Don't be fooled by the low prices alone. If DNS hosting service is not included with the domain name registration, you are not getting a bargain!. You cannot use your domain name without a DNS hosting service. If you fall for this marketing trick, your vendor is hoping to make you buy this service at an additional, and often more expensive cost than the domain name.
Make sure you have direct online access to change your DNS information
If your registrar do not provide you with an online tool that you can use to access and change your DNS information when you need to, be sure that you will have a very bad, frustrating and possibly costly experience building your website.
Know your annual domain name renewal rate
Domain names need to be renewed every year. If you don't renew your domain name, you will lose it. Your renewal rate should not be too much more than your original purchase price.
Do not unwittingly assign your domain name ownership rights to your registrar or vendor
Make sure to check your domain name purchase agreement, for any limitations placed on your ownership of the domain name by the registrar.
Make sure that your name, email, mailing address and phone number is the one listed on the domain name registration.
If you are not explicitly listed on the domain name registration as the Registrant, then you may have unintentionally assigned ownership rights of your domain name to a third party.