There's been a decline. Homeowners expect a lot more than a business. He said the number of requests for house calls will probably grow as computers get more sophisticated. Another factor that could propel interest in house calls is the booming number of home businesses, said Robert Burdon, president of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. In many ways, it's like going back to the old TV repairman.
Emergency calls are usually about a virus, but they can be more vague.
About 80 percent of Micro Performance's business comes from office visits. The remaining 20 percent is split between shop work and residential calls, Mr. Shurie said. Employees of Chesapeake Computing Center in Crofton, which also makes house calls, sometimes walk customers through a problem on the phone, saving money for them and time for the company, said owner Matt Strickler. Although some people like the convenience of house calls, he said technicians don't always have needed spare parts on hand, forcing them to make repeated trips. It's faster and easier.