When looking for services it's natural to look for someone local but you may be limiting your choices. There's no special advantage in having a website designer situated next door when one at the other end of the country can work just as well, since all communication can take place by e-mail.
How do I know the designer's work is good?
Do they have a page that displays other clients' sites and if not, why not? Check out the sites of other clients. Do they look like the kind of thing you want? Do the opening pages download in a reasonable time? (Bear in mind that the owner may have changed the site since the initial design) Contact the owners of the websites and ask if they were satisfied with the service that they received.
What services are on offer?
Can they arrange your domain name and host your site? Can they provide a form reply page for site visitors' queries? Can they provide Flash animation if required? Will they update your website, if and when it's required, or can they provide a content management system that allows you to do it yourself? In short, can they provide all the services that you require to have your website up and running without fuss?
What should my website cost?
Cost will obviously depend on what you want and of course there will be big differences between different designers. But if you have a clear idea of what you want then any decent designer should be able to give a price for your project. Some designers may charge by the hour but this is open-ended and won't allow you to budget easily. An all-inclusive price up front is preferable. How much do they charge for hosting? Some designers try to maximise their profits by charging over the odds. If they charge much more than about £60 per year for a standard hosting package then you should look elsewhere.
When should I have to pay for the site?
If a designer demands the full fee before work begins, you should look elsewhere. If they request part payment before starting your project or payment in stages, then this is reasonable. Many designers work on trust and will be happy to complete the work to your satisfaction before asking for payment. Check out their terms and conditions since normally you will be liable for any costs should you pull out, which is not unreasonable.
