1. Their portfolio has nothing that makes you think, “Yeah, they can handle my website!”
Many people look for experience and that can be good too, but, if your designer has years of experience, and their portfolio is lackluster, then that’s what you’ll likely get.  Lackluster.  Look for someone who has a portfolio, but one that makes you go “Wow!” and don’t worry about size.

2. Going for the cheapest price.
How often do we hear that it’s not necessarily the best option getting the cheapest, but so many people still do.  If you’re doing that, you’re only thinking with your checkbook, and not your head.  Not that paying high prices guarantees quality either, but neither does a low price guarantee a good deal.  As Benjamin Franklin used to say, "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

3. You rush them or they rush you.
I’m often asked, “How long will this take?”   The truth is, on the average site, 2-3 weeks is sufficient, but that time frame is dependent on you getting all your copy and photos together in a timely fashion. Anyone can quote you a week, or 2 weeks,