9 min read
Portfolio quality matters, but ask to see live, working projects, not just screenshots, and check whether the vendor actually built them or is showing someone else's work.
Communication style is a strong predictor of how the project will go. Pay attention during the sales process itself: do they ask about your business goal before proposing a solution, or do they jump straight to a quote?
Ask how they handle scope changes, who owns the code and infrastructure after launch, and what post-launch support actually includes. These are the details that cause disputes later if they aren't clear upfront.
Finally, weigh technical breadth against depth. A vendor that can show real, specific expertise in the stack your project needs is usually a safer bet than one claiming to do everything equally well.