Working with a pro
Questions to ask before hiring a web developer or agency
The best development experiences do not start with technical skill — they start with expectations that were matched before the contract was signed. A short list of questions in that first conversation does more to protect a project than any clause in an agreement.
Questions about scope and process
- What exactly is included in the proposal, and what would count as a change request?
- How is the project broken into stages, and when do I see progress?
- Who owns the final code, design files, and any accounts created along the way?
- What happens if the scope turns out to be bigger than expected once work starts?
Questions about how you will actually work together
Technical skill is table stakes — the bigger risk is usually communication. Ask how often you will hear from them, whether that is proactive updates or only when you ask, and what their response time looks like once the project is live and something needs fixing.
Quick check
A developer who can clearly explain what happens when something goes wrong is more trustworthy than one who only talks about what goes right.
The honesty test
Ask directly whether an existing tool or template could solve your problem instead of a custom build. Anyone eager to sell you the biggest possible project regardless of what you actually need is telling you something important — before you have spent a dollar.
Want to run these questions past me?
Ask them directly in a project inquiry — I would rather answer them upfront than have you wonder later.
Start a project inquiry