My advise is to check the other independent websites and see what you like, then ask those girls who did their site. There are so many 'experts' that just do not deliver the last 15%, and it is the last 15% that determines the quality.
Check with others to see what a fair price is because there are lots of rip-offs in the design industry.
Word-of-mouth or personal reference and seeing their actual work is the only way to have a web site to your own personal standards.