Rescue & Inherited Web Projects

I help agencies and businesses take over websites when the original developer is unavailable, projects have been inherited mid-way, or sites need urgent attention.

These situations are common, and they don’t automatically mean starting again.

Whether you need a quick assessment, emergency fixes, or a more thorough cleanup, I can help you understand what you’re dealing with and get things back into a stable place.

If This Sounds Familiar

If any of this sounds familiar, this is the kind of work I regularly take on:

  • You need an honest opinion on whether a site can be fixed or should be rebuilt
  • A previous developer has disappeared or moved on, and you’ve been left to pick things up
  • You’ve inherited a project mid-way and need to understand what you’re working with
  • The site technically “works”, but feels fragile, unreliable, slow, dated, or unpolished
  • You want a realistic assessment before committing more budget
  • You need someone who can start quickly and communicate clearly

Why inherited projects are different

This type of work is less about writing new code and more about judgement. Inherited projects usually come with gaps in context, rushed decisions, and accumulated technical debt.

My role is to assess the situation honestly, explain the trade-offs clearly, and help you decide the most sensible path forward. I won’t waste your time or your client’s budget trying to rescue something that shouldn’t be rescued.

I’ve dealt with these situations across a wide range of setups – from popular page builders to custom WordPress themes, older sites that have been modified by multiple developers over the years, sites with plugin sprawl, and sites that were created quickly just to get something live and never properly tidied up afterward.

The tools and platforms differ, but the work is the same. Understand what’s there, stabilise it, and make sensible decisions about what to keep, fix, or replace.

How I approach these types of projects

I try to make this work as predictable and low-stress as possible. Here’s what generally happens:

Quick assessment

I’ll review the site and give you a clear, honest view of what you’re dealing with. In most cases I can do this within a day, and faster if something is urgent.

Clear options

I’ll explain the situation and outline the realistic options available to you.

Honest recommendation

I’ll be honest about whether fixing, rebuilding, or stopping makes the most sense, and what each option realistically involves.

Get it done

If you decide to proceed, I’ll get started promptly and keep you updated throughout.

Projects like these don’t have to be a source of stress.

I won’t make you feel bad about the state of things, and I won’t waste your time with solutions that aren’t worth it.

If you’re unsure what to do next, I’m happy to take a look.