front and center. - **Approval is part of the page.** There's nothing to print or scan. They choose, type their name and they're done. - **Options don't require a phone call.** If they can tick the optional wreath or switch to multicolor and see the total change, they don't have to email you to ask "how much with the trees?" - **It's easy to share.** "Look at this" plus a link gets a spouse's opinion in seconds. - **You stay current.** Change a line after a conversation, publish the update, and the same link shows the new version. No "which PDF is the right one?" ![Proposal card on a phone with line items, an optional extra, the total, a deposit line and an approve-with-name field](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-proposal-approve.webp "Approval happens on the same page as the price") None of this guarantees a yes. A link just stops the format from being the reason someone delays. To see whether it's working for you, measure your own close rate and time to approval before and after the change. The [close rate post](https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate) explains how to track both. ## When a PDF is still the right choice There are real buyers for whom a PDF is the professional answer. Don't fight them on it. ### HOAs and architectural review boards Many HOAs want a document they can attach to an application, print for a meeting or file with the property record. Send the PDF with the mockup and scope, and keep the link for the homeowner's own approval. ### Commercial and property management buyers Office parks, retail centers, churches and apartment communities often route quotes to someone who isn't the person you met. A PDF fits their email chains and filing systems, and it reads as a formal document. ### Procurement and purchase orders If a buyer needs a vendor quote attached to a purchase request, they need a file. A link that can change or expire doesn't work as a procurement record. ### Customers who print Some homeowners simply like paper. If someone asks for a printed copy, give them one without making it a thing. ### Your own records Even when the homeowner approves through a link, saving a PDF of what was approved gives you a fixed snapshot of the scope and price for your files. > Tip: When a PDF goes to a board or a buyer, send the link to the person who actually decides too. The PDF satisfies the paperwork; the link gets the approval. ## Making your quote link work harder A link is only as good as what's on it. The best quote maker for Christmas light contractors is one that makes the homeowner's path to yes as short as possible, so set it up with that in mind: - **Lead with your recommended mockup.** The first image is the cover. Make it the design you'd actually install. - **Keep the message short and human.** Two or three sentences in your own voice. Mention something specific about their house. - **Price clearly.** Group line items by feature (roofline, ridges, ground) instead of listing every run, so the homeowner isn't reading a spreadsheet. - **Offer optional extras, not a second quote.** Let them add the trees or the wreath themselves. - **Choose the right approval mode.** Approve inside the quote, send them to your own booking or CRM, or make it view only if you close in person. - **Add your own next step.** If you take deposits, link your own payment or booking page as the client action button. - **Set an expiration if your schedule fills.** A real install-calendar deadline is honest urgency; a fake countdown isn't. In Light AI, the quote link opens on any phone with no account, and you choose the approval mode: Approve in Light AI, approve with Jobber or another service, or view only. With Approve in Light AI, homeowners can pick optional extras and adjust bulb colours, and an approval moves the project to Approved. Light AI never collects payments or deposits; if you take one, link your own payment page as the client action. See [publishing a quote link](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-link) for the details. ![Homeowner checks an optional add-on on the quote link and the total updates](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-link-addon-total.webp "Optional extras the homeowner can add without calling you") ## How to send each one Most of the time, the link goes by text and the PDF goes by email. Here's a simple routing guide. | Buyer | Send first | Also send | |---|---|---| | Homeowner, single decision-maker | Link by text | Nothing else needed | | Homeowner with a spouse to convince | Link by text | Nothing, the link is shareable | | Homeowner in an HOA | Link to homeowner | PDF for the HOA application | | Property manager | PDF by email | Link for faster sign-off | | Commercial or church buyer | PDF by email | Link if they're open to it | | Customer who asked for paper | Printed PDF | Link for approval | Light AI doesn't send text messages, so you copy the published link and text it from your own phone. That's usually better anyway: the homeowner sees your name and number, not a short code. You can also email the quote from Light AI with a picture of the design that opens it (on Pro, from your own verified domain), and export a PDF from Review with Export PDF, which also saves a copy under the project. As a quote maker for Christmas light contractors, it's built so the same quote works as both a link and a PDF without retyping anything. ## Before you send: a quote format checklist - [ ] Recommended mockup is first and matches the line items - [ ] Client message is short, specific to the house and has no surprises - [ ] Line items grouped so the homeowner can read them on a phone - [ ] Optional extras set up as add-ons, not separate quotes - [ ] Approval mode chosen (approve in the quote, your own service, or view only) - [ ] Your payment or booking link added if you take deposits - [ ] Previewed on mobile before publishing - [ ] PDF exported for HOAs, commercial buyers or anyone who asked for one - [ ] Link texted from your own phone with a one-line personal note ## Frequently asked questions ### Do homeowners trust a quote link as much as a PDF? Most do, especially when it shows your company name, logo and a mockup of their own house. If someone prefers a document, send a PDF too; it costs you nothing. ### Can a homeowner approve a quote link without creating an account? Yes. A good quote link opens on any phone or computer with no login. In Light AI, with Approve in Light AI turned on, the homeowner approves by typing their name. ### What happens if I change the quote after sending the link? With Light AI, your draft edits stay private until you click Publish update, which refreshes the same link. The homeowner always sees the latest version without a new file. ### Should I still send a PDF to HOAs? Usually, yes. HOAs and review boards often want a file they can attach, print or archive. Send the PDF for the paperwork and the link to the homeowner for approval. ### Does a quote link collect the deposit? Light AI never collects payments or deposits. You can add your own payment or booking link as the button on the quote, so the homeowner goes straight to your checkout after approving. ## Should You Offer Christmas Light Removal and Storage? How to Price and Sell It URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-light-removal-and-storage Published: 2026-07-28 · Updated: 2026-11-02 · Category: Pricing & money · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI How to design, price and sell Christmas light removal and storage: service models, per-bin pricing math, labelling, warehouse setup, insurance and renewals. Yes, most Christmas lighting contractors should offer removal, and many should offer storage too. Takedown belongs inside every install price, because you'll end up doing it anyway. Storage is a separate paid service that covers its own costs and, more importantly, keeps the customer's lights (and their next season) in your building. Here's how to set it up, price it from your own costs and sell it without extra effort. ## Removal vs storage: pick your service model Before pricing anything, decide who owns the lights. That one decision shapes takedown, storage, insurance and how you rebook the customer. | Service model | Who owns the lights | Takedown | Storage | What brings them back next year | |---|---|---|---|---| | Lease (rent-and-remove) | You | Included in the season price | Your own inventory, your cost | They rebook to get the same look | | Sell and install | Homeowner | Included or optional | Optional paid service | Their lights are on your shelf | | Takedown only | Homeowner (often DIY) | Hourly or per foot with a minimum | Optional, after you test them | A foot in the door for a full install | The lease model is the simplest to run: one price per season covers install, maintenance and removal, and you store your own stock. Selling the lights to the homeowner raises the first-year ticket, but now you're handling customer property, which is where storage, labelling and insurance start to matter. ## How to price Christmas light removal Takedown is often cheaper per foot than install (no measuring, no design decisions, no new clip layout) but it isn't free: ladders, a crew, a truck and the January weather all cost the same. | Pricing method | How it works | Watch out for | |---|---|---| | Bundled in install | Takedown labour is built into your per-foot install rate | You must say "removal included" on the quote or homeowners won't value it | | Percentage of install | Example: takedown priced at a set share of the install price | Breaks down on complex jobs where takedown takes longer than usual | | Per foot | A separate takedown rate per foot | Easy to compare, so homeowners may try to skip it | | Hourly plus minimum | For lights you didn't install | Unknown fastening, damaged strands, staples in the fascia | For your own installs, bundle it. Measure how long takedown really takes per crew hour on a few jobs, put that labour into your per-foot rate (see [how to price Christmas light installation](https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation)), and list "Removal in January included" on the quote. For takedown-only calls on DIY homes, use an hourly rate with a job minimum. You don't know how the lights were hung, and the first hour is often spent finding where the strands start. ## How to price Christmas light storage Price storage per bin per season. It's easy for homeowners to understand, and it tracks your real cost better than a flat fee. Build the rate from these lines; the numbers below are an **example** only. | Cost line (example) | How to calculate it | Example per bin per season | |---|---|---| | Bin and lid | A $15 bin lasting 5 seasons | $3.00 | | Shelf space | $14,400 yearly rent divided by 1,500 bin spaces | $9.60 | | Handling | About 10 minutes per bin across takedown, check-in, pull and load at $32 an hour | $5.33 | | Insurance share | Your storage-related premium divided by bins | $1.00 | | Testing and minor repair | Summer test and bulb replacement time | $2.00 | | **Total cost** | | **$20.93** | At an example 40% margin, that's $20.93 / 0.60, or about $35 per bin per season. Your rent, labour and bin count will change the answer, sometimes a lot. A contractor storing bins in their own garage has a very different shelf-space line than one renting a warehouse. Other ways to package it: - **Flat storage tier** by job size (small, medium, large) if your jobs are similar. - **Per foot stored**, which ties storage to your install pricing. - **Storage included with a multi-season agreement**, where the customer commits to next year's install in exchange for free or reduced storage. That last one is often the best deal for both sides. You give up a little storage revenue and get a booked install. ## Setting up bins, labels and the warehouse Storage only pays if you can find the right bin in October and hang the same design without re-measuring from scratch. - **One house, one set of bins.** Never mix customers in a bin. - **Label every bin** with client name, address, season and bin number ("2 of 3"). Use labels that survive cold, damp and handling. - **Label every strand** with its run name and length: "Front gable left, 42 ft." Masking tape and marker fail; use tags or printed labels. - **Photograph the layout before takedown** and keep the photos with the project so next year's crew can see what went where. - **Test before you store.** Plug in each strand at check-in, note failed bulbs and sockets, and fix them in summer, not on install day. - **Keep it dry and off the floor.** Shelving, pallets and a basic inventory list (bin number to shelf location) are enough to start. - **Track bin location** somewhere the whole team can see, like a client note or a shared sheet. Two Light AI features for this are coming to Pro this winter: Warehouse, a digital copy of your warehouse with every tote logged, and the Job schematics builder, with printable crew copies in English and Spanish that work on an iPhone or iPad on the go. Until then, the project's measurements, front photo and line items are a solid reference for what each house had. ## Insurance and contract terms When you store a customer's lights, their property is in your care. Talk to your insurance agent before you take the first bin. Ask specifically about: - **Coverage for customer property in your care** (often called bailee coverage). - **Coverage for your own inventory and equipment** in the warehouse and in trucks (often inland marine or commercial property). - **General liability and workers' comp** for the extra handling and January roof work. Then put the rules in writing on the storage agreement: - What's being stored and its condition at takedown. - Your liability limit for loss or damage. - Normal wear: bulbs and sockets fail over time, and replacements are billed. - How long you'll hold unclaimed lights, and what happens if the customer doesn't rebook or pay storage by a set date (check your local rules before writing a disposal clause). ## Turning storage into renewals Stored lights are the strongest renewal tool you have. The customer's display is already on your shelf, tested and labelled. Use that. 1. **Offer storage on the original quote.** List it as an optional extra so the homeowner adds it with one tap. 2. **Confirm at takedown.** Remind the customer their lights are stored and tested, and that you'll reach out before the next season. 3. **Rebook early.** In late summer, send returning customers their quote first, ideally with an early-booking incentive and their preferred install week. 4. **Upsell from the shelf.** You know exactly what they had. Suggest one addition: a lit tree, the walkway, a wreath. With Light AI's quote link, using Approve in Light AI, you can let homeowners choose optional extras, so storage can sit as an add-on next to the install and the total updates before they approve. Add it as a custom item in Measure, and use the proposal terms for your storage rules. See [Publishing a customer quote link](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-link). ![Homeowner quote link on a phone with an optional add-on checked and the total updated](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-link-addon-total.webp "An optional add-on, chosen by the homeowner") ![Proposal card with line items, an optional extra, total, deposit line and approve with name](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-proposal-approve.webp "Line items, extras and approval in one place") Between seasons, Plus and Pro accounts can switch to Off-Season to keep the storefront open: request forms keep taking leads and quote links you already sent stay live while your plan waits for the next season. See [Off-Season plan](https://light-ai.app/help#off-season). ## Removal and storage launch checklist - [ ] Decide your service model: lease, sell and install, or both - [ ] Time real takedowns and build takedown labour into your install rate - [ ] Set an hourly rate and minimum for takedown-only jobs - [ ] Calculate your cost per bin per season and set a storage price - [ ] Buy uniform bins, durable labels and shelving - [ ] Write a storage agreement with liability limits and an unclaimed-lights policy - [ ] Confirm bailee and inventory coverage with your insurance agent - [ ] Add storage as an optional extra on your quote template - [ ] Photograph, label and test every job at takedown - [ ] Schedule renewal outreach to stored customers for late summer For when each of these tasks should happen, see [the season calendar from August to January](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-business-season-calendar). ## Frequently asked questions ### Should Christmas light takedown be included in the install price? For your own installs, yes. Build takedown labour into your per-foot rate and state "removal included" on the quote. Pricing it separately invites homeowners to skip it, and you still end up sending a crew. ### How do I price Christmas light storage? Price per bin per season from your real costs: the bin, shelf space, handling time, insurance and summer testing. Add your margin on top. A flat tier by job size or free storage with a multi-season agreement are good alternatives. ### Do I need special insurance to store customers' lights? Ask your agent. Customer property in your care often needs separate coverage (commonly called bailee coverage), and your own inventory may need inland marine or commercial property coverage. Don't assume your general liability policy covers it. ### What if a customer doesn't rebook or pay for storage? Your storage agreement should say how long you'll hold unclaimed lights and what happens after that date, with written notice first. Check local rules before writing a disposal or sale clause. ### Is storage worth it for a small lighting company? Often, if you price it from real costs. Even a garage-based operation benefits from the renewal effect: a customer whose lights are tested and on your shelf has a strong reason to book you again. ## Why Photo Mockups Win More Christmas Lighting Jobs Than Written Quotes URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-mockups-win-more-christmas-lighting-jobs Published: 2026-07-14 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Selling & quoting · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI Why a photo mockup of the homeowner's own house sells Christmas lighting better than a written quote, and how to present mockups honestly so approvals stick. Photo mockups win more Christmas lighting jobs because they answer the question a written quote can't: "What will my house actually look like?" A homeowner who can see their own roofline lit up is deciding on a picture they already like, not a list of feet and bulbs they have to imagine. That shift removes most of the uncertainty that makes people stall, shop around or say "let me think about it." This post covers why that works, how to present mockups so they build trust instead of setting false expectations, and how to fit them into your quoting process without slowing your crew down. ## What a written quote asks the homeowner to do Look at a typical written lighting quote from the homeowner's side of the table: - Roofline, C9, warm white: 142 ft - Ridges: 38 ft - Mini lights, two front trees - Install, maintenance, removal To you, that's a clear scope. To the homeowner, it's homework. They have to picture where "ridges" are, guess whether 142 feet means the whole house or just the front, and imagine what C9 warm white looks like against their particular brick. Most people can't do that, so they fill the gap with worry: Will it look cheap? Will it look like the neighbor's? Am I paying for something I won't like? When a buyer can't picture the result, three things happen: 1. **They compare on price alone.** If two quotes are just lines of text, the lower number wins by default. 2. **They delay.** "I need to talk to my husband" often means "I can't explain this to my husband." 3. **They shrink the scope.** Uncertain buyers cut the trees, the ridges and the wreath, because those are the items they can't see the value of. None of that is about your price or your crew. It's about the format of the information you handed them. ## Why seeing their own house changes the decision A mockup of the homeowner's actual house does something a stock photo or a portfolio can't. It moves them from "would this look good?" to "do I want my house to look like this?" That's a much easier question, and it's usually a yes. Here's the buyer psychology in plain terms: - **Ownership comes early.** Once someone has seen their own house lit, the design starts to feel like theirs. Saying no now means giving something up, not just declining an offer. - **The decision gets shareable.** A spouse, a parent or an HOA neighbor can look at one image and get it in seconds. Your quote no longer depends on the homeowner explaining it well. - **Price gets context.** A number next to a picture they love reads as the cost of that picture. A number next to a list reads as a cost, period. - **Options become real.** "Warm white or multicolor?" is abstract. Two images side by side make the choice obvious, and the homeowner feels in control of it. - **You look like the professional.** Showing a design before asking for money signals that you've planned the job, not just measured it. ![Four AI lighting mockups of the same home in warm white, cool white, multicolor and warm white with snow](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-set-of-four.webp "One home, four looks: the homeowner picks, not guesses") > Tip: Lead with one image you would install yourself, then offer one or two alternatives. Too many options on the first look makes people stall again. ## Written quote vs photo mockup quote Here's a fair side-by-side of what each format does well. Most contractors end up using both: the mockup to sell the look, the line items to make the price clear. | What the homeowner needs | Written quote only | Mockup plus line items | |---|---|---| | Understand what's being lit | Has to imagine from labels | Sees it on their own house | | Compare you to another bid | Compares price and footage | Compares a design to a number | | Share with a spouse or HOA | Must explain it themselves | Forwards one image or link | | Choose between options | Reads descriptions | Looks at two or three images | | Know exact scope and price | Clear, if well written | Clear, the line items still do this | | Expect the real result | Few expectations either way | Needs an honest "concept" note | The last row matters. A mockup raises expectations, so you have to set them correctly. More on that next. ## How to present mockups honestly A mockup is a design concept, not a promise of exactly what will be on the house. The AI shows the idea: which features are lit, which colours, how the house reads at night. Real installs differ in bulb spacing, how a clip sits on a particular gutter, light levels from streetlights, and the parts of the house the photo didn't show. Handled well, that difference never becomes a problem. Handled badly, it becomes a complaint in December. A few habits keep you on the right side: ### Say "concept" out loud and in writing Put one plain sentence in your client message, near the image: "This is a design concept to show the look. The installed lights will follow the line items below." That one line protects you and doesn't hurt the sale, because homeowners understand the difference once you say it. ### Make the line items the source of truth The image sells the look; the line items define the job. If the mockup shows lights on a back ridge you didn't price, fix the mockup or add the line before you send. Never let the picture promise more than the scope. ### Edit out anything you won't install If the mockup lights a tree you don't plan to wrap, or adds a glow to a window you aren't touching, edit it before sending. In Light AI the blue pencil on any mockup lets you mark areas to add or remove, or just describe the change, and you pick the better of two results. ![Mockup edit tools with add and remove brushes and quick actions](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-edit.webp "Remove anything you won't actually install before the homeowner sees it") ### Match the mockup to the products you use If you install C9 on the roofline and minis on the bushes, choose those in the mockup controls. A design shown in a bulb type or colour you don't stock sets up a substitution conversation later. ## Where mockups fit in your sales process Mockups pay off most at the moments where homeowners usually hesitate. You don't need one for every touchpoint. | Stage | What to show | Why it helps | |---|---|---| | First reply to a new lead | One mockup if you have a decent photo | Turns a price shopper into someone picturing their house | | Formal quote | Your recommended design first, then one alternative | Makes the choice about looks, with price as context | | Upsell (trees, ridges, wreath) | The same house with and without the add-on | Shows the value of the extra, instead of describing it | | Follow-up after silence | Re-send the link with the mockup on top | Reminds them what they liked without any pressure | | HOA or spouse approval | The mockup plus scope summary | Lets a second decision-maker say yes quickly | A good front photo is the main requirement. A Street View or real estate listing screenshot often works, and as a last resort you can ask the homeowner to snap one from the street in daylight. See [adding property photos](https://light-ai.app/help#photos) for what works best. ## Common mistakes that cost you the job Mockups can backfire when they're used carelessly. Watch for these: - **Showing the most dramatic version first.** If you lead with every tree, ridge and window lit, the price shocks. Lead with the design you'd recommend for their budget, then show the bigger option as an upgrade. - **Sending ten variations.** Choice overload is real. Two or three looks is plenty. - **Mockups that don't match the quote.** The fastest way to lose trust is a picture that shows more than the price covers. - **Low-quality source photos.** A blurry, dark or heavily angled photo produces a weaker concept. Get a clean front view. - **Skipping the "concept" note.** Leaving it out saves one sentence and risks a December dispute. - **Using it as a substitute for measuring.** The mockup doesn't define your footage. Measure from a plan view and verify on site before install, since desktop measurements support quoting but aren't survey-grade. ## A mockup-first quote checklist Run through this before each quote goes out: - [ ] Clean daylight front photo of the actual house - [ ] Mockup uses the bulb types and colours you actually install - [ ] Anything you won't install is edited out of the image - [ ] Recommended design shown first, one or two alternatives at most - [ ] Line items match everything visible in the mockup - [ ] Client message says the image is a design concept - [ ] Optional add-ons priced separately, so the homeowner can choose - [ ] Quote sent as a link the homeowner can open and forward on a phone - [ ] Measurements flagged for verification on site before install If you want to see the whole flow on a real house, the [Light AI workflow post](https://light-ai.app/blog/photo-to-approved-quote-light-ai-workflow) walks through photo, measure, mockup and review, and the [mockups help article](https://light-ai.app/help#mockups) covers each control. Every generated image uses credits from your balance, and the Generate button shows the cost before you click. ![Homeowner quote link on a phone with the company header, pinned mockup and design thumbnails](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-link-mobile.webp "The mockup sits at the top of the quote link, above the price") ## Frequently asked questions ### Do photo mockups replace a written quote? No. The mockup sells the look, and the line items define the scope and price. The strongest quotes include both, with the line items as the source of truth. ### Will homeowners expect the install to look exactly like the mockup? Some will unless you tell them otherwise. Add a plain sentence that the image is a design concept and that the install follows the line items, and edit out anything you won't install. ### How many mockup options should I send? Usually two or three: your recommended design first, then one or two alternatives such as a different colour or an added feature. More than that tends to slow the decision. ### What photo do I need to make a lighting mockup? A clear daylight photo of the front of the house, taken straight on if possible. A Street View or listing screenshot often works, or you can ask the homeowner to take one from the street. ### Are mockups worth it for small jobs? Often, yes, because small jobs are where homeowners compare on price alone. One image of their own house can move the conversation from the cheapest bid to the design they want. ## Warm White, Cool White or Multicolor? How to Show Homeowners Before They Buy URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/warm-white-cool-white-or-multicolor Published: 2026-06-29 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Selling & quoting · By Light AI Team, The team behind Light AI Warm white, cool white or multicolor Christmas lights? Choose by house style, brick and siding colour and HOA rules, and show homeowners before they buy. Warm white suits most homes, especially brick, stone, wood and traditional styles, because its soft yellow glow flatters warm materials. Cool white looks crisp on modern homes, white or gray siding and snowy settings. Multicolor reads as fun and nostalgic and works best on homes with simple colours and families who want a playful look. The best way to decide is to see the options on your own house before buying, not in a store box or a neighbor's yard. This guide is for both homeowners choosing a look and contractors helping them choose. It covers what each colour does, how to match it to the house, and how to show options before anyone commits. ## What warm white, cool white and multicolor really look like The names hide a lot. Here's what each one looks like at night on a real house. - **Warm white** is a soft, golden glow, close to classic incandescent bulbs. It feels cozy and traditional, and it blends with porch lights and window light. - **Cool white** is a bright, clean, slightly blue-white. It looks icy and modern, and it stands out more against dark skies. Next to warm porch lights it can look harsh. - **Multicolor** mixes red, green, blue, orange and yellow (the exact mix varies by product). It's cheerful and nostalgic and reads well from the street, but it can look busy on a complicated roofline. LED products vary, so one brand's warm white can look more yellow than another's. If you're a contractor, know exactly what your own stock looks like and show that, not a generic photo. ![Four AI mockups of the same home in warm white, cool white, multicolor and warm white with snow](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-set-of-four.webp "Same house, four looks: the fastest way to settle the colour question") ## Match the colour to the house style House style is the first thing to look at. The lights should look like they belong to the architecture. | House style | Usually best | Also works | Be careful with | |---|---|---|---| | Traditional, colonial, craftsman | Warm white | Multicolor for a nostalgic feel | Cool white can feel cold | | Brick ranch | Warm white | Multicolor | Cool white on red brick | | Modern or contemporary | Cool white | Warm white for a softer look | Multicolor on clean lines | | Farmhouse | Warm white | Multicolor | Cool white with warm wood | | Tudor or stone | Warm white | | Multicolor can fight the detail | | Simple two-story, vinyl siding | Any, by preference | Multicolor | Nothing in particular | | Cabin or log | Warm white | Multicolor | Cool white | These are starting points, not rules. A family that loves multicolor should get multicolor. The goal is to help them see it before they buy, so they're not surprised. ## Match the colour to brick, siding and trim The material behind the lights changes how the colour reads. Warm light deepens warm materials; cool light can make them look flat or grayish. ### Red or orange brick Warm white makes red brick glow. Cool white can make it look muddy or purple-gray at night. Multicolor works, but the red bulbs can disappear against the brick. ### Tan, cream or beige siding and stone Warm white is the natural choice. It ties in with the colour of the house. Multicolor pops nicely against light, warm backgrounds. ### White, light gray or blue siding Cool white looks sharp and clean here. Warm white still works and feels softer. Multicolor shows up well because the background is neutral. ### Dark siding (charcoal, navy, black) Both whites stand out strongly against dark siding. Cool white gives a high-contrast modern look; warm white gives a dramatic but cozy look. Multicolor can look great but busier. ### Trim, gutters and roof colour The light sits on the roofline, so the gutter and roof colour matter too. White gutters will reflect the light colour, making cool white look brighter and warm white look more golden. Dark shingles make everything stand out more. ## HOA rules and the neighborhood Before falling in love with a design, check the rules and the street. - **Read the HOA guidelines.** Some HOAs limit colours, ask for white-only displays, restrict install and removal dates, or require approval for anything on the roof. Some require a submission with a picture or description. - **Look at the neighbors.** You don't have to match, but a block of warm white roofs will make one cool white house stand out. That might be exactly what the homeowner wants, or it might not. - **Think about the view from the street.** Most people see the house from a car. Multicolor and cool white tend to read from farther away; warm white looks richer up close. - **Consider mixing.** Many good designs use warm white on the roofline with multicolor on trees or bushes, or one colour on the house and another on the ground. It's a way to give the family some fun without fighting the architecture. If the homeowner needs HOA approval, a mockup of the actual house plus a short scope summary usually makes that submission easier. Many HOAs accept or prefer a PDF for this; see [quote links vs PDF quotes](https://light-ai.app/blog/quote-links-vs-pdf-quotes). ## How to show homeowners before they buy This is where most colour decisions go wrong. People pick from a box at the store, from a neighbor's house, or from a photo of someone else's home. Then the lights go up and it isn't what they pictured. The better way is to show the options on their own house: 1. **Start with a clean front photo.** Daylight, straight on, whole house in frame. 2. **Make the recommended look first.** Use the house style and materials to pick the starting point. 3. **Make one or two alternatives.** Usually the other white, or multicolor. Keep it to two or three choices. 4. **Show them side by side.** On a phone, a homeowner can flip between looks in seconds. 5. **Let them decide, then quote what they picked.** Price the colour they actually chose. In Light AI, the mockup controls let you choose C9 and mini bulb colours separately, plus the C9 pattern and ambiance such as snow or a darker sky. You can add up to eight mockups per project, so a warm, a cool and a multicolor version of the same house is easy. Each generated image uses credits from your balance, and the Generate button shows the cost first. See [generating AI mockups](https://light-ai.app/help#mockups). ![Mockup controls for features to include, C9 and mini bulb colour, C9 pattern and ambiance](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/mockup-style-pickers.webp "Pick C9 and mini colours separately to show mixed designs") When you publish the quote link with Approve in Light AI, you can let homeowners adjust bulb colours themselves, per line, before they approve. That gives them a sense of control and saves you a round of texts. ![Homeowner choosing a bulb colour per line on the quote link on a phone](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/quote-link-bulb-colors.webp "Homeowners can change bulb colours on the quote before approving") Remember that a mockup shows the concept, not the exact installed result. Real bulbs vary by product, and streetlights and porch lights change how a house looks at night. Say so in your client message. ## A colour decision checklist For contractors, run through this with each homeowner. For homeowners, use it before you buy. - [ ] Note the house style (traditional, modern, farmhouse, brick ranch) - [ ] Note the main material colour (brick, stone, siding) and gutter colour - [ ] Check HOA rules on colours, dates and approval - [ ] Look at what the neighbors are doing, and decide whether to blend or stand out - [ ] Ask who the display is for: kids, curb appeal, a classic look - [ ] Show the recommended colour and one or two alternatives on the actual house - [ ] Consider a mixed design (warm roofline, multicolor trees) - [ ] Confirm the bulb types and colours match the products you install - [ ] Price the colour the homeowner chose, not a default ## Frequently asked questions ### Is warm white or cool white more popular for Christmas lights? It depends on the neighborhood and the house. Warm white is the common choice for traditional and brick homes, while cool white shows up more on modern homes and light siding. The best answer is to compare both on your own house. ### Does multicolor look tacky on a nice house? Not when it fits the design. Multicolor works well on simpler homes and on trees and bushes, and many good designs pair a warm white roofline with multicolor on the ground. ### Can I mix warm white and cool white on the same house? You can, but it's harder to make look intentional. Most installers mix white with multicolor instead, or keep warm and cool on clearly separate features such as the roof and the trees. ### What colour Christmas lights look best on red brick? Warm white usually looks best on red brick because it deepens the warm tones. Cool white can make brick look grayish at night, and red bulbs in multicolor can blend into the brick. ### How can I see what lights will look like before buying? Ask your lighting contractor for a mockup of your own house in each colour you're considering. Seeing two or three options on your actual home is far more reliable than a store box or a neighbor's display. ## Running a Christmas Lighting Business: The Season Calendar From August to January URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-business-season-calendar Published: 2026-06-16 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Operations · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI A month-by-month calendar for running a Christmas lighting business, August to January, with checklists for pricing, sales, hiring, installs and takedown. Running a Christmas lighting business comes down to a six-month calendar: plan and price in August, sell in September, quote and hire in October, install in November, service in December and take down in January. Every month has a job that can't slide into the next one, because the season ends on a fixed date. Below is the calendar with a checklist for each month. ## The season at a glance | Month | Main focus | What has to be done by month end | |---|---|---| | August | Plan and price | Rates set, inventory counted, past customers contacted | | September | Sell early | Lead sources live, first quotes sent, early bookings in | | October | Quote, order, hire | Lights ordered, crews hired and trained, installs starting | | November | Install | Most installs done, lights-on dates kept | | December | Service and rebook | Callbacks handled fast, next season's interest captured | | January | Takedown and review | Lights down, tested and stored, numbers reviewed | Your dates will shift with your climate and market. Contractors in cold regions often push installs earlier to beat frozen roofs; others start later. Keep the order, adjust the timing. ## August: plan, price and prepare August is the last calm month. Anything you don't decide now gets decided in a rush in October. Start with pricing. Look at last season's actual costs per job, not your estimates, and reset your per-foot rate, minimums and per-piece prices. Our guide on [how to price Christmas light installation](https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation) walks through the math. Then count everything. Inventory you own, bins in storage, ladders, harnesses, timers and cords. Test a sample of stored strands so you know your failure rate before you plan orders. Finally, contact past customers first. They're the warmest leads you'll get all year, and a returning customer is far easier to schedule than a new one. - [ ] Review last season's job costs and reset prices - [ ] Update your quote template with new rates - [ ] Count and test inventory; list what needs replacing - [ ] Renew insurance and confirm coverage for storage and roof work - [ ] Reach out to past customers with an early-booking offer - [ ] Decide how many crews you can staff and how many installs that allows ## September: sell early and fill the calendar The homeowners who book in September are planners. They're also the easiest to schedule, because your install calendar is wide open. Get your lead sources running: your website request form, Google Business Profile, yard signs from last year, door hangers and referrals. For ideas on each, see [how to get more Christmas lighting leads](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-leads-request-forms-qr-google). Early-bird pricing or first pick of install dates gives people a reason to decide now instead of in late November. If you use Light AI's website request forms (Pro and Enterprise), the form editor includes ready-made templates such as Early Bird, Black Friday and Last Chance, so you can switch the offer as the season moves. Each request lands in the Requests inbox and the Pipeline. If you were on Off-Season over the summer, your plan returns automatically on your first billing date in September by default, or sooner whenever you choose. ![Request form editor showing templates such as Classic, Early Bird, Black Friday and Last Chance with a live preview](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/request-form-design-offer.webp "Swap the offer as the season moves") - [ ] Turn on your website request form and share link or QR code - [ ] Launch an early-booking offer with a clear deadline - [ ] Send every returning customer their quote - [ ] Set a same-day or next-morning quoting standard - [ ] Start a simple tracker for lead source and quote status ## October: quote fast, order, hire October is the busiest month for most offices. Leads arrive daily, and every slow quote is a lost job. Quote speed is your biggest lever this month. Measure each roof from your desk with a calibrated overhead plan view, build the quote from your saved rates, and send a quote link the homeowner can approve from their phone. Verify measurements on site before installing. Track how many quotes you send and how many get approved; our guide to [measuring your close rate](https://light-ai.app/blog/holiday-lighting-quote-close-rate) explains how. Order lights and clips as soon as approved footage gives you a reliable number, and add a buffer for late jobs. Supply tightens as the season approaches. Hire and train crews now, not the week before installs. Run every new hire through ladder safety, fall protection, clip types for different rooflines and your quality standard. ![Light AI Pipeline board with stage columns from Request to Completed and totals per stage](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/pipeline-board.webp "Every job by stage: what needs quoting, what's waiting, what's approved") - [ ] Quote every new lead within a day - [ ] Follow up on every quote that hasn't been approved - [ ] Place your main light and clip order with a buffer - [ ] Hire and train crews; check certifications and safety gear - [ ] Build an install schedule by area to cut drive time - [ ] Start installs as soon as approved jobs and weather allow ## November: install season Installs run every day the weather allows. Your job as the owner shifts from selling to scheduling, quality and keeping promises. Route jobs by neighbourhood. Confirm each install with the homeowner a day ahead, including the power source and gate access. Photograph each finished job in daylight and at night: you'll want the photos for marketing and for next year's crew. Set a "lights on" target date that you can actually hit, and tell late leads honestly when your calendar is full. Late November leads still convert, but only if you have slots left. A last-chance offer works best when it's true. - [ ] Confirm every install a day ahead - [ ] Route crews by area each morning - [ ] Photograph finished jobs, day and night - [ ] Mark installs complete as they finish - [ ] Keep a short list of open install slots for late leads - [ ] Watch the weather and reschedule early, not on the day ## December: service, callbacks and rebooking Once lights are on, the job is keeping them on. Outages, tripped GFCIs, wind damage and timers set wrong all generate calls. A fast callback is the best advertising you have. Keep a callback crew or a set of daily service windows. Log every callback against the job so you can see which installs or products cause repeat trips. December is also when homeowners love their lights most. Ask happy customers for a review and a referral now, and ask whether they want the same design next year. - [ ] Assign a service crew or daily callback window - [ ] Log every callback by job and cause - [ ] Ask satisfied customers for reviews and referrals - [ ] Capture next-season interest and design changes - [ ] Schedule takedown dates with each customer ## January: takedown, storage and the season review Takedown is where next season starts. Label every strand by run and length, test it before storing, photograph the layout, and put each customer's lights in their own labelled bins. If you offer storage, our guide on [removal and storage pricing](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-light-removal-and-storage) covers bins, labels and insurance. Then sit down with the numbers while they're fresh: revenue, cost per job, close rate by lead source, callbacks per job, and which months were tight on crew. ![Light AI dashboard home with key totals, a Get Back to It list and recent activity](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/dashboard.webp "Sample data: totals and open work in one place") Between seasons, Plus and Pro accounts in Light AI can switch to Off-Season to keep the storefront open: request forms keep taking leads, quote links you already sent stay live, and approvals still come in. See [Off-Season plan](https://light-ai.app/help#off-season) for what stays on. - [ ] Finish takedowns; label, test and store everything - [ ] Record damaged inventory to replace before August - [ ] Review revenue, cost per job and close rate by source - [ ] Note what to change in pricing, hiring and scheduling - [ ] Thank customers and confirm storage and rebooking terms - [ ] Decide your between-season plan for software and staff ## Frequently asked questions ### When should a Christmas lighting company start selling? Start with past customers in August and open new lead sources in September. Early bookings are easier to schedule and give you a clearer picture of how much to order and how many crews to hire. ### When do Christmas light installations usually start? Many contractors start installing in October or early November, depending on climate and demand. Start once you have enough approved jobs to route efficiently and the weather is safe for roof work. ### When should I order Christmas lights for the season? Place your main order once approved footage gives you a reliable estimate, usually in October, and keep a buffer for late jobs. Test stored inventory in August so you know what needs replacing. ### What should I do in January after takedown? Label, test and store every strand, record damaged inventory, then review the season's numbers: cost per job, close rate by lead source and callbacks. Those numbers set next August's prices. ### What happens to my Light AI account between seasons? Owners on an active monthly Plus or Pro plan can switch to Off-Season. Request forms keep taking leads and sent quote links stay live, while creating new quotes and AI mockups is locked until you resume your plan. ## How to Price Christmas Light Installation: Per Foot, Per House, and the Hidden Costs URL: https://light-ai.app/blog/how-to-price-christmas-light-installation Published: 2026-06-02 · Updated: 2026-10-26 · Category: Pricing & money · By Ricardo Corona, Founder of Light AI Set your Christmas light installation price from your own costs: a per-foot formula, job minimums, per-house packages and the hidden costs that eat margin. To price Christmas light installation, add up your true cost per foot (lights, clips, install and takedown labour, fuel, storage and a callback reserve), add your share of overhead, then divide by one minus your target margin. Use that per-foot rate for rooflines, price trees, wreaths and ground work per piece, and protect small jobs with a minimum. The rest of this guide walks through each step with worked examples you can replace with your own numbers. ## Start with your cost, not a competitor's price per foot The most common pricing mistake in this trade is copying a competitor's per-foot number. You don't know their crew wage, whether they sell or lease the lights, how far they drive, or whether they're making money at all. Your price has to come from three things only you know: - **Your direct cost per foot**: everything it takes to put up, maintain and take down one foot of lights. - **Your overhead**: the yearly costs that exist whether you hang one house or three hundred. - **Your target margin**: what you want left after both. Once you have those, a competitor's rate is useful only as a sanity check on how you present your price, not as the price itself. ## How to price Christmas light installation per foot Per-foot pricing works because rooflines are the bulk of most residential jobs and footage is easy to explain to a homeowner. Build the rate one cost line at a time. The table below is an **example** for a lease-style job (you own the lights and reuse them for several seasons) on a 200 ft roofline with a two-person crew. Swap in your own numbers. | Cost line | How to calculate it | Example per foot | |---|---|---| | C9 bulbs, wire and sockets | Purchase cost per foot divided by the seasons you expect to reuse them ($1.20 over 3 seasons) | $0.40 | | Clips and zip ties | Single-use, bought new every job | $0.08 | | Install labour | 2 people x 3 hours x $32 loaded hourly cost, divided by 200 ft | $0.96 | | Takedown labour | 2 people x 1.5 hours x $32, divided by 200 ft | $0.48 | | Fuel and vehicle | Two round trips at $20 each, divided by 200 ft | $0.20 | | Storage and labelling | Bins, shelf space and handling, spread per foot | $0.10 | | Callback reserve | Money set aside for outages, wind damage and GFCI trips | $0.10 | | **Direct cost** | | **$2.32** | | Overhead share | Example: $30,000 yearly overhead divided by 40,000 ft you expect to sell | $0.75 | | **All-in cost** | | **$3.07** | "Loaded hourly cost" means wage plus payroll taxes, workers' comp and any per-hour benefits. If you pay $22 an hour and forget the load, every job is underpriced before you leave the shop. ### Turn cost into a price with your margin Divide your all-in cost by (1 minus your target margin). This is margin, not markup: a 40% markup on cost is only about a 29% margin on the price. | Example target margin | Formula | Example price per foot | |---|---|---| | 25% | $3.07 / 0.75 | $4.09 | | 35% | $3.07 / 0.65 | $4.72 | | 45% | $3.07 / 0.55 | $5.58 | Round to a clean number you are comfortable saying out loud. Then check it against your schedule: if you can only install so many feet in a season, the margin per foot is what pays for your year. ## The hidden costs that eat your margin Most underpriced quotes aren't wrong on the obvious lines. They're missing the costs that show up after the sale. - **Bulb and socket replacement.** Bulbs crack, sockets corrode and reels get damaged in storage. Budget a replacement percentage on top of the reuse math. - **Clips you never get back.** Clips are rarely worth reusing at scale. Price them as a consumable on every job. - **Takedown.** If takedown isn't in the price, you're doing it for free in January when you're tired and the roof is icy. - **Fuel and drive time.** Two visits minimum per house, plus callbacks. Route density matters more than the per-foot rate on far-out jobs. - **Storage.** Bins, labels, shelving and warehouse rent all have a cost per foot, even if the space is your garage. - **Insurance.** General liability, workers' comp and commercial auto. Ladder and roof work can push premiums up, so get your real quote before you set prices. - **Callbacks.** Every outage call costs a truck roll. A small reserve per foot keeps service calls from eating the profit on that house. - **Equipment.** Ladders, harnesses, roof anchors, timers and extension cords wear out. Spread their replacement cost across the season. - **Selling costs.** Marketing per lead, software, payment processing fees and the hours spent quoting jobs you don't win. > Tip: price a timer, a new outdoor outlet run or extra extension cords as their own line items. They're real costs, and homeowners understand them when they're listed. ## Per house pricing, packages and job minimums Some homeowners want one number, not a per-foot breakdown. You can sell a per-house price and still build it from your per-foot rate behind the scenes. ### Why small jobs need a minimum Some costs are the same whether the house has 60 ft of roofline or 300: drive time, setup, the quote itself, scheduling and invoicing. In the per-foot example above, those are spread across 200 ft. On a smaller job, the same fixed costs land on fewer feet. | Example job size | Fixed cost per job (two trips plus admin) | Fixed cost per foot | |---|---|---| | 60 ft | $139 | $2.32 | | 120 ft | $139 | $1.16 | | 200 ft | $139 | $0.70 | | 300 ft | $139 | $0.46 | A rate built for a 200 ft average undercharges every small job. Set a minimum job price so a short roofline still covers its fixed costs and margin. A simple method: price your smallest job you'd still take at your per-foot rate, add the fixed-cost gap, and make that the minimum. ### Packages that are easy to say yes to Packages work well when they are built from the same math: - **Roofline only**: the front-facing roofline at your per-foot rate. - **Roofline plus**: roofline, plus ridges and the front ground line or walkway. - **Full front**: everything above plus trees, bushes and a wreath or garland at the entry. Price trees per tree by height and wrap density, bushes per bush or per net, and wreaths and garland per piece. Keep ground stakes and pathway lights per foot or per stake. ## Measure accurately before you price Your per-foot rate is only as good as the footage you multiply it by. Guessing a roofline from the street is where good pricing turns into lost margin or lost jobs. In Light AI the front photo (Street View) and the overhead plan view (satellite) load from the address; you centre the roof, get a to-scale plan view (or upload and calibrate your own screenshot), and trace each run: Starter, Ridges, Ground and so on. Plan measurements become the billed quantities. Measurements support quoting; they are not survey-grade, so verify on site before you hang anything. ![Light AI Measure step with an overhead plan view showing traced rooflines and a calibration ruler next to the front photo](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/measure-plan-and-front.webp "Trace each run on the plan view; the front photo shows the AI where lights go") The Line Item Breakdown then lists every run with its measurement and unit price. You can merge rows into one line per category, add a +10% cushion, add custom items for separately priced work, set prices in Pricing Settings and save them to a template so every future quote starts from your rate. Discounts and a deposit line live under Quote Totals. See [Calibrating and measuring](https://light-ai.app/help#measuring) for the steps. ![Line item breakdown merged into one line each for Starter, Ridges and Ground with measurements and unit prices](https://light-ai.app/blog/shots/line-items-merged.webp "One line per category, priced from your own rate") ### Let homeowners add extras themselves Optional extras are an easy way to raise the average ticket without pushing. When you publish a quote link with Approve in Light AI, you can let customers choose optional extras, such as a wreath or a lit walkway, and the total updates on their phone before they approve. More on that in [Publishing a customer quote link](https://light-ai.app/help#quote-link). ## Your pricing checklist before the season - [ ] Calculate your loaded hourly labour cost (wage plus taxes, workers' comp and benefits) - [ ] Time a few real installs and takedowns to get feet per crew hour - [ ] Decide how many seasons you'll reuse lights and spread the cost - [ ] Total your yearly overhead and the feet you expect to sell - [ ] Add reserves for callbacks and bulb replacement - [ ] Choose a target margin and calculate your per-foot rate - [ ] Set a job minimum that covers fixed costs on small houses - [ ] Price trees, bushes, wreaths, timers and power work per piece - [ ] Save your rates to a quote template so every crew member quotes the same way - [ ] Review actual cost per job after the season and adjust If you also store customers' lights between seasons, read [how to price removal and storage](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-light-removal-and-storage). For the timing of all of this across the year, see [the season calendar](https://light-ai.app/blog/christmas-lighting-business-season-calendar). ## Frequently asked questions ### How much should I charge per foot for Christmas lights? There's no single right number. Add your direct cost per foot (lights, clips, labour, takedown, fuel, storage, callbacks), add your overhead share, then divide by one minus your target margin. That gives you a rate that works for your crew and market. ### Should I include takedown in my installation price? Yes, for most residential jobs. Pricing takedown separately invites homeowners to skip it, and you still end up sending a crew. Build takedown labour into the per-foot rate and say clearly in the quote that removal is included. ### Is it better to price per foot or per house? Most contractors calculate per foot and present whichever the homeowner understands best. Per-foot math keeps you profitable on big houses; a per-house or package price is easier to approve. Either way, use a minimum so small jobs still cover their fixed costs. ### What's the difference between markup and margin? Markup is a percentage of your cost; margin is a percentage of your price. A $3 cost marked up 40% sells for $4.20, which is about a 29% margin. Set prices by dividing cost by one minus your target margin. ### Can I trust roofline measurements from a photo? Treat them as a quoting estimate. A calibrated overhead plan view gets you much closer than eyeballing from the street, but measurements are not survey-grade, so confirm on site before ordering or installing.