How to Choose a Web Developer: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire

Knowing how to choose a web developer comes down to asking the right questions. Whether you’re in Melbourne, somewhere else in Australia or overseas, the same 10 questions will show you if someone is the right fit, and most answers take only a few minutes to check.

I’m Jay, a freelance web developer in Melbourne. I’ve built websites and web apps for businesses, brands and individuals for more than 8 years, so these are the questions I’d want you to ask me.

The short answer: look at live websites they’ve built, read their reviews and ask who will do the work. Then make sure you’ll own your domain and website, get a written quote that includes yearly costs, and check how they handle speed, SEO and support after launch.

Freelancer, agency or website builder?#

Start by deciding what kind of help you need, because it changes which answers matter most.

Option	Best for	Watch out for
Freelance web developer	Most business websites, redesigns and small web apps. You deal with one person from start to finish.	Ask what happens if they’re sick or on holiday during your project.
Web agency	Large projects that need a team of designers, developers, writers and marketers at the same time.	Higher prices, and the person who sells you the project may not be the one who builds it.
Website builder (Squarespace, Wix)	Simple sites you’re happy to build and update yourself.	You rent the platform, so your design doesn’t come with you if you leave. See Squarespace vs a web developer: the real cost.

10 questions to ask before you hire a web developer#

Ask these in your first conversation. A good developer will be happy to answer all of them.

1. Can I see live websites you’ve built?#

Screenshots and mockups can look great, but a live site shows how it actually works. Open two or three on your phone, click around and run one through a free website speed test.

A good answer: links to real, live client websites, ideally for businesses like yours.

2. Can I read reviews or talk to past clients?#

Reviews on a site the developer can’t edit, such as Google, Fiverr or Upwork, are harder to fake than quotes on their own website. Look for comments about communication and deadlines, not just “great work”.

A good answer: a public profile with plenty of recent reviews, or a past client who’s happy to have a quick chat.

3. Who will actually do the work?#

Some freelancers pass work on to others, and some agencies hand it to junior staff or outsource it. That isn’t always a problem, but you should know who’s building your website.

A good answer: a clear name for who designs it, who builds it and who you’ll talk to.

4. Which platform will you use, and can I edit it myself?#

WordPress, Shopify, Webflow and custom code such as React all suit different jobs. Ask why they’ve chosen it for you, and whether you’ll be able to change text and images without calling them.

A good answer: a reason tied to what you need, plus a walkthrough when the site is handed over.

5. Will I own the domain, hosting and website?#

Your domain should be registered in your name or your business’s name, and you should have admin logins for the domain, hosting and website. If a developer owns these, moving away later can be slow or expensive.

A good answer: “Yes, it’s all in your name, and you’ll get every login.”

6. What’s included in the price, and what will I pay each year?#

A quote should list the pages, features, rounds of changes and anything that isn’t included. Ask about yearly costs too: domain, hosting, paid plugins or apps, and maintenance. My website cost guide shows typical prices in Melbourne.

A good answer: a written quote with a fixed price or clear stages, and a list of ongoing costs.

7. How do you handle speed, SEO and mobile?#

Many visitors will see your website on a phone first. A good developer designs for phones, keeps pages fast and sets up the SEO basics: page titles, descriptions, headings and a sitemap. If you’re replacing an old site, ask how they’ll keep your Google rankings during a redesign.

A good answer: specifics, such as PageSpeed scores and redirects, not just “SEO-friendly”.

8. Do you use AI tools, and who checks the work?#

Many developers now use AI to write code faster, and that’s fine. What matters is that a person checks security, forms and speed before launch. Here are the 7 things to check on an AI-built website.

A good answer: an honest yes or no, and how they test the site before it goes live.

9. What happens after launch?#

Websites need updates, backups and security fixes, as the recent PHP security alert for WordPress sites showed. Ask whether support is included, for how long, and what ongoing care costs.

A good answer: a set support period after launch and a clear option for ongoing care.

10. How do payments and timelines work?#

Ask about deposits, stages and what happens if the project runs late. Paying in stages, or through a platform that holds your money until the work is delivered, protects you.

A good answer: a timeline with milestones, and payments tied to those milestones.

Red flags to watch for#

If you see any of these, slow down before you sign anything:

• A guaranteed #1 spot on Google. Nobody controls Google’s rankings, so nobody can promise them.
• The domain or hosting in their name. It makes leaving them hard later.
• No admin access to your own website. You should be able to log in from day one.
• A price with no written scope. Without a list of what’s included, every change becomes an argument.
• Only mockups, no live websites. If you can’t click through their past work, you can’t judge it.
• Full payment upfront on a large project. Stages or payment protection are normal; paying everything first isn’t.
• Slow replies before you’ve even started. Communication rarely gets better once the project begins.

Choosing a web developer in Melbourne, across Australia or overseas#

Most web projects now run online, so a good developer can work with you from almost anywhere. A few things change depending on where you both are.

Hiring a web developer in Melbourne#

• You share a time zone, so quick calls fit easily into the working day.
• You can meet in person if that matters to you, although most projects don’t need it.
• A local developer understands local search: your Google Business Profile, suburbs and service areas, and how AI tools like ChatGPT recommend local businesses.

Hiring a web developer elsewhere in Australia#

• Check time zones. During daylight saving, Brisbane is 1 hour behind Melbourne and Perth is 3 hours behind, because Queensland and Western Australia don’t change their clocks.
• Check their ABN. The free ABN Lookup shows whether an Australian business is real and active, and whether it’s registered for GST.
• Ask if prices include GST. A business only has to register for GST once its turnover reaches $75,000 a year, so some freelancers don’t charge it (ATO).
• Register your .com.au domain yourself. A .com.au needs an Australian identifier such as an ABN or ACN (VentraIP), so make sure it uses your ABN, not the developer’s.

Hiring a web developer overseas#

• Look for a few hours each day when you’re both working, and agree how quickly messages get answered.
• Agree on the currency up front, and check bank or transfer fees.
• Use a written agreement or a platform with payment protection, so money is only released when work is delivered.
• If your business is in Australia, check they understand local details such as .com.au rules and Australian spelling.

The same applies the other way round. If you’re overseas and thinking of hiring a developer in Australia, the questions are the same: live work, reviews, ownership, a clear quote and support after launch.

How I’d answer these questions#

I’m a Fiverr Pro and Top Rated Seller based in Melbourne, and I work with clients across Australia and around the world. Here are my short answers.

Question	My answer
Can I see live websites?	Yes. You’ll find live client sites, such as Women Love Tech and Durotech Industries, under selected work.
Can I read reviews?	Yes: 4.9 from 353 reviews on my Fiverr profile.
Who does the work?	I do, from the first design to launch.
Which platform, and can I edit it?	WordPress, Elementor, HTML or React, depending on what you need. You get simple fields (or Elementor) to update text and images, and a walkthrough at handover.
Do I see the design first?	Yes. I design your site in Figma, and you approve every page before I build anything.
Speed and SEO?	Every build includes speed tuning and the on-page SEO basics. See my services for audits and more.
Timeline and payment?	You get a clear delivery time in my offer before we start. Payment goes through Fiverr and is only released to me when your order is complete.

If you’d like to talk about your project, message me on Fiverr with a short brief. I’ll reply with a few questions and a custom offer.

Common questions#

How much does a freelance web developer cost in Melbourne?#

It depends on the number of pages, the features you need and who writes the content. My website cost guide has typical price ranges for 2026.

Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?#

Often, because there are fewer people and lower overheads. Compare what each quote includes, though, not just the final number.

Should I hire a web developer near me?#

Only if meeting in person really matters to you. Most projects run smoothly online, so choose on skill, reviews and communication first.

How long does it take to build a website?#

It depends on the pages and features. Ask for a delivery date in writing before the project starts.

Do I need a contract?#

You need at least a written scope and price. On platforms like Fiverr, the order itself sets out what’s included and when it’s due.

Sources#

• ABN Lookup, Australian Business Register
• Registering for GST, Australian Taxation Office
• Who is eligible for .au domain names, VentraIP