I think a lot of the advice here is very good stuff so I'm not going to beat the dead horse. I will, however add, you may want to just pay for an hour of flight time with this instructor prior to spending any additional money. See if you like him and his style of instructing. The hour and money spent will be a worthwhile investment. It is also a loggable hour of instruction. The worst thing you can do is to commit yourself financially only to find out you don't mesh with your instructor. This is not to say he's a bad instructor, just not right for you. In the end, if he's worth his salt, he'll respect your judgment. Also, you'll be alot more relaxed knowing you can walk away if it doens't work out. If he really wants your business, he should include the pre and post flight briefing at little or no charge.One last thing, take a good look at the planes you'll be flying. They should look airworthy even to an untrained eye, not tattered and worn out. Rental equipment lives a hard life. Also, look at the schedule. Be sure the plane and instructor are going to be available during the times you'll need them.Good Luck where ever you fly. And remember, it should be fun first!