I’d compare at least a few developers before making your final choice. Look at their previous work, pricing, availability, and communication rather than immediately choosing the first person who responds.
A portfolio is useful, but I’d also ask about their experience with similar websites. Someone familiar with your type of project may be able to work faster.
I once chose a developer based only on price and regretted it later. Now I pay more attention to communication, experience, and quality of previous work.
Having a dependable WordPress developer can be really useful beyond the initial setup. They can also help later with updates, fixes, and small changes.
I think starting with a clear discussion about the website requirements, budget, and timeline is the best approach. Once both sides understand what’s expected, the project usually becomes much easier to manage.