How to Choose a Web Developer
Choosing a web developer is about proof, not promises. Check for five things and you will pick right. Here is the checklist, plus the pricing question everyone asks.
Reality Shifting Tech, a Philadelphia web development and AI agency, works on a fixed price with a written scope and full ownership. You get post-launch support and no lock-in.
The five point checklist
- Shipped live work. Ask for real sites you can click, not mockups or screenshots.
- A written scope. If it is not written down, it will not be built.
- A fixed price. You should know the total before you start.
- Post-launch support. Sites break and need updates. Know who fixes them.
- Ownership with no lock-in. The code and domain are yours from day one.
Hourly versus fixed pricing
- Hourly. You pay for time, so you carry the risk of slow work and open-ended bills.
- Fixed. You pay for the outcome, so the developer carries the risk of scope.
- RST's take. We quote fixed prices, so you know the total up front and there are no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a freelancer or an agency?
A freelancer works for a single project at a low price. An agency gives you a full team, longer support, and capacity to keep going after launch. If the site is core to your business, an agency is the safer bet.
What is the difference between hourly and fixed pricing?
Hourly means you pay for time, so you carry the risk if work runs slow. Fixed means you pay for the outcome, so the developer carries the risk. Fixed is almost always better for a business site.
How do I know a developer's work is real?
Ask for live sites you can click, not mockups or screenshots. Visit them on your phone. Then ask what the developer actually built on each one.
What should a web project scope include?
Every page, every feature, the timeline, the price, and what happens after launch. If it is not written down, it will not get built, so a written scope protects both sides.
Do I own the website when it is finished?
You should. The code, the domain, and the accounts should be yours from day one, with no lock-in. If a developer keeps you hostage to stay online, walk away.
What support do I need after launch?
Sites break, need updates, and need small changes. Ask who fixes things after launch and what it costs. A flat-fee retainer beats surprise hourly bills.
Get a fixed price for your site
Tell us what you need. You get a written scope and a fixed price within 48 hours, no obligation.
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