Choosing a developer is scarier than choosing a design — a bad developer costs you money, months and sometimes your Google rankings. These are the questions that separate professionals from problems, whichever developer you end up hiring.
Ask about ownership first
"Will the domain, hosting and code be in my name?" The only right answer is yes. Businesses get held hostage every day by vendors who registered everything under their own accounts. Walk away from anyone vague here.
Ask about process
A professional can describe their steps: requirements, written quotation, design approval, development, testing, launch, training. If the answer is "just pay advance and we will start", the project will run exactly that casually.
Ask about the quotation
Is it written? Itemised? Does it show cost with and without GST? Is the payment structure staged against milestones rather than everything upfront? A written, staged quotation is the single best predictor of a professional engagement.
Ask about after-launch
What does support cost? What is the turnaround for small changes? Who do you contact — a person or a ticket queue? Websites live for years; the relationship matters more than the launch.
Freelancer or agency?
Agencies offer teams and scale; good freelancers offer direct communication, accountability and better prices for the same output. For small and mid-size projects, the person you talk to being the person who builds is a genuine advantage. Whoever you choose — get everything in writing.