Hiring a developer when you're not technical yourself feels risky — because it is. You're being asked to judge a skill you don't have, with money you can't afford to waste. I've been on the other side of a hundred of these conversations, so let me help you stack the odds in your favour.
1. Look for outcomes, not buzzwords
A great developer talks about results they delivered — faster load times, more conversions, fewer support tickets — not just the technologies they used. Anyone can list 'React, Node, AWS.' Ask instead: what changed for the business after you shipped? The specific numbers tell you everything.
2. Test the communication before the code
The biggest reason freelance projects fail isn't bad code. It's silence — the developer who goes dark for a week, who can't explain what they're doing, who makes you feel stupid for asking. On your first call, notice how they listen. Do they ask about your business, or just your tech stack? Do they explain things in plain language, or hide behind jargon?
3. Insist on a written scope
Before any money changes hands, you should have it in writing:
- What exactly will be delivered
- A timeline with milestones
- A fixed price or a clear estimate
- Who owns the code when it's done (it should be you)
If a developer won't put the scope in writing before starting, that's not a red flag — it's the whole flag.
Do these three things and you'll sidestep the vast majority of freelance horror stories. And if you want a second opinion on a developer you're considering, or a project you're scoping, just ask — the first call is always free.