maintenance contract for home users

[ftbendpc]

I am wanting to start doing maintenance contracts for home users but need a little advice from some of you guys who use them. maybe give me some examples of what you do/charge.

Thanks
Corey

 

[Leztek]

I could be wrong, but I'm not too sure how may residential customers would be willing to pay a monthly fee... It seems that residentials customers just wait until they have an issue.

What I am thinking about doing is a "spring cleaning" and "back to school tune up" specials. I will probably hit it through email and snail mail to prior cutomers...

Maybe throw in a refer an friend and get percentage off...

 

[MrMille]

Maybe twenty bucks a month for a home contract?

 

[gunslinger]

I do an every three month deal. It works like this: If a customer calls me and need what I call my basic cleanup/speedup package, I charge $30 plus cost of gas. If they are under my maintenance contract I'll go out every 3 months for a flat $25. This may not seem like much but It does not take that long most times, depending of course on the speed of the system about 1-1.5 hours. Here is a list of whats included.


Spyware/adware/mal-ware/virus scan ( using spybot s&d, ad-aware, and McaFee Stinger )
delete all temp, old , junk files and internet garbage.
remove unused programs completely
Defragment using jkdefrag also defrag the pagefile
Make sure windows is up to date
Update antivirus software
clean broken or junk reg files
basicly make sure everything is running smoothly

Some may say this is undercharging but this price does not include any data back up, installing new software, tweaking, or anything else. This is strictly maintainace/tune up. Also I try to work it around going to another customers house.

 

[MrMille]

I do an every three month deal. It works like this: If a customer calls me and need what I call my basic cleanup/speedup package, I charge $30 plus cost of gas. If they are under my maintenance contract I'll go out every 3 months for a flat $25. This may not seem like much but It does not take that long most times, depending of course on the speed of the system about 1-1.5 hours. Here is a list of whats included.


Spyware/adware/mal-ware/virus scan ( using spybot s&d, ad-aware, and McaFee Stinger )
delete all temp, old , junk files and internet garbage.
remove unused programs completely
Defragment using jkdefrag also defrag the pagefile
Make sure windows is up to date
Update antivirus software
clean broken or junk reg files
basicly make sure everything is running smoothly

Some may say this is undercharging but this price does not include any data back up, installing new software, tweaking, or anything else. This is strictly maintainace/tune up. Also I try to work it around going to another customers house.

Is this automated?

 

[Leztek]

Automated? Good question?

How long does the defrag take?

 

[gunslinger]

A lot of this is automated, but I'm looking for ways to automate almost all of it. Thats why I'm so interested in the Autoit section of these forums. On most systems the defrag takes from 20 mins to maybe 35 mins. With the virus scan I will stick to the Windows dir. so it really does not take that long. Also take in mind this is the basic cleanup/speedup. If the system is to have a thorough cleaning It could run into hours and I'll sometimes take it back to the shop.


As a side note cleaning out all the temp and junk files and deleting the spyware first speeds up the defrag process a bit.

 

[ftbendpc]

Wow that doesn't even seem like it's worth the trouble. But I guess it keeps the customer happy so they don't forget about you and use someone else.

 

[gunslinger]

Wow that doesn't even seem like it's worth the trouble. But I guess it keeps the customer happy so they don't forget about you and use someone else.

Yes it keeps them happy, plus I almost always walk out with more money because while I'm there the customer wants a game installed for their kid, or they want data backed up, or some other job. That adds up real fast, so chances are good I'll leave with $70-$100. If you add it up and say you have 30-50 people set up on a contract spread out so you do maybe 10-15 a month times your rate, it really does add up. Also I get most of my work through word of mouth. When someone is having computer issues my customers are already armed with some of my cards to hand out.

 

[MrMille]

It does seem like a low price.
I was just talking to a client, and he said that sometimes people like a more pricey offering. He said it gives them that reassuringly expensive feeling.

 

[gunslinger]

This is a very low income part of the state so the rates I charge are just below that of the bigger shops.

 

[Blues]

This is a very low income part of the state so the rates I charge are just below that of the bigger shops.

Yes I work and see people from your area all the time and yeah they are always thinkin things are so high priced. I live right near one of the wealthiest areas of TN so I will be upping my rates when I get goin with my work.

 

[cmonova]

Home Maintenance

I do home maintenance contracts and typically charge $29.99-$39.99 but I use managed services for it. Alot of business customers inquired about it and that is why i started providing it.

 

[Leztek]

Dan...

So, you remotley provide the service?

 

[cmonova]

household

Managed services.