Independent · Before · During · After

An independent expert on your side — before, during, and after building a website.

I help you define what you actually need, choose the right developer without getting burned, and verify the work after it's delivered. No agency, no referrals, no upsell — one honest opinion.

Available in Eesti English Русский Reply within 24 hours
The problem

Problems show up at every stage — and most of them are avoidable.

Before, during, and after a project, the same mistakes keep costing small businesses time and money. Here's where it usually goes wrong.

01

Starting without knowing what you need

Requirements get written by the developer, for the developer. You sign off on a scope you don't actually understand.

02

The cheapest quote

A low price usually hides what's missing: hosting, maintenance, content, revisions. You pay the rest later — or get a site you can't update.

03

Vague scope & deliverables

"Custom solution", "modern stack", "SEO optimized." Words that sound technical but commit the developer to nothing specific.

04

Technology chosen for you

The stack decides what the site can do for years. Most clients don't know the long-term cost of a bad choice until they're stuck with it.

05

No way to verify quality

Portfolio screenshots can be anyone's. You need someone who reads the actual work, not the marketing around it.

06

Locked into bad hosting or architecture

Proprietary platforms, unclear code ownership, no way to move. Easy to accept on day one, expensive to fix on day 300.

07

Accepting a site that isn't really done

It looks finished. But is it secure, performant, maintainable? Without a technical check, you're signing off on faith.

What I do

One consultant, three stages — from first idea to finished site.

You can use me at any point in your project. The earlier we start, the more money usually stays in your pocket.

i. Before hiring

Figure out what you're actually building.

  • Define requirements in plain language
  • Recommend a tech stack that fits your case
  • Explain how the site should work, end to end
  • Prevent over- and under-engineering
ii. During selection

Pick the right developer, for the right reasons.

  • Review offers and pricing line by line
  • Identify risks, red flags, and missing scope
  • Compare developers side by side
  • Translate technical language you were sent
iii. After delivery

Verify the work before you sign off.

  • Full technical audit of the finished site
  • Performance and structure review
  • Identify quality and security issues
  • A clear list of what needs fixing
Pricing

Two options. Pick the one that matches your decision.

Paid up front. If the call runs over, no extra charge. VAT included for EU clients.

Eesti English Русский

Consultation

For planning, developer review, explanation, audit discussion — any topic.

€50 / hour
live call or in person
  • Any stage: before, during, or after
  • Bring materials, questions, or just a decision
  • Honest, direct answers — no upsell
  • Billed per hour, minimum one
Book a consultation
Prepayment required VAT included EU · remote or on-site
How it works

Four steps. Most people are done inside a week.

You send me what you have. I read it before we talk. The call is the short part.

i.

You get in touch

A short message — what stage you're at and what's on your mind.

ii.

I confirm fit

If I can help, I say so. If it's not my area, I'll tell you that too.

iii.

Materials & prepay

You send what you have. Payment up front, fixed fee or hourly.

iv.

I review everything

I read it properly before we talk — not on the call.

v.

We meet

Video call or in person. We go through it together.

vi.

Optional follow-ups

More questions later? Book another hour when you need it.

About

Who's actually reviewing your offer.

Denis Melamed. I've been building for the web for over thirteen years — as a developer, a freelancer, and a team lead. I've written the kind of proposals you're receiving, and I've rewritten bad ones after clients got burned.

I also teach as an adjunct lecturer at Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences, where I cover the same topics I consult on — planning, stack choices, working with developers.

I don't take referral fees from developers. I don't sell websites through this service. The only thing I'm offering is an honest opinion — before, during, or after your project.

— Denis
Team Lead at vDisain · Estonia
13+ yrs
building for the web
400+
websites built & maintained
vDisain
team lead
EUAS
adjunct lecturer
.ee gov
Estonian gov projects
Scope & independence

What this service is — and what it isn't.

A few ground rules that keep the advice useful and the conflicts out.

I don't build websites

Consulting only. If you decide you want me to build it after we talk, I'll connect you with vDisain — the company I work with — and step out of the advisor role.

Fully independent consulting

No partners, no affiliates, no kickbacks. I won't push a specific developer on you, and I'm not paid to recommend anyone.

For businesses, not agencies

I consult individuals and companies whose business is not web development. I don't advise web agencies or studios — that would be competing with vDisain.

Projects I've worked on

A sample of the work behind the opinion.

Public sector, private clients, and long-running platforms — built or maintained over the last decade.

Ministry
of —
vDisain
eesti.ee
Client
Logo
Agency
Platform
Startup
SaaS
Gov.ee
Portal
Brand
+ more
FAQ

Straightforward answers.

Who is this for?
Small business owners, founders, and non-technical people planning, choosing, or already working with a developer. Typical project budgets are €100 – €10,000+. If your project is very large or highly specialised, I'll tell you before you pay.
Do you guarantee results?
No. I give you an honest read on the plan, the offer, or the finished work. The decision and the outcome stay with you. Anyone promising a guaranteed result on work they're not doing themselves is selling you something else.
Will you contact the developer on my behalf?
No. I stay out of the conversation. I'll give you the exact questions to ask and the language to use, but the relationship with your developer is yours to keep.
Can you help if the site is already built?
Yes. A full website analysis looks at code quality, performance, structure, and security, and gives you a prioritised list of what needs fixing — whether that's with your current developer or another.
What do you need from me before we meet?
Depends on the stage. Before hiring: a few sentences about the business and the goal. During selection: the proposals and any email where scope was discussed. After delivery: a link to the site and access, if available.
Do you build websites through this service?
No. This service is consulting only. If, after we talk, you want development done, I'll connect you with vDisain — the company I work with — and step out of the advisor role. Any other developer recommendation during consulting is off the table: I don't take referral fees and I don't have partners.
Do you consult other web agencies or studios?
No. I only consult individuals and companies whose business is not web development. Advising other agencies would compete with vDisain, which isn't something I'll do.
Refunds?
If I can't be useful — outside my scope, or nothing left to advise on — I refund in full. No friction.
Get in touch

Tell me where you are — before, during, or after.

A short message is enough to start. I'll confirm whether I can help within 24 hours.

denis@melamed.ee Estonia · EU

Goes to denis@melamed.ee · usually replied within 24 hours.

Tweaks

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