As far as professional services, one other thing I would suggest is that when people go to a professional, they should have a very good idea of what they want from the professional and what kind of result they are looking for. They should also be able to communicate what they want to the professional that they plan to work with.

One of the things that make my job as a web designer harder and more expensive is when the client has a vision in their head, but don’t communicate that to me. Or if they *don’t* have a vision in their head and they expect me to figure it out. Some clients will tell me, “Just do something and I’ll let you know if it feels right”. That’s a guaranteed way to make your project go over budget. People have to remember that professionals aren’t mind readers and while they have the technical expertise, the ultimate vision has to come from the client.