Value for Money Websites
If you are paying a fixed price for your website to be constructed then the chances are it's not going to be that unique and probably will be template based. It's much better for you if your website has all the elements, functionality and flexibility that you want and expect. If you buy off the shelf or a bog standard site from an agency there may be little room for changing things to suit you. Check the company you use is working within the UK and understands all regulations and legal issues pertaining to website content - you don't want to find yourself at the wrong end of the law.
Bespoke Websites
Having a company use a team to build your website after meeting with you at the table is the best scenario for getting things correct from the off. Make yourself familiar with work they have undertaken in the past and see if it's at the standard you would expect. Get a rough idea of how long it will take to get your site up and running and an estimation as to the fees incurred. Will your site be written using html (hypertext markup language) code from scratch as opposed to using software applications to help with this process?
HTML code
If you can learn to write your own html code then great. Html is code written using chevron brackets (>)(<) either side of text along with other commands that tell the computer what to produce. For example, if you wanted text to appear in boldface you would type bold text here. If you know this language, then you can have your web pages written in no time at all using nothing more complicated than Notepad or Microsoft Word. You are free to tweak your content as and when you need. If you have no experience in html code - then it's best to leave this element to the professionals.
Development costs
It's impossible to nail a figure to building websites in general (unless you buy an off-the-peg type site). If you want a bespoke site tailored to your unique requirements then depending on the size and complexity of your site will determine the costs involved. Be prepared to pay, at the very least, in the region of £800 to £1000 for a basic five page site. The domain name and hosting costs very little, your money will be spent on the web designer's time. He needs to think, draft, write code and test the site, which all takes time.
