subject: A Few Tips If You Want To Hire A Web Programmer To Improve Your Pre-Existing Website [print this page] A Few Tips If You Want To Hire A Web Programmer To Improve Your Pre-Existing Website
People looking to update their preexisting website are well advised to know a few things before they begin.
*First, know exactly what needs to be done, and what a programmer needs to know in order to get it done (ex. PHP, MySQL, osCommerce, Magento, ect). Do some static mockups, write a list of exactly what needs to be done, and consider pointing out other online examples.
* Sites such as elance or rentacoder are a good bet for many reasons. You can hire directly, but I like the added security such sites give in terms of payment and feedback. Also, it is quite easy to check up on previous work.
* Be realistic in your idea of how much the job will cost. Expecting to pay a pittance for a quality job is very unrealistic. Depending on several factors, a standard per hour fee could be 20 to 50 dollars per hour, but very qualified programmers can demand and receive much more than this.
* Make sure to take a careful look at a programmer's portfolio (or if you are on a site like elance, then check out their feedback as well). Also, try to get real feedback from previous customers that they have had. Don't also forget to find out from your checks if the programmer does indeed have the necessary skills to do your job.
* If you and your programmer come to a per hour payment agreement, make sure to get a definite time completion estimate. I would suggest making a max payment amount based on their estimated time of completion. As an example, if the final estimate on the job is that it will take 20 ~ 30 hours to complete at an agreed price of 20 dollars per hour, then you shouldn't be expected to pay more than 700 dollars when everything is all said and done (delays happen, but too much more money is unreasonable).
* Programmers who are very good at communication before you hire them are likely to be good after you hire them as well. Look for programmers who go over what you need with you in a clear and concise way, and try to avoid those that either don't know or don't seem to care about your job and seem more interested in quoting how much it will cost.
* You will find that some programmers insist that they are paid the total amount for the job upfront (which is both common and doesn't mean they are cheating you, but unless the job is going to last a very long period of time, I don't find must justification in this. Much better all around is a payment that is held in escrow where a programmer can see that you have funded the money there and which they will be able to access after the job is completed.
* When you are ready to choose a particular programmer, have all your terms, conditions, and payments clearly spelled out and in writing. You might also consider putting into writing how you both will deal with what if scenarios such as what happens if the time to completion is longer than stated.
