It turned out to be a good thing, since Mr. Stibolt discovered she had a problem with her hard drive that could have eventually slowed her computer's operation. He fixed the trouble, and updated her system to combat all the latest viruses. Mr. Stibolt's company makes about 25 to 30 house calls a week, plus another 75 to 80 at offices. That split seems to be the norm for the handful of businesses that make house calls. 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.