When choosing a template, there are several factors we need to take into account. However, many people initially think about the wrong things, such as the colors and images present on the template. I consider these to be the wrong thing to focus on because:
They are the simplest part of the template to change
We should always modify the original colors and images at least a little bit unless we want our visitors to come to our site and think "Hey I know this template!," which will result in an immediate loss of respect for us and our business.
Instead we should not consider templates as finished product that we will install and leave as it is, but as a base upon which we will build and customize something unique to our site. So when evaluating a template we should be asking the following questions:
Is it XHTML and CSS compliant?
Does the overall shape and structure of the template match what I am looking for? For example, does it have the right number and placement of columns...