I started out with Weebly.com (free website, nice tools and templates if you don't know what to do.
After a year, I decided I wanted something more robust and bought WebPlus (http://www.serif.com) to start creating my own. Couldn't easily import the Weebly-created site into WebPlus (Weebly's stuff seems to be proprietary), so had to create it entirely in WebPlus. Not entirely painless, but WebPlus has a LOT of templates to use and their forums are just as helpful and friendly as SketchUcation's are.
I also went looking for a new host and decided on HostMonster.com. They've been very helpful, cost is one of the least around, and have had NO issues with them at all. You can see my final product at http://www.hendryarch.com.
Hope this helps, Pete - and good luck!