Hiring a contractor to do anything for you, including creating a website, requires a partnership. Both sides have needs and expectations. It is the customer responsibility to be sure their expectations are clear. Contractors are not clairvoyants and can not know everything the customer may be thinking about inclusions, exclusions, and time-frames.
Ask Questions and Do Your Research
If you don’t understand something, JUST ASK. It’s not macho not to ask, just dumb. Contractors cannot know what your expectations or assumptions are. Good contractors will try to find out, but even so, they can’ know all that you are thinking. So, if it’s important to you, tell them what you need and ask what you don’t know.
This is especially true with contracts or proposals. The time to get clarification is before you sign agreements.
If you don’t know what to ask, do a little research. Go to the internet and Google something like:
what do I need to know to hire a widget spinner” (assuming here you are looking for a widget spinner).
You will find all kinds of articles and information. Or you can call contractors and ask questions like, “how are you superior at widget spinning?”
When I first needed a roof redone, I asked so many questions that by the time I actually hired a contractor, they offered me a job because I knew so much about roofing.
Start by getting a good referral of a contractor. Even with a good referral, it’s an important customer responsibility to ask questions, and to evaluate the answer to the question, but also evaluate if you feel the contractor wants to inform and educate you at a level you can understand.
Its not going to be a healthy relationship if you don’t feel comfortable asking questions.
I don’t like people to talk over my head, and continue to do so when I have said I don’t understand. Because of that, I really endeavor to speak to my clients at a level they can and want to understand.
Try to look at some of their work. Check out if its the quality and style you like. Many people call me about web design who have not even looked at my site. I know they haven’t if they ask to see samples, which are on my website.
Many contractors do many styles, so if you don’t see what you like, ask if they have done something in the style you prefer.
Do Your Part
In any working relationship, each side provides part of the solution. For example, when creating a business website for a client, the customer responsibility is often to provide the content, from text to graphics. However, if the reality is that a client just doesn’t have the time, knowledge or resources to do it, it’s better to let me know up front so we can explore other options, such as content writing services or having me choose images from their archives or looking for stock photography.
Nothing is more frustrating for both sides than having a project stalled. The loss of time causes the project to lose energy and forward momentum, and for both parties to become discouraged.
If lack of resources (time, staff, etc.) becomes an issue after the project has started, it’s best to let the contractor know as soon as possible. If you really aren’t going to be able to meet your part of the project, get on top of it as soon as possible so solutions can be found to keep the project on course. This keeps the relationship with your contractor cleaner and helps avoid frustration.
Read the previous ‘Hiring a Contractor’ posts:
- Hiring a Contractor: Identifying Expectations
- Defining Desired End Result and Communicating Budget
- Know Your Limitations