Terms of Service

What these terms cover

These terms apply to custom website design and build projects, and to the optional hosting & maintenance plan, booked through Sea Chest Designs (referred to here as “we” or “us”).

Getting started & deposit

A project begins once you approve the scope and pay a 50% deposit. The deposit reserves your project slot and covers early design and setup work.

Deposit refunds

If you decide to cancel before any design or development work has started, your deposit is fully refundable. Once work is underway, the deposit is non-refundable, since it covers time already spent on your project.

Remaining balance

The remaining 50% is due when your site is ready to launch, before it goes live.

Payment plans

Financing or a split payment schedule is sometimes available. If we agree to one, we’ll put the amounts and dates in writing before the project starts, and that schedule replaces the 50/50 split above.

Late or missed payments

A site doesn’t go live until the remaining balance is paid. If a monthly hosting & maintenance payment is missed, we’ll let you know, and hosting may be paused until it’s brought current. Your ownership of the site isn’t affected.

Revisions

Two rounds of revisions are included in the base build price. Additional rounds, or changes requested after launch, are billed separately at a rate we’ll agree on with you beforehand.

What we need from you

Delivery in about two weeks assumes you can provide content, brand assets, and feedback reasonably promptly, along with a single point of contact and access to your domain and hosting when needed. Delays on your end may extend the timeline; we’ll let you know if that happens.

The content you provide

Logos, photos, text, and anything else you send us stay yours. By sending them, you’re confirming you own them or have permission to use them, and that we can use them to build and run your site. If someone else claims rights to something you gave us, that’s on you to resolve, and you’ll cover any costs we run into because of it.

Paused projects

If we don’t hear from you for 30 days mid-project, we may pause the work and take on other projects. You can pick it back up whenever you’re ready, though the timeline restarts and a project that has sat for a long time may need a fresh quote. The deposit stays non-refundable once work has started.

Ownership

Once a project is fully paid for, you own the final website and its code. If you ever want to move hosting elsewhere, we’ll help you get your files. No hostage situations.

Hosting & maintenance plan

The hosting & maintenance plan is billed monthly and you can cancel anytime. Canceling doesn’t affect ownership of your site, but you’re responsible for arranging new hosting once you cancel.

What’s not included

Content writing, professional photography, and paid advertising aren’t included in the base build unless specifically agreed to in writing beforehand.

Third-party costs

Things bought from someone else for your site (your domain registration, stock photos, premium fonts, or any paid service you ask for) are billed to you at cost or paid by you directly, unless we agree otherwise in writing. Ongoing hosting is covered by the hosting & maintenance plan if you’re on it.

Showing your project

Unless you ask us not to, we may show your finished site, screenshots of it, your business name, and any feedback you give us in our portfolio, on this site, and in marketing. Tell us at any time and we’ll take it down.

How we use AI

We use AI tools internally to speed up parts of the design and build process, which is part of how we keep prices lower than a typical agency. It doesn’t replace real design and development work. AI-generated images or video go on your site only with your specific approval.

Limitation of liability

We do our best work on every project, but we can’t guarantee specific business outcomes, like sales, leads, or search rankings, since those depend on more than a website’s design. Our liability for any claim related to a project is limited to the amount you paid us for that project.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and any dispute will be handled in the state or federal courts serving Whatcom County, Washington.

Changes to these terms

If these terms change, we’ll update the effective date at the top of this page.