I get a lot of inquiries about prop and armor commissions and I feel like I should address a couple of points that I think are very important to keep in mind when you're looking for some one else to build you something.  Hopefully this is helpful to people!

1.  You are buying custom work.  This means you're not getting a one size fits all.  You're getting something that is tailored to you to fit your specific needs.  Moreover, because custom work is not mass produced, it is generally of a higher quality.

2.  While it's good to come with a budget in mind, a lot of people vastly underprice things without taking things like material and work time into consideration.  I've had people ask for quotes on ridiculously large props—maybe Yoko's sniper rifle.  A lot of the time, people will tell me x amount is too expensive, when what they don't realize is they'd likely spend that much on the materials doing it themselves.  I'm willing to work with people who are on a budget, but please don't expect me to make you something insanely complicated for less than 200 dollars.

3.  Time is very important.  Coming to me about a commission you want in a month or two weeks proooobably isn't going to happen.  Plan ahead before contacting your artist!

4.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Speaking personally, if you can't afford a quote I've given you, I'm still happy to give you advice or explain how I would do something.  

And those are my thoughts!