People coming to your house

[windah]

Hi

What do you guys say to a customer that wants to drop a pc / laptop off at your "shop" when you are working from your house?

There's a couple of reasons I don't want people coming round, firstly I'm set up in an area that you need to come right through the house to get to. Strangers traipsing through my house isn't something I want.
Secondly, we have recently got a dog (bull terrier) he's really soft but is very protective of his home and family, thus turns into a mad man when a stranger comes to the door.

The reason I ask, is that someone contacted me re: a laptop issue, he wanted to drop it off, I told him that I was mobile and he kinda didn't want to know.. If a bunch of people have the same attitude, I'm more or less dead in the water before I even start.

Cheers

 

[phaZed]

I routinely have people over to my house and haven't had a problem yet. My situation is a bit different than yours... I have no dog, and I usually let people in through my garage; my office is the first thing you see when you come in, so no trampling through the house.

As for the mentality of it.. most of my customers drop off their computers. I do charge extra to go to their home first off... secondly, I prefer they drop it off because I am more efficient when all of my "tools" are available, and I can work on more than one machine at a time.

Sincerely,

 

[Xander]

I'm working on a drop-off program. We're planning on enclosing our front porch and turning that into an official location, separated from the rest of the house. In the meantime, we have two Jack Russell dogs, young and friendly. So far, everyone has loved them and they're fairly well-behaved but I still want to make business vs. personal more distinct.
I don't mind them coming by. My house is kept clean; my workbench is in sight of the door and I don't keep valuables in sight. Still, the goal is simply a greater delineation.

Edit: And I've got business insurance.

 

[PR Tech]

I ran my computer repair and website development business from my home for 6-7 years. It was pretty convenient for most of that time. But then about 3 years ago I started to get really, really busy (a great problem to have). People were stopping by my house at all hours to drop off computers or chat about their website projects. It became disruptive when trying to eat dinner or put the kiddos to bed. Then I decided it was time to seperate home life from work life. I am glad I did it, but it is so much more expensive to have a brick-and-mortar shop. So, working from your home is a fantastic place to start out.

An issue you must, in my opinion, is insurance. Get that squared away in case your dog decides he/she doesn't like one of your clients, they trip and fall, blame you for lost data, etc. Protect your ass(ets).

 

[terrywmartin]

I second checking on insurance. My insurance agent told me that my homeowners insurance probably wouldn't cover someone coming to my house because it was business related. I would need some kind of business insurance and even then it there could be some issues if anything ever happened.

 

[callthatgirl]

I get really nervous with dogs and the clients, you just never know. Even though you know your dog won't bit or attack, there are those times that the dog may not like the feel of the client. I would be very leary.

When I home officed, I put my dog in the bathroom when a client came over and I really didn't like that anyway as I smoke and with clients in the house, I worried of the smell. Back then I didn't smoke in the house, but it bothered me anyway. I also didn't like clients seeing my home.

I would opt to meet them, no clients in the house. Did it for 6 months, got a shop after I had 5 computers in the house, that was enough for me to get an office and I have had 3 now. I keep outgrowing or moving around.

 

[JosephLeo]

I will never allow people to my house for one reason, and one reason only.

L I A B I L I T Y

If a customer trips over my sprinkler system, they can sue me.
If a customer trips over my stair, they can sue me.
If a customer feels I should have exit signs, they can sue me.
If a customer needs handicap access, they can sue me.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't like being sued. It's always best to rent a cheap office where the property owner has liability insurance.

Other reasons also include the professional aesthetic of it. I'm trying to build a brand, not a Mom & Pop shop, so for now I'm "In-Home" only, meaning I go to my clients.

 

[JustMe]

When someone asks if they can drop off equipment, I tell them that I am "strictly a mobile service" and am not home during the day anyway as I am "busy servicing clients". I will always encourage to meet them at either their house/business or another suitable location.

I agree with JosephLeo... LIABILITY is a key issue with me. The other is PRIVACY for my family as well as my personal life.

 

[RegEdit]

If a customer trips over my stair, they can sue me.

Doesn't homeowner's insurance cover that??

What do you guys say to a customer that wants to drop a pc / laptop off at your "shop" when you are working from your house?

My living room looks like a repair shop. No couches or pictures or anything like that. I basically sacrificed it for my business. I only take drop offs by appointment so that gives me time to make sure everything is presentable with my business sign by the steps, etc.

There are more and more lawyers who work out of their homes these days. In my area there's a "music school" and a "dog kennel" that are home based.

 

[Benchtech]

Doesn't homeowner's insurance cover that??


My living room looks like a repair shop. No couches or pictures or anything like that. I basically sacrificed it for my business. I only take drop offs by appointment so that gives me time to make sure everything is presentable with my business sign by the steps, etc.

There are more and more lawyers who work out of their homes these days. In my area there's a "music school" and a "dog kennel" that are home based.

Home Owners does not cover "business" accidents, and the first thing someone will say is they were dropping off their computer to be repaired.

 

[RegEdit]

Home Owners does not cover "business" accidents

Have you checked with many companies?
I just emailed my insurance company. If they don't cover it, then I am DONE with home drop offs. Not worth the risk if some klutz with a bad back trips on my steps.

 

[ConroeTech]

This is a common issue for starters just getting their business off and going. While i was dealing with this same issue, I would pick the computer up from the client. So i decided to create a carbonless service order with address locations and phone numbers. The SO would have a place to list the equipment and it's SN numbers, and an area to write in the work to be performed. I had a a "Expected Date of Delivery" area and all of the legal jargon at the bottom. I had them sign the SO and then I signed it and gave them the original. I told them this is for your records if something where to happen. That worked for every one of my clients. I guess it gave them a little bit of security having that info. It worked for me.

 

[JustMe]

If they don't cover it, then I am DONE with home drop offs. Not worth the risk if some klutz with a bad back trips on my steps.

Your insurance company's answer is your defining answer...

Do You Need Work at Home Business or Telecommute Insurance Coverage?

In addition, it is important to note that there is absolutely no liability coverages offered for your work at home business, so if someone is injured while doing business with you in your home, you may have to pay the bill yourself!

I know when I contacted State Farm, I had to get a business policy rider to provide liability coverage.

 

[MobileTechie]

Not only does household building and contents insurance not cover business equipment, accidents etc you might well find that running a business like computer repair completely invalidates it. I.e. your house and personal contents are not even insured against non-business risks because you are running a business from your home.

More specifically you're running a business which involved equipment, tools and parts. You're normally OK if your business is entirely clerical, but if you have someone's laptop, or some parts like disks, or cash from business there then often you invalidate your cover.

I'm guessing this depends on where you live but you're want to check this out for sure because if your house burns down and the adjusters find evidence of your business - such as a box of disks, your advertising on the net, some laptops, or the fact that you have taken out business insurance too, then they might not pay you a penny even though the fire started in your kitchen. The reasoning is that running such a business increases your risk from theft and fire.

I know from previous discussions on this forum that people have been happily paying out home insurance without realising they are not covered for anything at all.

Another thing to check is whether running a business with visitors is allowed under the local laws or deeds of the property etc.

 

[MrUnknown]

I am with people not letting clients in your home. There are too many things that can go wrong legally if they get hurt or anything and as mentioned, the insurance part is questionable.

I tell my clients I work from my home and that I do not allow clients to my home. If they do not want me in their home, then they are more than welcomed to bring their computer to their door and hand it to me.

I originally was going to let people come to my home, but there are various things and rules you need to comply with in your state that didn't make it worth while for me.

 

[Martyn]

I am with people not letting clients in your home. There are too many things that can go wrong legally if they get hurt or anything and as mentioned, the insurance part is questionable.

I tell my clients I work from my home and that I do not allow clients to my home. If they do not want me in their home, then they are more than welcomed to bring their computer to their door and hand it to me.

I originally was going to let people come to my home, but there are various things and rules you need to comply with in your state that didn't make it worth while for me.

I think this is pretty much the best idea as a compromise. I rarely have anyone to the house and if I do it is at the door only and by appointment. That way I have the paperwork ready.

 

[RegEdit]

Your insurance company's answer is your defining answer...

Yep. Capitol Insurance (Colonial Western) does NOT cover someone slipping and falling, so I am 100% DONE with having customers show up at my place! So glad I read this thread! The last thing I want to be doing is paying for someone's back surgery!

I'm also not covered for fire to my house IF it were determined that the fire was started by the computer I was working on, bringing a computer home to work on presents a risk, albeit a remote risk. How often does a computer catch fire?

What kind of liability am I looking at by working on a PC at the customer's location? Someone mentioned accidentally knocking over an antique, but what else might happen?

 

[Martyn]

Yep. Capitol Insurance (Colonial Western) does NOT cover someone slipping and falling, so I am 100% DONE with having customers show up at my place! So glad I read this thread! The last thing I want to be doing is paying for someone's back surgery!

I'm also not covered for fire to my house IF it were determined that the fire was started by the computer I was working on, bringing a computer home to work on presents a risk, albeit a remote risk. How often does a computer catch fire?

What kind of liability am I looking at by working on a PC at the customer's location? Someone mentioned accidentally knocking over an antique, but what else might happen?

It was me that mentioned an antique. I was in an untidy house absolutely full of them. Also I take two bags in with me, someone could fall over one if you are not careful.

Best to have public and professional liability.

 

[ATTech]

Don't do drop off. I do mobile on-site service, and off-site service that includes free pickup and drop off. I've yet to run into a situation where someone was uncomfortable with having me pick up their stuff, even when I don't give them my address. I'm still not sure how I'll handle if they do.

 

[Benchtech]

As a bare minimum you should have both General Liability & Error / Omission Liability.