How I Work

This page is here so you know what you're signing up for before you contact me.

The way I work is different, and it's not for everyone. If you'd rather hire someone more conventional, that's fine. If you do work with me, here's what you should be aware of.

The basics
If you're ok with text-only communication, flexible timelines, and occasionally going quiet for a few days, we will work well together. If you need someone on the phone, available during business hours, or delivering to a fixed date no matter what, I'm probably not the right fit.

The good
Me - Obee. I'm based in Boorloo/Perth, I'm autistic and disabled, and this is a one-person business. Not an agency with staff behind a logo, just one person who genuinely gives a shit about the sites I build.

I notice details other people skip. I'm good at finding creative solutions when something isn't working. I think carefully before I commit to something, and when I have the headspace I can get deeply absorbed in a project.

I'm also used to explaining technical things in plain language - I've been tech support for my grandparents my entire life. If you don't know what DNS is, or why your site needs SSL, I'll explain it in a way that makes sense.

The not so good
I have autism, and severe anxiety. I'm non-verbal for decent chunks of time, and there are long stretches where I'm house-bound (and sometimes bed-bound). This means I can't do phone calls, video calls (Zoom, Skype, Teams, etc.), or in-person meetings. Verbal communication, especially live and unplanned, doesn't work for me.

Everything goes through email or text - enquiries, quotes, questions, feedback, ongoing support. A written record helps me stay organised and means I'm less likely to miss something you've told me.

You might get an email from me at 2am. You might not hear back for several days - I might be recovering from symptoms, deep in focus on your site, or temporarily distracted by actual cassowaries (or drawing them, or reading about them, or thinking about how great they are).

Timelines, deadlines, and keeping in touch
I don't know in advance whether tomorrow will be a good day or a bad one. Some days I can work non-stop for 16 hours straight. Some days I can't work at all. Sometimes I can't respond to an email at all. Because of that, I don't promise rigid deadlines.

It's fine to prod me, check in, or send a reminder - but timeframes and deadlines are best estimates, and should be treated as rough guides, not guarantees.

I don't work a standard 9-5, and I don't expect you to either. You can reply when it suits you. Communication might take a little longer than you're used to. But ultimately I care about your site, and I'll get it right.

If you need to push something back, ignore an email from me for a week, or miss an invoice payment because life got in your way, I won't make a fuss about it. I'll extend you the same flexibility I ask for myself. I don't do late fees, and I don't judge.

Who I will (and won't) work with
If you care about animals, the planet, putting people ahead of profit, and being inclusive (to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, or disability), I'd love to work with you.

I won't build sites that promote bigotry or discrimination, animal exploitation, or involve actively harming the environment. We don't have to agree on everything, but we do have to respect each other.

This also means that when I do take on a project, I can put real care into it, and stick with it for the long term, because I'm not compromising on what I believe in.

If you've read all this and feel like I'm the sort of person you'd like to work with - reach out! If you've got questions, that's totally ok too. I can be contacted at obee@cassowaryhosting.com or through the contact form.