Web developers build the sites and web applications your customers use — front-end interfaces, the server-side code behind them, and the integrations that connect the two.
Most web work falls into one of three shapes: building something new, changing something that already exists, or keeping something running. Each needs a different brief. A rebuild needs designs and content decisions; a change needs access to the current site and a clear list of what should stay the same; maintenance needs an agreed response time.
If your project involves a content management system, an e-commerce platform or an existing framework, say so up front — it narrows the shortlist immediately and avoids quotes that assume a greenfield build.
A short checklist that makes the quotes you receive comparable and the work easier to run.
What is the difference between a web developer and a web designer? A designer decides how the site looks and how people move through it; a developer builds it so it works. Some freelancers do both, and their profiles say so — check the skills listed rather than assuming from the job title.
Can a freelancer take over a site someone else built? Often, yes. Be ready to supply access to the code, hosting and any accounts involved, and expect a short paid discovery period so they can assess what they are inheriting before committing to an estimate.
How long does a website take? It depends far more on decisions than on code. Projects where content, design and scope are settled before work begins routinely finish in a fraction of the time of ones where they are not.
Post the project and let matching freelancers come to you, or approach someone from the list above directly.