How to Choose the Right Web Designer in Lagos: 8 Questions to Ask Before You Pay a Single Naira

Hiring the wrong web designer in Lagos is an expensive mistake that we see Nigerian businesses make every year. They pay upfront, communication goes quiet, and months later they receive a website that looks nothing like what was promised — or they receive nothing at all. Protect yourself and your investment by asking these eight questions before signing any agreement or making any payment.

Question 1: Can I See Your Portfolio? Any reputable web designer or agency should have a portfolio of live websites they have built for previous clients. Don't just look at screenshots — visit the actual websites. Check how they load on your phone. Look at the quality of the design, the navigation, and the speed. If a designer cannot show you previous work, that is a serious red flag.

Question 2: Can I Speak With a Previous Client? References matter enormously. Ask for the contact details of two or three previous clients and actually call or message them. Ask about the designer's communication, whether the project was delivered on time, whether the final result matched what was discussed, and whether they would hire this person again.

Question 3: What's Included in the Price? Website project quotes in Lagos vary wildly — and the cheapest quote is almost never the best value. Make sure you understand exactly what is included: the number of pages, whether content writing is included, whether a domain and hosting are included, whether an SSL certificate is included, how many rounds of revisions are allowed, and what happens after the site launches. Get everything in writing.

Question 4: Who Will Own the Website When It's Done? This is critical. Some designers build websites on platforms or with tools that they control. When the project ends, you may not have access to your own website. Ensure you will have full ownership and admin access to your website, your domain, and your hosting account when the project is complete. At Slatech Solutions, every client receives full ownership of everything we build.

Question 5: How Will the Website Be Built? The technology used matters for your long-term success. A website built on a solid platform (WordPress, Next.js, Webflow) is easy to update, maintain, and hand over to another developer if needed. Be cautious of designers who use obscure page builders or proprietary systems that lock you into using only them for future changes.

Question 6: Will the Website Be Optimised for Mobile and Speed? Ask specifically about mobile responsiveness and page speed. Request to see examples of their previous websites loading on mobile devices and check them on tools like Google PageSpeed Insights (pagespeed.web.dev). A beautiful website that loads in 8 seconds on mobile will actually hurt your business — both in terms of user experience and Google rankings.

Question 7: Do You Offer Post-Launch Support? What happens when something breaks after your website launches? Who updates the website when you need to change your prices, add new services, or publish a new blog post? Understand exactly what support is offered after delivery, and at what cost. The best web agencies offer ongoing maintenance and support packages so you're never left stranded.

Question 8: What Is the Timeline and How Will We Communicate? Get a clear project timeline with milestones — not just a final delivery date. Understand how you'll communicate during the project (WhatsApp, email, in-person meetings), how quickly you can expect responses to questions, and what happens if there are delays. A designer who is difficult to reach before you've paid will be even harder to reach once they have your money. Slatech Solutions provides dedicated project managers, clear timelines, and full transparency throughout every project. Contact us for a free consultation and honest quote.