I use a longarmer all the time, for family quilts and recently for a show quilt. These are the questions I asked when looking for a good fit as well as a good quilter.
How long have you been longarming? On the machine you use now?
Is your machine hand guided or computer guided?
Have you quilted for competition?
Are you a member of any guilds or machine quilter’s organizations?
If I select a quilting pattern that you don’t think will look very good when complete, will you explain why and make other suggestions?
Are there brands of batting that you prefer to work with?
Will I receive an estimate?
Do you require a deposit?
If extra work is required, do you call in advance of doing that work?
Do you baste all the edges?
Do you trim the backing and the batting?
Do you also make quilts?
Do you have any problem with cats? (some here will not take customers with cats because of allergies)
What type of thread do you use? Do you supply it?
Do you have a rush service?
Are there any size limitations, large or small?
Do you require backstitched seams on the edges or is perimeter stitching okay instead?
Ask for references and to see samples of her work. Often the references will also show you samples if you ask. Best of luck to you. Mine is worth her weight in gold!!!
And lets hope that the overheard "two years" was how long she had been professionally quilting, not her wait time!