Perhaps your computer has started malfunctioning; or maybe you could use some help in setting up your new home office. Whatever your reason for hiring a computer technician might be, you’re generally going to be faced with two choices. You can either contact a larger, well-known company to send out some of its employees, or you can hire an independent contractor who’s in charge of his own operation. While it might be tempting to opt for a name brand technician, there are actually plenty of good reasons to hire an independent technician for all of your computer-related needs. As the chief technician at Cheaper Than A Geek, an Annapolis, Maryland IT company whose services range from PC repair to virus and spyware protection, Chris Barber is also the business’s senior technical consultant. According to him, several benefits are involved in choosing an independent computer technician.
For starters, if a person has decided to dedicate his life’s work to computer-related matters, then he likely knows his stuff. Otherwise, how would he be able to make a living? If you’re looking to bring in a true expert to tackle your home or small business project, then you’re better off using someone who actually enjoys working in the technological field.
Another good reason to hire an independent computer technician is that a person who runs his own operation is more likely to take pride in what he does, especially compared to an employee that gets sent out bearing a larger company’s name. If an independent computer technician performs poorly or offers bad service, then he’ll be putting his actual name and reputation on the line. On the other hand, a representative from a larger company will have a lot less to lose by doing a bad job, as he’ll be able to simply hide behind his company’s name and move on without repercussion. If you’re interested in hiring someone who will make an effort to serve your technological needs, then consider the fact that an employee from a larger company who makes an hourly wage no matter what is likely to arrive on the scene with little or limited motivation to do his best. For better service, it makes sense to go with a person who cares about what he does and won’t just simply offer the bare minimum.
When hiring a computer technician, one thing that you’re likely to care about is cost. While you might be inclined to think that a larger company will be able to offer cheaper service, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, Barber’s fees, on average, tend to be about 40% lower than those of the local big name businesses. Remember, larger companies tend to spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising, and as a result, they seem to pass along the added cost to consumers. While an independent computer technician might not arrive sporting a spiffy uniform, he’s more likely to offer reasonable rates by keeping tabs on his overhead and offering quality service instead of frills.
When it comes to computers and technology, certain matters do tend to be more urgent than others. Sure, you might be able to wait a few weeks to have your new home network set up, but if you have a broken computer or a lost Internet connection, then you’re going to want service that is fast and effective. The benefit of hiring an independent technician in such situations is that a person who works for himself is more likely to offer faster appointments than a big name chain with a waiting list. Remember, a larger company is not likely to be willing to pay its workers overtime in order to squeeze you in. An independent contractor, on the other hand, will have more leeway when it comes to jiggering his schedule in order to accommodate pressing circumstances.
One final reason to consider hiring an independent computer technician is that a person who works for himself is likely to offer more flexible hours from the get-go. If a technician regularly makes his own hours, then he’ll often be able to offer evening and weekend service calls to cater to customer needs. A larger company, on the other hand, is unlikely to be as generous with its appointment calendar.
Remember, if you’re going to pay for computer or technology-related services, then you might as well hire the person who’s truly going to offer the best value for your dollar. By hiring an independent computer technician, you’ll be giving yourself the best of both worlds – expert knowledge and an undying need to please.
