I've been doing this for 14 years, and I've seen the full spectrum. I've seen businesses thriving with well-built websites, and I've seen others limping along with sites that cost them money. The difference often comes down to who they hired.
A bad web designer hire doesn't just cost you the initial fee. It costs you traffic, conversions, credibility, and time. A good hire pays for itself. So if you're looking to invest in your web presence, here's what matters.
Question 1: Can I See Recent Work?
Ask to see a portfolio. Not just screenshots. Ask to visit live sites the designer has built. Look at how they actually perform. Are the pages fast? Does the navigation make sense? Do the forms work? Can you click around and get a feel for the user experience?
A designer who won't show you live work is a yellow flag. They might be hiding something—poor performance, outdated code, or work that isn't really theirs. If they only show you Figma mockups or Behance links, that tells you they're selling the idea, not the delivery.
Also, look for work similar to your business. A designer who's built five ecommerce sites is probably a better hire for your ecommerce store than someone who specializes in portfolios. Experience matters.
Question 2: Who Actually Builds the Site?
This is critical. Ask directly: "Will you be building this, or is it going offshore?" If they're unclear or defensive, that's a problem.
Offshoring isn't always bad, but you need to know. If your site is being built in Eastern Europe or South Asia by someone you've never met, and your designer is a middleman, you've lost control. Communication is harder. Revisions take longer. Accountability is fuzzy. When something goes wrong—and it will—you're talking to an intermediary instead of the person who wrote the code.
For a Tasmanian business, I'd argue you want someone local. Someone you can sit down with. Someone who understands the market. Someone who's invested in doing good work because they live here and their reputation is on the line.
Question 3: What Happens When I Need Changes After Launch?
The website goes live. Three months later, you need to tweak something. Or add a feature. Or fix a bug. What's the process? How much does it cost? How long does it take?
If they don't have a clear answer, that's a problem. Some designers vanish after launch. Some charge premium rates for every small change. Some build you a site so custom that nobody else can maintain it—intentionally, so you're locked in.
Look for someone who offers ongoing support. Not necessarily included forever, but available and reasonably priced. Someone who builds code that's maintainable. Someone who documents what they've done so you're not held hostage by obscure custom builds.
Question 4: Do I Own Everything When We're Done?
You own the domain. But do you own the site code? The design files? The database? The hosting account?
You should own all of it. If a designer says "I'll own the hosting and you pay me a monthly fee," think carefully. You're renting from them. If you ever want to leave, take your site elsewhere, or work with someone new, you're stuck. Some designers do this intentionally.
Ask for clarity: "At the end of this project, do I own the codebase, the design files, the domain, and the hosting account?" If the answer is anything but "yes," dig deeper.
Question 5: What's Included in the Price?
Get it in writing. Is hosting included? SSL certificates? Domain registration? Email setup? Content writing? Photography? How many revisions? How long is the project timeline?
Vague pricing is a red flag. If they quote you $3,000 with no detail about scope, you're going to have a bad conversation later when you realize they didn't include what you thought they did.
The best designers give you a written brief: "We will build you a 5-page website with these features, using this technology, delivered by this date, for this price." Everything else is a change order and costs extra. That clarity protects you both.
Red Flags
- No local address. An online-only designer with no physical presence, no references, and no skin in the game.
- Vague portfolio. They won't show you live sites. They only show mockups. You can't verify the work.
- Lock-in contracts. They own the domain or hosting. You can't leave without losing your site.
- "Unlimited revisions." This usually means the project never ends and they resent doing the work.
- No process. They can't explain how they work, what you'll be involved in, or how decisions get made.
- Too cheap. If the quote is 80% lower than everyone else, there's a reason. Cut corners somewhere.
Green Flags
- Clear process. They explain how they work, what you'll do, and how long it takes.
- Fixed pricing. You know the cost upfront. Changes are handled separately.
- References available. They'll connect you with past clients. You can talk to real people about their experience.
- Live portfolio. You can visit their work and see it perform in the real world.
- Local presence. They're in Hobart or Tasmania. You can meet them. They know the market.
- You own everything. The code, the domain, the hosting, the files. It's yours.
The Honest Take
Don't just go with the cheapest quote. The cheapest hire often becomes the most expensive regret. Spend what you can afford on someone you trust, who understands your business, and who will deliver something you're proud of.
A website is one of your most important business assets. It should be built by someone who takes that seriously. If you're in Hobart or Tasmania and you want to have that conversation, we're here. But even if you don't hire us, use these questions with whoever you do choose. They matter.