Ask what’s included in writing, who will do the work, what you’ll own, what happens after launch, and how changes are priced. A good designer answers clearly and puts it in a proposal before you pay. Vague answers about ownership, support or what’s included are the ones to slow down on.
How to use these questions
You don’t need to ask all of them in the first call. Use them to compare proposals like for like. The best answer isn’t always the longest one; it’s the one you could check later, in writing.
Scope and price
What exactly is included, and what isn’t?
A good answer lists the pages, features, content and integrations, and names what’s out of scope. Slow down if the scope is a single line.
Is the price fixed for that scope, and how are changes priced?
Look for a price tied to a written scope, and a clear way of handling additions, such as a written quote before any extra work.
What is the payment schedule?
Payments tied to milestones are easier to manage than one large upfront payment for a long project.
The people and the process
Who will actually design and build the site?
You should know whether it’s the person you’re talking to, a team, or subcontractors.
What do you need from me, and when?
Content, photos, logins and approvals are the most common cause of delays. A good designer tells you up front.
What are the milestones, and what counts as a revision?
Clear stages and a defined number of revision rounds prevent misunderstandings near launch.
Ownership and accounts
Whose name will the domain and hosting be in, and will I have the logins?
Ideally yours, with your own access, or with a clear plan to move them to you.
What transfers to me when the project ends, and which parts are licensed?
Look for written language about the design, code and content, and a list of anything used under licence.
Ownership deserves its own read: see Do you own your website?
Quality
How will the site work on phones, and how fast will it load?
Many of your visitors will see your site on a phone first. Ask how they test that.
How do you approach accessibility?
A good answer mentions specific practices, such as readable contrast, keyboard navigation and descriptive text for images, rather than a promise.
Will I be able to update content myself?
Ask what you’ll be able to change, how, and whether it’s included.
Can I see sites you’ve built, and speak to a client?
Real, live work you can click through tells you more than a portfolio image.
After launch
Who hosts the site, keeps it updated and makes backups?
Some designers hand over and step away; others offer ongoing care. Either can work, as long as you know which you’re getting.
What does maintenance include, and what costs extra?
“Maintenance” means different things to different providers. Ask for the list.
How quickly do you respond to support requests, and is that in writing?
A response time is a commitment you can hold someone to. A fix time depends on the problem, so ask about both.
What happens if I decide to leave?
Make sure you receive the files, content, documentation and account access you’re entitled to under your agreement. A good designer can tell you now what that will include.
Search and marketing
What search basics are included?
A good answer covers page titles and descriptions, a clean structure and a fast site. Ask what’s included and what’s a separate service.
Who sets up Analytics and Search Console, and in whose account?
Yours. These accounts hold your site’s history, so they should stay with your business.
Questions for your situation
- Your first website: ask what you’ll need to provide and how long the process usually takes for a site like yours.
- A redesign: ask how they’ll protect the search visibility your current site already has, and what happens to your existing addresses.
- An app or custom software: ask who owns the code, what documentation you’ll receive, and whether app store and developer accounts will be in your name.
Red flags
- They won’t put the scope and price in writing.
- The domain or accounts will be registered in their name, with no plan to transfer them.
- “Maintenance” or “support” isn’t defined.
- You’re pressed to sign the same day.
- They can’t show real, live work.
- There’s no clear answer about what you receive if you leave.
How this works with Lux
We answer these questions in writing before any work begins. You get a scoped proposal: what we’d build, in what order and at what price. The custom work transfers to you under your agreement, and your domain and accounts stay under your control. If you choose ongoing care with Site OS, support requests are answered within one business day.