Or is it pretty much a standard rate no matter what? We have only ever had a sitter once and it was for an hour with one of DH's co-workers and it didn't go the best. My family usually babysits but we would like to get some other babysitters lined up so we don't have to burden our family all the time.

Do you just ask what they charge and go with it? Negotiate? What if they charge less than what you were thinking, do you give them a bit more? Older=more money? Help me out here!