what to look for when hiring a web developer 

What to Look for When Hiring a Web Developer

“What to Look for When Hiring a Web Developer”, its certainly a good question! Nowadays finding good web developers is like finding a needle in a haystack 🔍, especially when it comes to building your perfect website. This article will cover everything you need to know to avoid the rookie mistakes most people make.

Before you continue, it might be helpful to read “DIY Website vs. Professional: What’s Best for Your Business?” as this is an essential first step!

Costs of Hiring a Web Developer

This is by far one of the most important topics when hiring a web developer, as 90% of people are not aware of the real costs involved. Once upon a time, web developers had a standard rate starting at £1000 in places like the UK (yes, it’s expensive!). This was before the advent of “do-it-yourself” tools that allow for drag-and-drop elements or use AI to build your website.

Even today, skilled developers still command high rates; it’s simply a matter of whether you choose to hire one. ☝️ Let’s break down some price ranges, including those for digital agencies.

Hiring a Digital Agency in the UK

Yes, you read that correctly – digital agencies also fall under the category of “hiring a web developer.” You might be surprised to learn that in 90% of the agencies you consider, there isn’t a “team” developing your website. Instead, it’s often a “junior to mid-level developer” coding your site within the given deadline. However, please keep in mind that most digital agencies do not use Elementor and have the capability to design and code the website from scratch. If a digital agency says they use Elementor or any other drag-and-drop tool, you should instantly say no and find another agency.

💰 Approximate Prices:

• £1000 – £5000: Custom web design, 5-page WordPress build.
• £5000 – £30000: E-commerce website – usually a store and 5 standard pages.
• £25000 – £100000: Completely custom web application using Laravel (read: what is Laravel).

Hiring a Freelance Developer

Freelance developers are everywhere. It’s as simple as posting “any WordPress developers who can help me?” on LinkedIn, and you’ll be bombarded with responses. BUT! You’ll need to be very careful about who you hire. I recommend choosing a developer in the same country as you, as it can make things a lot less stressful if problems arise down the line!

💰 Approximate Prices:

• £800 – £3000: Custom web design, 5-page WordPress build.
• £1000 – £5000: E-commerce website – usually a store and 5 standard pages.
• £4000 – £8000: Completely custom web application.

Bad vs. Professional Web Developer

Now that we’ve discussed pricing, it’s important to understand what constitutes a professional web developer. Believe me, there are many “glorified” developers out there who charge a lot but have little real expertise!

Hiring a Professional Web Developer

Here are some key indicators of a professional web developer:

1. They will agree to a small test (even if paid).
2. They will conduct some research prior to taking on your project.
3. You will rarely find a top professional on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or PeoplePerHour. Most top developers are on LinkedIn.
4. They will clearly outline the problem they are solving for you.
5. They will easily provide references from past clients.
6. They will have some form of past employment history related to their work. Please don’t take their word for it- contact the company directly for a reference.
7. They will give you a prototype and request feedback to test it.
8. They will provide a list of tasks they are working on and update you at the end of the day on their progress.
9. They may come to meet you in person, even if they are socially awkward 😜, but most likely will conduct meetings online.
10. They will provide a proper invoice or proposal detailing the exact work to be completed, along with soft/hard deadlines.
11. They will mention some form of compensation if the work is not completed as expected.
12. They will have excellent communication skills, answering your questions confidently and with examples of past work relevant to your queries.
13. They will be kind, polite, and responsive within hours.
14. They will discuss means of communication (and if they add you on WhatsApp, hire them – just kidding! 🙃).
15. They will show you designs they have made in the past and how they coded them into a website.
16. They will show you their code and explain why it is superior in terms of scalability.
17. They will have a well-designed website themselves and a strong portfolio of work.
18. They will use professional tools like Figma and Adobe to design pixel-perfect websites.

Hiring a Bad Web Developer

Here are some red flags that indicate a bad web developer:

1. They will ask for all the money upfront.
2. They will refuse to perform any tests.
3. They will not provide a deadline.
4. They will not test the work they have done.
5. They will have poor communication, hardly replying to your emails or calls.
6. They will use Elementor or other free AI tools that build websites within minutes.
7. They will try to sell you the world and always speak highly of themselves.
8. They will give you a random price without asking what you want (mentioning a base rate is fine).
9. They will take a week or more to perform basic tasks – ask ChatGPT how long this work should take.
10. They will not mention what they are working on and will show up at the end saying, “I was doing some research.”

Conclusion

There are countless variables when hiring a web developer. However, you should be fine if you follow these guidelines:

• Conduct a test prior to awarding the work.
• Obtain references from previous work and ask for past client phone numbers (not just email).
• Divide the work into several small phases.
• Pay 10% upfront for each phase and settle the payment only when the phase is fully completed.
• Monitor their quality of work by helping them test.

Time and again, we have seen companies hire the wrong developer because they found them via Google. Remember, Google is just a search engine; it does not guarantee the quality of services listed. It is your responsibility to find out what to look for when hiring a web developer.

If you would like to confirm that the web developer you are hiring is “the one,” feel free to contact us for free guidance.