Evaluate relevant experience
Review apps with comparable journeys and integrations. Ask what the developer personally contributed and how the product is maintained. Discuss backend, device testing, accessibility and store releases, not only screen construction. Relevant examples and clear explanations are more useful than an impressive list of technologies without context.
Check collaboration and continuity
Agree how requirements, decisions and progress are shared. Regular demonstrations expose misunderstandings early. Consider whether you need a single specialist or a team covering design, backend and testing. Identify how the work would continue if a person becomes unavailable, and keep project accounts accessible to your organisation.
Start with a reviewable milestone
A focused first deliverable can validate the collaboration before the full commitment. Define acceptance criteria, ownership and handover expectations. Clarify how changes and defects are handled. Select the partner who can make progress understandable and leave a product that can be operated and improved after the initial engagement.