Portfolio Before Promises
Every developer promises quality. Few can show it. Before any payment, ask for live links to previous work, not screenshots. Open those sites on your own phone. Check how fast they load and whether they feel modern. A developer's old work is the most honest prediction of your future project.
Questions That Separate Professionals
Ask these and listen carefully to the answers:
- "Will the site be mobile-first?" The correct answer includes specific details, not just a yes
- "What about speed?" Look for talk of image compression, caching and clean code
- "What happens if a bug appears next month?" Get the support policy in writing
- "What about security?" Prepared statements, password hashing and admin protection should come up unprompted
- "Who owns the code?" You should, in writing
Red Flags
Walk away when you see quotes that are dramatically cheaper than everyone else with no explanation, no written scope of work, pressure to pay the full amount upfront, or a refusal to show previous work. Cheap development is expensive when you have to rebuild everything six months later.
What a Good Partner Does
A good developer asks about your business before talking about technology. They suggest removing features you do not need instead of adding ones that pad the bill. They deliver on time, document their work and hand over everything you paid for. Build a relationship with that person, because your website is never finished, it is a product that grows with your business.