What to check before hiring a web designer in Echuca
If you’re comparing web designers right now, you’ve probably noticed most of them say roughly the same things. Custom design. Mobile friendly. Fast turnaround. It all starts to sound the same after a while, so here’s what I’d actually tell a friend to look for.
Ask what happens after launch
A lot of quotes only cover the build. Ask directly: what happens the week after your site goes live? Who do you call if something breaks? Is there a proper handover, or do you get sent a login and a goodbye email? This is usually where the real difference between designers shows up.
Ask if the price is actually fixed
“From $X” pricing is normal, every project is different, but you should get a written, fixed quote before any work starts, not an estimate that grows once you’re already committed. If a designer can’t give you a number in writing, that’s worth asking about directly.
Ask who owns your website
Your domain, your Squarespace account, your content, all of it should stay in your name from day one. If a designer builds your site under their own account and you’re never quite sure who technically owns it, that’s a real risk if the relationship ever ends.
Ask to see their actual work, not just a portfolio slide
A polished screenshot is easy. Ask to see the live site, click around it on your phone, and if you can, ask the business owner what it was actually like to work with that designer. Most small business owners are happy to have a quick chat about their own experience.
Ask what platform they build on, and why
Some designers work across five different platforms and it shows, the sites end up generic. I build exclusively on Squarespace, which means I know it properly, and I’ll tell you honestly if it’s not the right fit for what you need. A designer who’s upfront about the platform’s limits is usually more trustworthy than one who promises it can do everything.
The honest version
Most of this comes down to one thing: can you actually reach this person after they’ve been paid? A free 20 minute call, before you commit to anything, usually tells you more than a portfolio ever will.