Questions, answered.
The things people actually ask before getting a website built, answered straight. Anything else, just email me.
Money.
How much does a website cost in New Zealand?
Agencies often quote $3,000 to $10,000 or more. Working directly with a local developer is cheaper: a custom one-page site starts at $800 and a 3 to 5 page business site at $1,500, plus a domain at about $30 a year. You get a fixed quote before anything starts.
How much does web design cost in Christchurch?
One-page sites from $800, business sites from $1,500, optional care and hosting from $30 a month. A free homepage mock-up comes first so you can see what you’d be paying for. Full pricing
How do payments work?
Half up front, half when the site is live. Fixed quote agreed before work starts, so the number never moves. Prices are in New Zealand dollars.
Do I need my own domain name?
A domain is about $30 a year and it gets registered in your name, so you own it outright. Help picking a good one is included; a .co.nz or .nz suits most local businesses.
The process.
How long does a website take to build?
Most sites are live in about a week once I have your details and photos. A bigger site can take up to two weeks.
What do I need to provide?
Just the basics: what you do, how people can reach you, any photos you have, and your prices or services if you’ve got them. I’ll help with the words. You’ll see a first version quickly, then we tweak it together until it feels right.
What if I don’t like the design?
That’s what the free mock-up is for. You see a real homepage for your business before paying anything, and we change it as many times as you like until it’s right.
Do you only work with Christchurch businesses?
Mostly Christchurch and Canterbury: Sydenham, Riccarton, Addington, Merivale, Rangiora, Rolleston and surrounds. Anywhere in New Zealand works fine though, since everything runs over email.
The techy stuff.
Will my website show up on Google?
Yes. Every site is built fast and mobile-first with proper titles, structured data, a sitemap and Search Console set up. Google Business Profile help is included too, which is what puts you on Google Maps. Rankings grow over weeks, but the foundations are done right from day one.
Can you rebuild or fix my existing website?
Yes. If the site is salvageable it gets improved; if not, it gets rebuilt on the same domain so your Google rankings and email keep working. Honest advice either way. More on rebuilds
Do you use WordPress or a page builder?
No. Sites are built from scratch, which makes them faster, more secure and cheaper to host than a WordPress site. There’s no dashboard to break and no plugins to hack.
Can I update the site myself?
Most owners prefer to just email changes through, which the care plan covers. If you want to edit it yourself that can be arranged, but the custom-coded approach means there’s no admin panel to log into.
Who looks after the site after it launches?
Your choice. A care plan from $30 a month covers hosting, security and small text and photo updates — just email me and I tweak it. Or take the whole thing and run it yourself; the site is yours either way.