Hiring a freelancer is a bit of a leap of faith, especially the first time. A few pointed questions up front save both sides a lot of back-and-forth later.
Ask to see a project similar in scope to yours, not just a highlight reel — a portfolio only shows the best day of someone's work. Ask how they handle revisions, and get it in writing before the project starts. Ask what happens if the timeline slips on their end, not just yours.
Most of all, ask how they communicate. A freelancer who explains their thinking clearly in the first email is usually the one who keeps you in the loop for the whole project.