What should you look out for before hiring a developer?

Oscar Bout · 03 Sep 2026

Before you bring in a developer, you need to have at least three things in order: a clear project description, insight into the technical skills you need, and a realistic picture of your budget. Without this foundation, you risk choosing the wrong person, paying more than necessary, or ending up months later with a product that doesn’t do what you expected. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions so you can enter the market well prepared.

What are the most common mistakes when hiring a developer?

The most common mistakes when hiring a developer are: starting your search too late, not having a clear project description, selecting based on price alone, and failing to account for communication and collaboration. These mistakes cost companies a great deal of time and money, and with proper preparation they are easy to avoid.

Many companies only start looking when the project should have already begun. As a result, they make rushed decisions and go with the first available developer rather than the best match. Another common mistake is selecting based solely on hourly rate, without looking at experience, technical background, or communication style.

Another pitfall: expecting a developer to also act as project manager. A developer writes code, but does not automatically oversee the planning, budget, or quality of the final product. If you don’t organize that properly, you lose control of your own project.

Being too vague about what you want leads to misunderstandings and extra work
Lacking internal technical knowledge makes it difficult to evaluate the work
No clear agreements on code ownership can cause problems later
Not scheduling a trial period or test project before signing a long-term contract

How do you describe your software project before looking for a developer?

A good project description includes at minimum: what the product needs to do, who it is intended for, which platforms it needs to run on, and what you expect in terms of planning and budget. The more concretely you write this out, the better a developer can assess whether they are the right match.

Start by describing the problem you are solving, not the technical solution. Then describe the user: who uses the system, and what should that user be able to do? This is called a functional description, and it is the foundation of every good software project.

Then add which integrations are needed, such as connections with existing systems, payment providers, or external services. Also indicate whether a design already exists or still needs to be created. The more context you provide, the fewer assumptions a developer has to make.

What technical skills should a developer have for your project?

The technical skills a developer needs depend entirely on what you are building. A web application requires different expertise than a mobile app or an API integration. First determine the type of product, then determine the required technology stack.

Front-end versus back-end versus full-stack

A front-end developer builds what users see and interact with, such as buttons, forms, and screens. A back-end developer builds the logic and databases behind the scenes. A full-stack developer does both, but is rarely equally strong in all areas.

For smaller projects, a full-stack developer is often sufficient. For larger or more complex software development trajectories, a team with specialists per layer is wiser.

Popular technologies by project type

Here is an overview of commonly used technologies by project type:

Web applications: React, Angular, Vue (front-end), Node.js or .NET (back-end)
Mobile apps: Flutter, Swift (iOS), Kotlin or Android SDK
Cloud and infrastructure: AWS or Azure
Enterprise and fintech: Java, .NET

Choose a technology that aligns with your long-term plans, not just what is popular at the moment. A developer you bring in now should still be able to continue development effectively a year from now.

What is the difference between a freelance developer and a remote development team?

A freelance developer works independently and is responsible for their own planning and output. A remote development team consists of multiple specialists who collaborate on a project, often managed by a team lead or project manager. The difference lies in capacity, continuity, and oversight.

A freelancer is suitable for smaller, well-defined assignments where you need someone quickly. But as your project grows, you run into the limitations of a single person. A remote team offers more flexibility: you can scale up and down as needed, and someone is always available if a team member is unavailable.

Another important difference is quality control. With a well-structured remote team, there is a framework for code reviews, planning, and communication. With a freelancer, you are responsible for that oversight yourself, unless you have someone internally who takes that on.

How do you assess the reliability of a developer or development team?

You assess the reliability of a developer or development team based on references, previous work, communication style, and transparency about working methods and pricing. A reliable party is open about what they can and cannot do, and is not put off by critical questions.

Always ask for concrete examples of previous work that resembles your project. Don’t just look at the end result — also ask how the process went: was there regular contact, how were changes handled, and were deadlines met?

Also pay attention to how quickly and clearly someone responds during initial contact. Communication during the selection phase is a good predictor of how the collaboration will go later on. Slow or vague responses are a signal to be cautious.

Ask for references and actually follow up with those references
Verify that the developer or team has demonstrable experience with your type of project
Pay attention to clarity around contracts, code ownership, and notice periods
Evaluate the quality of communication from the very first conversation

What does it cost to hire a developer and what determines the price?

The costs of hiring a developer vary widely and are determined by experience level, technical specialization, location, and whether you work with a freelancer or a team. In the Netherlands, hourly rates for local developers typically range between €65 and €120 per hour, while remote developers from other countries can be considerably lower.

In addition to the hourly rate, project scope also plays a major role. A well-defined project with clear requirements costs less than a project where much still needs to be worked out. Unexpected changes, unclear specifications, and poor communication are the biggest cost drivers in software projects.

Also account for additional costs such as software licenses, hosting, test environments, and project management. These are often not included in the initial price proposal, but do factor into the total picture.

How 3Bird helps you find the right software development partner

At 3Bird, we combine more than 25 years of ICT experience with a team of experienced remote developers in Nepal, managed by Dutch fractional CTOs. This means you enjoy the benefits of international talent while being guided in your own language and never feeling like you’ve lost control of your project.

What we concretely offer:

Flexible capacity: hire developers from €25 to €30 per hour, scalable up and down as needed
Broad technical coverage: from React and Node.js to Flutter, Java, .NET, AWS, and Azure
Dutch oversight: a fractional CTO who monitors your project for quality, planning, and communication
Custom software development: front-end, back-end, and full-stack, tailored to your specific situation
Experience across diverse sectors: including fintech, blockchain, AI, and mobile applications

Whether you want to build your first app or expand an existing platform, we are happy to think along with you about the best approach. Get in touch via +(31)75-7993038 or send an email to contact@3bird.nl for a no-obligation conversation.