Everything That Happens Before, During, and After Your Holiday Display — So You Don’t Have to Think About Any of It
Full-service holiday decorating means the homeowner’s only responsibility is to enjoy the result. From the initial consultation through professional design, installation, in-season maintenance, scheduled takedown, and climate-controlled storage, every phase is handled by Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor.
No scheduling coordination in October. No troubleshooting in December. No storage problem in January. No recurring conversation about what to do next year. This is what a professionally managed holiday season looks like.
This guide is part of the Holiday Decorating Guide, the master resource connecting all five areas of professional holiday decorating.
Margie Mae McQuade was a pediatric oncology nurse who loved Christmas above almost everything — the family, the food, the warmth of togetherness, and the lights. She died of cancer in 2002, the same disease her young patients fought.
When Scott McQuade rediscovered his mother’s blue C-9 bulbs in his garage in 2008, the memories came back with them. Those lights did not belong in storage. They belonged in the world, bringing the same joy she had always believed in.
Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor was founded in 2009. The blue C-9 is her symbol. And the full-service model — which handles every detail so the homeowner can focus entirely on the season — is the expression of what she taught Scott: work hard, care for others, and love what you do.
Quick Answer: Is Professional Holiday Decorating Worth It?
Yes. Professional holiday decorating delivers better design, safer installation, longer-lasting materials, and a fully managed experience that eliminates seasonal stress.
Is full-service holiday decorating worth it for Arizona homeowners?
Yes. Full-service holiday decorating is the only model that removes every seasonal variable. Every phase is handled. For homeowners with complex properties, HOA requirements, second homes, or no interest in managing seasonal logistics, full-service is the clear better option.
Most clients describe the first full-service season as the last time they considered doing it any other way.
What Full-Service Holiday Decorating Actually Means
Not a premium version of seasonal installation. A fundamentally different relationship with the holiday season.
When a homeowner chooses full-service, they are not buying lights. They are buying the complete removal of every seasonal responsibility.
The design decisions are handled. The scheduling is handled. The crew arrives when they say they will. The installation looks the way the homeowner discussed. If something stops working in week two, a call produces a response. When January comes, the home is restored to exactly the condition it was in before the first crew arrived.
Most homeowners who try to manage holiday decorating themselves — the scheduling, the installation, the maintenance, the takedown, the storage — discover within one or two seasons that the total cost in time, stress, and substandard results exceeds the investment in full-service professional management.
The installation component of this process is detailed in the Christmas Light Installation Guide.
Who Full-Service Is Built For
Full-service is the clear choice for these homeowners — and the wrong choice for others. This distinction matters.
• Second homeowners — The service is managed without the homeowner’s presence. The crew arrives, installs, maintains, removes, and stores. The homeowner arrives to a finished display.
• Busy professionals — Homeowners who have no interest in managing seasonal logistics. One consultation in fall. One call if anything stops working. Everything else handled.
• HOA-heavy properties — Homeowners in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills communities with strict exterior modification requirements. Every installation is documented, compliant, and backed by a no-damage guarantee.
• High-expectation clients — Homeowners who are particular about how their home looks, how the crew treats the property, and what the result looks like from the street.
• Homeowners upgrading from discount services — Clients who have experienced the gaps: wrong clips on tile, no in-season maintenance, missed takedown windows, inadequate insurance.
• Estate and commercial properties — Large-scope installations where coordination, crew scale, safety protocols, and design discipline matter from the first day to the last.
Who Full-Service Is Not Built For
If price is the primary decision criterion, this is not the right service. If the goal is minimal lighting on a simple roofline with no design requirements, professional seasonal installation may be proportionate. Being direct about this serves everyone better.
Why Clients Choose Full-Service Over the Alternatives
Four direct comparisons — vs. DIY, installation-only, discount services, and second-home management.
Full-Service vs. DIY
DIY holiday decorating on an Arizona tile roof creates tile contact risk on every installation and removal. Wrong clip systems crack tile surfaces. Consumer lighting degrades by season two. Design is absent. The result reflects effort rather than intention.
The complete breakdown of why installation method matters for Arizona homes is in the Christmas Light Installation Guide.
Full-Service vs. Installation-Only
Installation-only seasonal service puts quality product on a roofline with professional technique. What it does not provide is the design consultation, in-season maintenance commitment, takedown guarantee, or climate-controlled storage. The better option is full-service from the start.
The design principles that drive the difference between installation-only and full-service results are in the Holiday Lighting Design Guide.
Full-Service vs. Discount Installers
Lower-cost installation services can put product on a roofline. What they cannot provide is design discipline, commercial-grade materials, appropriate insurance coverage, or in-season maintenance. The gap shows up in week two of December when a section goes dark and the question is whether anyone answers.
Full-Service for Second Home Owners
For homeowners with Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, or Fountain Hills properties who are not present during the installation season, full-service is the only workable model. The crew manages everything. The homeowner arrives to a finished display.
For homeowners considering permanent lighting as an alternative that eliminates annual installation entirely, the Permanent Architectural Lighting Guide explains how permanent systems work.
Phase One: The Consultation
A 30 to 45-minute working conversation — scope, design, logistics, and expectations established before any work begins.
Every Margie Mae’s engagement begins with a consultation lasting approximately thirty to forty-five minutes. The team evaluates the architecture of the home, the existing exterior and interior palette, the homeowner’s aesthetic preferences, and the scope they have in mind. Measurements are taken. Sight lines are assessed.
Design planning follows. The installation team arrives with a plan, not an improvisation.
Phase Two: Design
Design is established before a single product is selected. Every item installed has a purpose.
For exterior installations, the design establishes the roofline treatment, landscape illumination zones, architectural accents, and color palette. The full principles behind exterior design are in the Holiday Lighting Design Guide.
For interior installations, the design establishes the tree design, the room-by-room palette, the garland and wreath placement, and the accent arrangements. The Interior Holiday Decorating Guide covers the interior design process room by room.
When both exterior and interior work are included in the same engagement, the design ensures that the two environments speak the same visual language. The home feels like a complete design.
The principles that govern how lighting is laid out across a home are covered in the Holiday Lighting Design Guide.
Phase Three: Installation
OSHA-certified crews. Tile-safe clip systems. Safety pads on every roofline. No-damage guarantee.
Installation is completed by trained professional crews, three to five technicians depending on project scope. At peak season, Margie Mae’s operates five crews simultaneously, completing between ten and twenty-five installations per week.
Safety as Active Prevention
Crews train year-round on ladder safety. The Safety Manager holds OSHA 80 certification. The Local Safety Controller holds OSHA 30. Most crew members carry OSHA 10 minimum. Roof protection pads are used on every project.
Property Protection
Tile-safe clip systems on every tile roof installation. No drilling. No adhesive. No lifted tiles. No-damage guarantee backed by $4 million in total coverage.
Insurance Coverage
• General Liability: $1,000,000
• Workers’ Compensation: $1,000,000
• Hired Auto Coverage: $1,000,000
• Umbrella Policy: additional $1,000,000
A full explanation of why insurance matters and what to verify before any installer begins is in the Christmas Light Installation Guide.
Phase Four: In-Season Maintenance
Included. The installation is not complete until the season ends.
In-season maintenance is included in every Margie Mae’s engagement. The most common situation is a tripped GFI outlet. The team resolves it quickly. For clients, the experience is a single call and a prompt response.
Phase Five: Takedown
Three takedown windows. Every element removed, inventoried, and stored. The home restored exactly.
• Between Christmas and New Year’s
• Epiphany, January 6
• Any time the client prefers
Every element is removed carefully and inventoried. Nothing is left behind. The home is restored to exactly the condition it was in before the first crew arrived.
Phase Six: Climate-Controlled Storage
The Phoenix metro can reach 140 degrees in an unventilated attic. Climate-controlled storage protects the investment.
All materials are transported to a climate-controlled storage facility after takedown. The Phoenix metro receives 300+ days of sunlight per year. Temperatures in an unventilated garage or attic reach 140 degrees in summer. Climate-controlled storage is why the same product looks as good in its third season as it did in its first.
For homeowners looking to eliminate storage entirely, the Permanent Architectural Lighting Guide explains how fixed systems remove the seasonal cycle.
Interior transformation is covered in detail in the Interior Holiday Decorating Guide.
What Full-Service Costs
Investment reflects a complete seasonal partnership — materials, design, installation, maintenance, takedown, and storage.
• Residential exterior installations begin at $1,599 and average approximately $3,500
• Residential interior installations average approximately $5,299
• Commercial installations begin at $5,000 and scale with scope
Margie Mae’s does not strip the service to compete on price. The largest single residential installation completed was $160,000. The standard of care, safety protocols, material quality, and service commitment are the same regardless of project size.
“I had a fantastic experience working with Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor for our Christmas decorations. This family-owned business really impressed me with their professionalism and friendly approach. The father came out personally for the estimate, and his son, Hunter, led the installation crew. They were both incredibly easy to work with and made the entire process seamless. They took the time to listen to my requests and delivered a final result that was beyond my expectations.” — Scottsdale Residential Client, First Season
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be home during the installation?
Not necessarily. Many clients provide access and the crew handles the installation without the homeowner present. A pre-installation consultation ensures the team has everything they need.
What if I want to make changes after installation?
Changes are handled through a simple call. Whether the adjustment is minor or substantive, the team responds. The goal is that the installation looks the way the homeowner wants it to look, and stays that way through the season.
How does scheduling work during peak season?
Early-season installation begins in September and October, with scheduling incentives for clients who book during this window. The primary season runs through late October and November.
What if something stops working mid-season?
Call. In-season maintenance is included. The most common situation is a tripped GFI outlet, resolved quickly.
Can I add to the installation each year?
Yes. Many long-term clients build on their installations year over year. The design history is retained, so each addition serves the whole rather than simply appending to it.
Is the full-service model available for commercial properties?
Yes. Margie Mae’s serves commercial clients across all primary markets: retail spaces, hospitality properties, automotive showrooms, office buildings, and HOA common areas.
Learn More About Full-Service Holiday Decorating
For additional insights, explore these related articles from Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor.
• Holiday Décor Removal and Storage: What Happens After the Lights Go Out
• Behind the Lights: The Family Legacy Behind Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor
• Inside the Elf’s Choice Package: Scottsdale’s Favorite Holiday Light Service
Explore the Complete Holiday Decorating System
Professional holiday decorating is most effective when every element works together. Explore each part of the Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor system:
• Christmas Light Installation Guide
Learn how professional installers safely design and install roofline and landscape lighting.
• Holiday Lighting Design Guide
Understand how lighting layout, symmetry, and color temperature create a balanced exterior display.
• Permanent Architectural Lighting Guide
Explore year-round lighting systems that combine holiday color with architectural illumination.
• Interior Holiday Decorating Guide
See how trees, garlands, wreaths, and interior décor are styled to create a cohesive home experience.
What Most Homeowners Realize After the First Season
The difference is not just how the home looks.
It is how the season feels.
No scheduling. No problem-solving. No unfinished details. Just a home that is ready when it matters.
Start With a Consultation
Every project begins with a conversation.
We evaluate your home, your goals, and how each part of the system fits together.
From there, everything is handled.
From Our Family, to Yours
The clients who choose Margie Mae’s full-service model are motivated by trust. They want someone who understands what a beautifully decorated home looks like, and who cares enough to execute it properly, handling every detail.
They want the crew to arrive when they say they will. They want the installation to look the way they discussed. They want to know that if something stops working in week two, a call produces a response. And they want to know that when January comes, the home will be left exactly as they knew it.
Those expectations are not extraordinary. They are the baseline. And maintaining that baseline, year after year, for clients who have trusted this company with their home for a decade or more, is the work that matters most.
Margie Mae McQuade spent her career giving the best of herself to children who were fighting to stay in the world. She believed in the power of care, of showing up, of doing the work with everything she had. The company that carries her name was built on the same belief.
Every installation Margie Mae’s completes is an expression of that belief. From the first consultation to the last strand in storage. From our family, to yours.