I'd suggest two things, if you haven't tried this already:

1. Try prospective developers on a small project / task first.
It's a time consuming process doing this, but actions speak louder than words; this alone will help you eventually find the right developer.

2. Have a project specification.
This details:
- what you want done
- how it will be done (functionality, technologies etc)
- when the project will start and end
- when payments will be made (milestone payments etc)
- obligations of both client and developer (e.g. developer to complete x, y and z features of the project, client to deliver content / feedback by x date)

Never, ever start a project without a timeframe. Even if you don't have a date in mind, any good developer who needs to schedule the time in will need a timeframe (or will suggest one). Developers who will just do the job without specifying what will be done and when (and I mean precisely to the date) should be approached with caution.

Finally, you can use the Warriors for Hire forum here to find programmers, designers etc.

Tim.

Feel free to check us out.We provide highly competent and dedicated staff at affordable prices, we could be of much help. See sig for additional info or live chat... thanks

jedz - whats up with your live chat support, it shows "Online" but no one answers...

anyway, to answer the topic... always ask for "proof" before you hire anyone (this applies to all industries, not only IT). Previous clients they worked for, previous projects they have completed and such.

Also, ask for code samples from their archives. Yes, they might fake it, but you can filter out some of the goofballs.

And never pay anything until they reach the target that you set, whether that target is a project milestone or a 100% completed project.

There are a lot of really skilled software developers that deliver good quality on time. Some will charge 3 euro/hour, some 120 euro/hour or more. Don't select based on price, instead simply check their track record. You just have to find the right ones

I will tell you how it looks like from my point of view. I am a freelance-programmer. I work in Poland and try to find customers on the web. Unfortunately I have only bad experiences so far.

I have noticed that people would like to have a professional software with really many features, rules and exceptions for these rules and so on for almost free. What would you say if you were asked to make 3 various cash register simulators in JavaScript with plenty of Ajax invocation (all results saved in a database) and jQuery effects with usage of Moodle learning system: all for 1400$? It is funny... it would take a couple of months to finish this project for me - and I am not a beginner programmer. After some of programs-to-do like that I can see no chance to exist as a freelance programmer in Poland - at least in case you do not have a huge company as your cash cow. Or maybe it is just I can not

So maybe your problem is the same? Maybe you are expecting a programmer will make his work for a bowl of rice? I guess not, you are looking as a serious person I just put in my oar - I am a little disappointed of freelancing in Poland. In other countries is better I guess.

In general:

• Involvement in open source or coding projects outside of work
• Passion for what he/she is doing, if they get excited when talking about a project they have done in the past
• Ability to recognize patterns, if you can present them with a simple problem and they can solve it in a sensible way

Programmers are some of the most talented freelancers available for hire. From the smallest single script project to massive software packages, you'll be able to find the perfect solution to taking your ideas and turning them into in-demand products.

I've outsourced a large majority of coding to freelancers over the years, and from personal experience, I've always found that both ScriptLance.com Custom Freelance Programming. Outsource web projects to programmers and designers. and Rent A Coder: How Software Gets Done -- Home of the worlds' largest number of completed software projects have produced some of the most experienced coders online.

When it comes to outsourcing work to programmers, especially if the project is large-scale, you want to set up an agreement where you are able to pay a portion of the overall costs as each part of the project is completed. That way, you can test out the script or software to ensure that there are no bugs, or that it doesn't require any modifications or tweaks to get it into full working condition.

One thing to keep in mind is that when hiring a programmer to develop a script or software project, if you find that your relationship isn't working out, it's difficult to switch the project over to a new coder. Many programmers will refuse to work with someone else's code, and those that will do it, may need a lot of extra time to sift through (and possibly re-structure) the code before they can continue to build your project.

You really need to spend time evaluating profiles of the programmers you are considering hiring.
Ask for working examples of similar projects they've created, read testimonials and feedback from past customers, and always insist on receiving a contact number so that you can reach them quickly if needed. Most freelance marketplaces will allow you to pay a percentage of the project upfront, with the remainder due upon completion.

You can choose to place the funds in an escrow account, assuring your programmer that you are serious about the project and have the resources to ensure that it's paid when it's finished, while at the same time, protecting yourself from possible unfinished or buggy code.

Hiring a programmer could be a complex job for you but you can hire the services of a programmer on freelance sites at competitive rates which I think can solve your purpose. Good luck to you.

If you are not getting what you want (in I.T.) it's usually because you didn't exactly told them what you want.

Often managers will tell the programmer to 'build application x', and the programmer will do the 'application x' from HIS/HER perspective. If you need them to code the program to suit you, you must tell in exhaustive detail what you exactly want.

Outsourcing programming is a totally different subject altogether. It's not like article writing or keyword research, where if the guy gets it wrong, you can discard the project and start all over. Usually, programming an application or a website has it's returns for many years and it should be treated as a proper investment. (I'm speaking about money AND TIME)

You can hire programmers for $10, ONLY as long as you can give a highly detailed specification of what you want and what you don't want.

If you need to outsource your programming project but have no IT knowledge, hire someone locally who can sit down with you and can translate your 'business requirements' to 'programmer specifications'. Also s/he will be able to give you a realistic time/budget estimates.

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