It’s a simple question — but one that too many clients never think to ask:
Are you actually building my website from scratch?
The web design world, like many others, has its fair share of rogues and pirates. These are the people who promise you a “custom website,” quote you over £2,000, and then quietly spend £40 on a premium theme from ThemeForest — pocketing the difference.
Now sure, they might argue that the cost covers admin and customisation time. But in reality, many of them just:
- Change a few colours
- Swap in your logo and content
- Push the site live
All for a price that suggests they’re billing £500 per hour.
So how do you protect yourself and make sure you’re hiring someone who actually knows what they’re doing?
1. Ask Them Directly
It sounds obvious, but surprisingly few people actually ask the question:
“Will you be using a premium theme for this project?”
If they say no — great.
If they say yes — ask why. It could be that your budget doesn’t stretch far enough for bespoke design, and that’s totally valid… as long as they’re honest about it.
If they say no but use one anyway, and you’ve signed a contract stating otherwise, you’re well within your rights to request a refund. (Just make sure to read your contract carefully — some sneak it in.)
2. Check Their Portfolio
If you suspect they might use themes regularly, do some detective work:
- Look at the other sites they’ve built.
- Do they all look vaguely similar?
- Are the layouts and animations identical across projects?
If so, you might be looking at a theme user, not a custom designer.
3. Use a Theme Checker
If you want to confirm your suspicions, try a tool like:
Just plug in a site URL, and it’ll tell you (most of the time) what theme it’s using. If it returns a match, a quick Google search will reveal the theme’s price and features — and you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
4. Get a Second Opinion
Before you sign anything, it’s totally okay to ask for another freelancer or agency’s input. Most of us are happy to give a quick opinion or gut check.
I certainly am — if you’re unsure, feel free to get in touch and I’ll help you figure it out.
In Summary
There are plenty of designers out there doing brilliant, honest work.
But there are also a few out there cutting corners and cashing in.
The best way to avoid them?
- Ask the right questions
- Check their work
- And trust your instincts
When in doubt, ask for clarity. A good designer won’t hesitate to explain how they build — and why it’s worth the investment.