You need a website or web app built. You start looking around and realize there are about 10,000 people who claim they can build it.

Some charge $2,000. Others charge $80,000. Some show you amazing portfolios. Others have websites from 2008 that look like they were built in 2008.

How do you choose without getting burned?

Let me help. I've seen hundreds of projects and talked to dozens of businesses who got scammed or disappointed. Here's what you need to know.

Red flags that scream "run away"

They guarantee you'll rank #1 on Google

No legitimate developer promises this. Google's algorithm has 200+ factors and changes constantly. Anyone guaranteeing top rankings is either lying or using shady tactics that'll get you penalized.

What good developers say instead: "We'll build it with SEO best practices and give you a strong foundation to rank well."

They won't show you previous work

If someone can't show you at least 3-5 websites or apps they've built, they're either brand new or they're bad at what they do.

Either way, you don't want to be their guinea pig.

What to look for: Ask to see actual live websites, not just screenshots. Screenshots can be stolen or photoshopped. Live websites don't lie.

They want 100% payment upfront

Professional developers work in milestones. Typically:

30-50% to start
25-30% at halfway point
25-30% when you approve the final work
Final 10% after launch

If someone wants all the money before doing any work, they might just take it and disappear. It happens more than you think.

They can't explain what they're doing in plain English

You don't need to understand all the technical details, but they should be able to explain the plan in a way that makes sense.

If they're hiding behind jargon and making you feel dumb for asking questions, that's a bad sign.

The price seems too good to be true

Someone quotes $3,000 for a project that everyone else is quoting $30,000? There's a reason.

Maybe they're using templates and calling it custom work. Maybe they're outsourcing to the cheapest developer they can find overseas. Maybe they're just going to disappear with your deposit.

They promise it'll be done in a week

Building good software takes time. A proper web application takes 8-16 weeks minimum. A decent website takes 6-10 weeks.

If someone promises it in one week, they're either using a template (and charging you custom prices), or they're rushing it so badly it'll be full of bugs.

Good signs you've found someone decent

They ask a lot of questions

Good developers want to understand your business, your goals, your users. They should be asking things like:

"Who's going to use this?" "What problem are you trying to solve?" "What happens if we don't build feature X?" "What does success look like for this project?"

If they jump straight to "yeah we can build that, send the deposit," they haven't thought about whether they're building the right thing.

They tell you when something's a bad idea

The best developers will push back on your ideas sometimes. Not because they're difficult, but because they've built enough stuff to know what works and what doesn't.

If you say "I want a video background on every page" and they immediately say "sure, that'll be $2,000 extra," they care more about your money than your success.

A good developer says "video backgrounds slow down your site and annoy mobile users. Let's find a better way to make it look good."

They have a clear process

They should be able to explain:

How they'll figure out what you need
How they'll design it
How they'll build it
How they'll test it
How they'll launch it
What happens after launch

If their process is "we'll just start building and see what happens," run.

They're transparent about what things cost and why

Good developers can explain why something costs what it does.

"This feature requires building a custom API integration, which takes about 40 hours of development time. At our rate of $150/hour, that's $6,000 for that piece."

You might not like the price, but at least you understand it.

They warn you about problems early

If your project has technical challenges, good developers tell you upfront. They don't hide problems until you've already paid.

"Your current website is on a really old system. Migrating that data will be tricky and might add 2 weeks to the timeline."

That's honesty. Appreciate it.

Questions to ask before hiring

"Can I see 3 projects similar to mine that you've built?"

You want to see relevant experience. If you're building an e-commerce site, seeing their portfolio of restaurant websites doesn't help much.

"What's included in the price?"

Does it include design? Copywriting? Stock photos? Training? Hosting setup? Ongoing support?

Make sure you know exactly what you're paying for.

"What happens if I need changes after launch?"

Some developers include 30 days of minor tweaks. Others charge hourly for any changes. Some disappear completely after launch.

Know this upfront.

"How do you handle delays?"

Every project hits delays. Your developer should have a plan for how they communicate delays and adjust timelines.

"Who owns the code when we're done?"

You should own all the code and design files. Make sure this is in writing.

Some shady developers keep ownership so you're locked into using them forever for updates.

"What if we need to stop the project halfway?"

Life happens. Budgets change. Priorities shift. What happens to the money you've paid if you need to cancel?

Get this in writing.

The portfolio test

Here's how to evaluate someone's portfolio:

Check if the websites still work

Click on their portfolio examples. Do the websites load? Do they look professional? Do they work on your phone?

We've seen portfolios where half the sites don't load anymore or have been redesigned by someone else. That tells you something.

Look at the details

Check spelling and grammar on their portfolio sites. Check if forms work. Try it on your phone.

If their own work has typos and broken buttons, yours will too.

Ask about their role

Did they build the whole thing or just one piece? Some developers show portfolio work where they only did minor updates but make it sound like they built everything.

Ask: "What exactly was your role in this project?"

Understanding pricing

Here's roughly what things cost in Singapore for decent quality work:

Simple company website: $8,000 to $20,000

Complex website with custom features: $20,000 to $50,000

Simple web application: $35,000 to $80,000

Complex web application: $80,000 to $200,000+

If someone's quoting way below this, they're either:

Using templates and calling it custom
Inexperienced and undercharging
Outsourcing to cheap developers
Planning to cut corners

None of these are good for you.

The contract matters

Everything should be in writing:

Exactly what's being built (features list)
Timeline with specific milestones
Payment schedule
Who owns the final product
What happens if someone wants to cancel
Support after launch
How changes and extra work are handled

No contract = no protection when things go wrong.

Trust your gut

If something feels off, it probably is.

If the developer is pushy about getting payment now, if they make you feel dumb for asking questions, if they can't give straight answers, find someone else.

There are plenty of good developers out there. You don't need to settle for one that gives you bad vibes.

What we tell people who are shopping around

When someone's comparing us to other developers, here's what we say:

Don't pick the cheapest. Don't pick the most expensive either. Pick the one who:

Understands your business best
Asks good questions
Explains things clearly
Shows relevant past work
Makes you feel confident they'll deliver

Price matters, but it shouldn't be the only factor.

A $15,000 website that works and brings in customers is better than a $5,000 website that looks amateur and scares people away.

Red flags during the project

Even after you've hired someone, watch out for:

They stop responding quickly. Early in the project, they replied in hours. Now it takes 3 days? Bad sign.

You never see work-in-progress. Good developers show you work as they go. If you don't see anything until the end, you might be in for a nasty surprise.

They keep asking for more money. The scope didn't change, but somehow the price keeps going up.

They miss deadlines without explanation. Everyone misses deadlines sometimes, but good developers communicate early and explain why.

If you see these signs, have a serious conversation. If nothing changes, you might need to cut your losses and find someone else.

Finding the right fit

There's no perfect developer for everyone. But there's probably a good developer for you.

Some developers are great at complex technical challenges but terrible at design. Others are amazing at making things look beautiful but slow at development. Some are fast but expensive. Others are affordable but take longer.

Figure out what matters most to you, then find someone who's strong in those areas.

Talk to us if you want a second opinion on a quote you received, or if you want to know if what you're being told makes sense. We're happy to help even if you don't hire us.

About &7: We build websites and web applications for businesses in Singapore. We show you our work, explain our pricing, and give you honest timelines. No disappearing, no surprises, no BS.