I am from a hardware business background. IMHO, workmanship should come above everything else. If there’s renovation going on in your neighborhood, just pop in one day and look at the workmanship. There are different methods to lay tiles. Some contractors use spacers, others don’t. Some have Obsessive Compulsive Disorders. Others just want to get the job done, get paid and move on.

You have to ask for his price for laying 2 x 2 tiles compared to 1 x 2 tiles. 1 x 1 tiles actually make your space look smaller.

I found my contractor who was in his 70s. My job last year was his 3rd last before retiring. I was contemplating 2 x 4 tiles before he vetoed my selection saying 2 x 2 is the max size he could work with.

Quality of tiles matter too. Decide on the brand you want. MML, Kimgress and Niro Granite are among the established and better quality ones. Have a look at Feruni Ceramiche too. Then decide whether you want to go ceramic or homogeneous.