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Practical guide on what to look for before letting a developer build your website

🔎 What to Look for Before Hiring a Developer

1. Experience & Portfolio

  • Check if they have real, working websites in their portfolio.

  • Look for projects similar to your industry (hotel, jewelry, ecommerce, pharmacy, etc.).

  • Verify if the designs are modern, mobile-friendly, and fast.

2. Technical Knowledge

  • Make sure they can explain how they’ll build your site in simple terms.

  • Ask what platforms they use (WordPress, Shopify, custom coding, etc.) and why.

  • Ensure they follow SEO best practices, security, and speed optimization.

3. Ownership & Transparency

  • The domain, hosting, and source code should be in your name.

  • You should get full admin access after the site is complete.

  • No hidden ownership or proprietary lock-ins.

4. Clear Proposal & Pricing

  • Ask for a detailed quotation (design, development, hosting, plugins, maintenance).

  • Payments should be in milestones, not 100% upfront.

  • Avoid vague pricing like “package deals” without explaining what’s included.

5. Communication Style

  • Do they listen to your needs and suggest improvements?

  • Are they responsive and professional in emails/calls?

  • Do they use project tracking tools (Trello, Asana, Slack, etc.) for updates?

6. Support & Maintenance

  • Will they provide post-launch support (fixing bugs, updates, backups)?

  • Do they offer training so you can manage basic updates yourself?

  • Check if they charge reasonable fees for ongoing maintenance.

7. Red Flags to Watch Out For

🚩 Refuse to give you full access.
🚩 Can’t show live websites they’ve built.
🚩 Demand full payment upfront.
🚩 Push you into buying unnecessary add-ons (expensive hosting, plugins, or SEO packages).
🚩 Give only vague promises instead of clear deliverables.

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