Working from a home office has many "pros" and can be a wonderful experience that isn't without it's "cons" as well. One of the biggest challenges home office professionals face is the difficult task of finding a quality IT person to fix computer problems. When working in a home office the need to pinch pennies is an important factor that often presents itself when attempting to conserve resources before a computer system crashes and causes work stoppage.
The best way to find an inexpensive, quality IT person is to begin with people you know. Word of mouth gives you the benefit of talking with the IT person’s customers. Ask other local small businesses or home office workers for the names of who they call when solving a computer issue. They often know IT professionals who specialize in work with small/home offices and can give simple solutions to keep your computer system running smoothly.
It's extremely beneficial to look in your local phone book for small businesses located near you. Speak to their office manager (he/she is typically the in house “go to person” wearing many hats including fixing simple computer issues in order to save money and understands the unique difficulty in keeping costs very low while keeping productivity very high). Ask about their IT person’s hourly rate, what their response time is, how they interact with their clients, and availability. This way, you an unbiased, first-hand knowledge of what to expect – including if they fall short. Recognize that these companies are often “one man or one woman shops” and they’ve learned how to keep their clients happy by giving quality service and providing more personal guidance than bigger IT companies. After hearing positive testimony from the local small businesses, contact the IT companies with the best recommendations, request the names of a few of their happy customers, and interview them over the phone. Although the process may seem unnecessary – preventing the loss of critical documents will keep your business running smoothly, prevent work stoppage, and ultimately prevent the loss of clients which keeps your business running smoothly. The final step is to meet with the IT person face to face, explain your computer needs and discuss what they’re willing to do in support of your home office.
Most companies, just like you, desire to keep their customers happy which leads to more business. Laying your expectations out up front will help keep your computer running smoothly and allow you to service your customers without interruption. After all, your computer is probably the most used piece of equipment in your home office. Why not work proactively and keep your business growing.
Happy searching.
