I don't do a whole lot of freelance work, but when I do I always talk to the person over the phone (or face to face if local) before starting. You can pretty mu

I don't do a whole lot of freelance work, but when I do I always talk to the person over the phone (or face to face if local) before starting. You can pretty much read a person after a minute of conversation and know, but with IM or email you just can't (unless the guy goes crazy on you like this one).