Ask what happens after the form is submitted
Most pitches focus on how the site will look. Ask instead: when someone fills in a contact form, what happens next? Does it just land in an inbox, or is there a system that replies instantly and follows up automatically? This single question separates a website from a lead-generation system.
Ask about mobile specifically
Don't accept "it's responsive" as an answer. Ask to see it on an actual phone, and check the phone number is tappable, the text is readable without zooming, and pages load quickly on a mobile connection, not just a fast office wifi.
Ask what you own
Some agencies build sites on their own locked platform — if you ever leave, you leave with nothing. Ask plainly: is this built on my own domain, and can I take it elsewhere if I choose to? A straight answer here tells you a lot about how the relationship is structured.
Ask about ongoing costs before you sign
A low headline price sometimes hides hosting fees, "maintenance" charges, or per-change costs that add up fast. Get the full monthly cost in writing before agreeing to anything.
The red flags
Vague answers about lead handling. No specific mobile plan. Unclear or shifting ongoing costs. Long contracts with early-exit penalties. A portfolio that's all visual design with nothing about actual results or conversion.
The simplest test
Where possible, see a real working demo built for your actual business before paying anything. It removes every question above at once — you're judging a finished result, not a promise.