When you are starting to compare hosts for your website, you may be tempted to start looking only at the bottom line - price. But, don't fall for a cheap price alone. There is much more to choosing a hosting company than how much you will have to pay each month. Here are a few key features that you need to be aware of before you sign any contract with a hosting company:

1. Be careful of any company that wants you to sign a contract. You should be able to get in and out of your hosting service at any time, for any reason. Just because they offer you a "deal" by paying a year in advance does not mean that it is wise to do so.

2. Many low-price hosting services are actually fly-by-night one-man bands who are running servers out of their homes. They will take your fee, hold your files hostage, and even hijack your domain names. Make sure the company you deals with is truly reputable and has a long history of good service.

3. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to compare hosts is to call them up and see how many buttons you have to press, and how long you have to wait in order to talk to a human. When you get a human, ask them where they are located. If they refuse to answer, they are probably operating from a call center in another company and that should be an immediate red flag for you.

When you compare hosts, of course your knee-jerk reaction will be to sign up with the company that offers the best price, but it could be a big mistake doing so. Take the time to shop around, establish that the companies you are dealing with are legitimate, and then make your decision.