Ordering two nucs for next spring already — is October too early, and what should I be asking the seller?

Galway, second year, two colonies left after the one I lost this month. I want to be back to four next season, and a friend has told me that anyone who waits until March to order nucs in Ireland gets nothing, or gets what's left over. What I think I should ask: how many frames, and of what — brood, stores, drawn comb. Frame size, so it fits my boxes. Queen's origin, age and whether she's mated and laying, and whether she's marked. Whether the colony has been inspected and by whom, and what the disease history of the apiary is. Whether the bees are local stock or imported. What happens if the queen fails in the first month. Collection date and whether it's a firm date or "when they're ready". What I don't know: whether it's reasonable to ask about mite counts and treatment history, whether a spring nuc on new foundation is better or worse than one on older comb, and whether I should prefer a local beekeeper's nuc over a bigger supplier's. And is there a point in the spring after which a nuc won't build up enough to winter here?