Companies Offer Holiday Decor Help

OMAHA, Neb. -- Most Americans who adorn their homes for the holidays still wrestle with extension cords and balance on ladders to put up wreaths, icicle lights and Santa figurines.

But for a small yet growing number of homeowners, it's easier to hire professionals to festoon their homes for the holidays _ design, install, takedown and storage included _ starting at about $1,000, with no limits to speak of.

Enter companies like Omaha-based Brite Ideas Decorating, with 254 franchises nationwide and lights on about 40,000 homes, according to founder and president Travis Freeman.

Freeman, 35, says his business is growing about 30 percent annually, with 50 new franchises added around the country every year.

Mike Head has hired a Council Bluffs, Iowa-based company to decorate his house each holiday season the last three years. He said professional decorators can do things he's not willing or able to do.

"I'm not the most handy man in the world," said Head, 48 of Omaha. "So one, I'm afraid of heights. Two, I'm not the most mechanically inclined. And three, because of work and other commitments I had a limited amount of time."

Head said his decorations cost an average of about $4,000 per year with everything included.

Travis Kuster, the owner of Christmas Decor by TK LLC, who decorated Head's house, said another client paid $12,000 for decorations this year.

Freeman said about 3 percent of his customers spend $10,000 or more per year to spruce up their lots _ one customer paid $73,000 this year for mostly custom-built pieces to display.

An LED-animated scene of three elves putting a star on a tree costs $3,900 according to the Brite Ideas Web site. Santa on a motorcycle costs $1,950. Combining displays for neighborhood bragging rights can quickly run up the price tag.

After all, it's hard keeping up with new decorations, neighborhood aesthetics and an ever-increasing holiday spirit.

"It's definitely the high end market, where people want something new and unique and they're willing to pay for it," Freeman said. "They just want to stand out."