In Home Computer Repair

In Home Computer Repair Near Me – Read This Before You Book a House Call

Quick note: We used to offer in‑home computer repair in New Jersey. After over 13 years of doing it, we learned something important:

👉 Home users get better results, at a much better price, when they bring their computer into our Somerville repair shop.

So while this page will still show up when you search for “in home computer repair near me”, we now specialize in in‑shop repairs instead of sending a technician to your house.

Rated 4.8/5 in 300+ customer reviews • Serving NJ since 2011

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Why We Stopped Offering In‑Home Computer Repair for Home Users

Here’s what we saw over and over again with in‑home visits:

• You’re paying by the hour while the tech waits for:
  • Windows updates
  • Long virus / malware scans
  • Big backups and transfers
  • Diagnostic tools to finish
• Many issues (especially slow computers) take 2–4+ hours to fix correctly.
• In‑home techs can’t easily:
  • Run extended hardware tests
  • Try multiple parts from inventory
  • Keep your computer on the bench for long stress tests

That means you pay more and often end up with a quick “band‑aid” fix, not a thorough repair.

In our shop, we can take the time to do the job right without charging you for every minute a scan is running.

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In‑Home vs In‑Shop: Real Cost Example for a Slow PC

When we still did in‑home visits, our onsite rate was $160/hour.

A proper slow‑PC tune‑up typically takes 2–4 hours when done correctly:

• Deep malware scan
• Cleanup of junk files and startup items
• Software/driver updates
• Health checks on the hard drive or SSD
• Stress testing to make sure the problem is really gone

What that used to cost in‑home

• 2‑hour visit at $160/hr → $320
• 3‑hour visit at $160/hr → $480
• 4‑hour visit at $160/hr → $640

What it usually costs in our shop

For most standard slow PC / cleanup jobs, our in‑shop rate is a flat $175.

So you’re saving roughly:

• $145 compared to a 2‑hour house call
• $305 compared to a 3‑hour house call
• $465 compared to a 4‑hour house call

…and your computer gets more thorough testing and a better-quality repair.

Bottom line: If a slow computer is your issue, bringing it in almost always beats paying someone to sit in your living room while scans and updates crawl along.

(Note: $175 is a typical flat rate for slow‑PC/tune‑up style work. Data recovery, parts replacement, and other specialized services are priced separately.)

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Why In‑Shop Repairs Are Better for Your Computer

When your computer is on our workbench, we can:

• Run full hardware diagnostics (RAM, hard drive/SSD, CPU, fans, etc.)
• Swap parts from our in‑store inventory to confirm what’s truly bad
• Let your system run for hours under load to be sure:
  • No overheating
  • No random crashes
  • No hidden issues waiting to come back
• Back up your data properly before making major changes
• Document what we did so we can support you after you pick it up

In‑home techs simply don’t have the same environment or tools. They’re limited by time, the parts they can carry, and the fact they can’t leave your computer running overnight for long tests.

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“But I’m Afraid to Unplug My Desktop…”

Totally fair. Desktops can look like cable spaghetti.

The good news: it’s much easier than it looks, and we’ll even walk you through it.

When you come in, we can:

• Show you in person how to unplug and re‑plug everything
• Give you a simple printed guide to take home
• Answer questions so you feel confident doing it next time

Simple way to unplug your desktop (at home)

1. Shut the computer down completely.
2. Turn off the power strip (if you have one).
3. Take a picture of the back of your computer and cables with your phone.
4. Unplug:
   • The power cable from the wall or strip
   • The monitor cable
   • Keyboard and mouse
   • Any USB devices (printers, external drives, webcam)
5. Bring the tower (desktop) and power cable to our shop.
   Laptop? Just bring the laptop and charger.

When you pick it up, we can show you step‑by‑step how to hook everything back up, using your photo and our printed guide.

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“Why Not Just Hire Someone Else for In‑Home Repair?”

You absolutely can hire someone else to come to your house. We just want you to do it with your eyes open.

Based on our 13+ years of experience, here are some red flags and limits of in‑home work for home users:

Red flags to watch for

• “We can fully fix any slow PC in one hour.”
  Real cleanups and diagnostics almost always take longer.
• No physical office location.
  If something goes wrong, where do you go?
• No clear written pricing.
  “We’ll see how long it takes” can turn into a very expensive visit.
• No reviews or only brand‑new reviews.
  Always check Google, Yelp, etc. before letting anyone into your home.

Things in‑home techs usually can’t do well

• Extended hardware stress tests
• Multi‑hour or overnight burn‑in testing
• Larger data transfers or migrations that take many hours
• Complex hardware upgrades that might require multiple parts

For simple Wi‑Fi password changes or moving a printer, an onsite tech might be fine. But for slow computers, upgrades, data transfers, and serious repair work, in‑shop is almost always the smarter move.

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FAQs: In‑Home vs In‑Shop Computer Repair

Do you still offer in‑home computer repair?

For home users, no – we no longer schedule in‑home visits.

We’ve found that bringing your computer into our shop gives you:

• Better pricing
• More thorough testing
• More reliable long‑term fixes

If you’re a business looking for onsite IT support, check our Business IT Support section on the website.

Can you help if I’m not comfortable disconnecting my desktop?

Yes.

• Call us first and we’ll walk you through what to unplug.
• Take a picture of the cables before you unplug them.
• When you pick the computer up, we’ll show you exactly how to reconnect it and give you a simple printed guide.

How long do in‑shop repairs usually take?

For many repairs, we can often have your computer ready same day or next business day, depending on:

• The issue
• Parts availability
• How busy the bench is that day

We’ll give you a realistic time estimate when you drop it off.

Is bringing it in really that much cheaper?

For a typical slow computer tune‑up:

• In‑home (when we did it):
  $160/hour × 2–4 hours = $320–$640
• In‑shop (now):
  Flat $175 for most slow‑PC cleanups

So yes — for that kind of work, it’s usually much cheaper to bring it in, and you get a more thorough repair.

What if my problem is Wi‑Fi, printers, or a new computer setup?

Many “in‑home” problems actually have solutions you can do yourself with a little help:

• We can often advise you by phone on what to try.
• For some issues, we may be able to help via secure remote support from our office.
• If the problem is really with the computer itself (slow, freezing, crashing), then bringing it into our shop is still the best option.

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What to Do Next (Step‑By‑Step)

Step 1 – Contact us

Call us at 908‑428‑9558 or fill out the “Request Help Now” form on this page. Tell us what’s going on (slow PC, upgrades, data transfer, won’t boot, etc.).

Step 2 – Prepare your computer

• Laptop: bring the laptop and its charger.
• Desktop: shut it down, unplug it (use a phone picture for reference), and bring:
  • The tower
  • The power cable

Monitors, keyboards, and mice are usually not needed unless they’re part of the problem.

Step 3 – Bring it to our Somerville shop

Visit us at our Somerville, NJ repair shop during business hours. We’ll check your computer in, go over pricing, and start diagnostics.

Step 4 – We repair & test thoroughly

We:

• Fix the issue
• Run tests to confirm it’s truly resolved
• Call you when it’s ready

Step 5 – Pick up & reconnect (with our help)

When you pick up your system:

• We’ll review what we did
• Give you tips to keep it running fast
• Show you how to hook everything back up at home, plus give you a printed guide

If you landed here looking for in home computer repair in NJ, you’re still in the right place — you’ll just get better work, more thorough testing, and lower costs by bringing your computer into Dave’s Computers instead.