1. Scope of the $100 Home Tech Checkup Service

The flat-fee service is a comprehensive checkup designed to diagnose, optimize, and improve your existing home technology setup. The service includes, but is not limited to, the following activities based on your needs:

  • Home Network:
    • Wired & Wi-Fi network setup & configuration for existing equipment.
    • Network performance audit, speed testing, and optimization.
    • Evaluation of Internet Service Provider (ISP) equipment and performance.
  • Security & Smart Home:
    • Evaluation of current security solutions (antivirus, firewall).
    • Implementation of ad-blocking solutions and password management strategies.
    • Setup and configuration of customer-provided smart doorbells, locks, thermostats, smart speakers, and other common smart home devices.
  • Advice & Troubleshooting:
    • Diagnostics and technical assistance for laptops, PCs, and tablets.
    • Consultation and setup assistance for cloud and local backup solutions.
    • Purchasing and upgrade advice for computers, printers, and smart home devices.

2. The $100 Flat-Fee Explained

The flat-fee pricing is for our labor and expertise. It specifically includes:

  • On-Site Service Time: Up to ninety (90) minutes of professional, on-site service. The service period begins upon our technician’s arrival at your location. Most checkup services are fully completed within this timeframe.
  • Follow-Up Recommendations: A summary of services performed and a list of recommendations for any further improvements or necessary repairs.

If an issue requires more than 90 minutes to resolve, our technician will stop, explain the situation, and provide you with a clear estimate for the additional time required. No additional work will be performed or billed without your explicit approval. Additional time is billed at our standard hourly rate of $130, charged in 30-minute increments ($65 per half-hour).

3. Exclusions from the $100 Flat-Fee

To maintain our transparent, flat-fee structure, the following are explicitly not included in the $100 Home Tech Checkup service:

  • Cost of Hardware & Software: The fee does not cover the cost of any physical products. This includes, but is not limited to, new routers, mesh Wi-Fi systems, computers, smart devices, printers, cables, hard drives, RAM, or other components. It also does not cover the cost of any software licenses or subscriptions (e.g., Microsoft 365, paid antivirus, premium password managers).
  • Physical Hardware Repair: The service is for diagnostics, setup, and software-level support. It does not include the physical repair of devices. Examples of excluded work are: replacing a broken laptop screen, repairing a failed hard drive, replacing a computer power supply, or performing component-level motherboard repairs. If a hardware repair is needed, a separate quote will be provided.
  • Complex Installations: Service does not include work that requires a licensed trade professional. This includes running new network or electrical wiring through walls, complex home theater or TV mounting, or any task that involves high-voltage electrical work or modifications to your home’s structure or HVAC system.
  • Advanced Data Recovery: While we can assist with setting up backups, the $100 fee does not cover advanced data recovery from failed, failing, or formatted hard drives. This is a specialized service that requires a separate evaluation and quote.
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP) Issues: We can diagnose and confirm issues originating from your ISP (e.g., Comcast, AT&T), but we cannot repair their outages or infrastructure. We will provide you with the necessary information to effectively communicate the problem to your provider.

4. Service Area & Scheduling

  • Service Area: The $100 flat-fee pricing is valid for all service calls within a 20-mile radius of downtown Joliet, Illinois. A pre-approved travel surcharge may apply to locations outside this area.
  • Cancellation Policy: We require at least 24 hours’ notice for any appointment cancellations or rescheduling. A cancellation fee of $35 may be charged for cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice or if our technician arrives and the client is not present at the scheduled time.

5. Customer Responsibilities

To ensure a productive and efficient service call, you agree to:

  • Ensure that an individual 18 years of age or older is present for the entire duration of the appointment.
  • Provide access to all necessary devices and have any relevant passwords (e.g., Wi-Fi password, computer login, Apple/Google ID) available.
  • Provide a safe, climate-controlled work environment for our technician.
  • Perform a full backup of all important data on your computers and devices before our arrival.

6. Data Privacy & Liability

Vanguard I.T. Services will take all reasonable precautions to protect the integrity and confidentiality of your data. However, by the nature of tech support, we are not liable for any unforeseen data loss, corruption, or hardware failure that may occur during service. We strongly advise all clients to perform a full backup of their data before any service appointment.

7. Payment & Guarantee

  • Payment: Payment is due in full upon completion of the service. We accept cash, Zelle, and all major credit cards.
  • Service Guarantee: We guarantee our work will be performed in a professional and competent manner. We cannot, however, guarantee that every issue is solvable, as some problems may be caused by factors beyond our control (such as ISP failures or irreparable hardware damage). If the issue we were scheduled to fix is not resolved, we will work with you on a fair path forward, which may include a follow-up visit or a reduced fee.

For any questions regarding these terms, please contact us at +1 (815) 293-7157 or visit VanguardIT.Services.