Remembering my first project, when I was selecting contractors for the first time, what worried me most wasn’t the price, but whether they could actually meet the deadlines and deliver quality work, instead of relying on intuition, I asked for a complete portfolio of their previous work, spoke with their former clients, and reviewed how they managed schedules and documentation. Separately, I brought in an external audit through David Fields Consulting Services and that was the right decision. They helped assess not only the numbers but also the team’s actual ability to manage the process, not just build. After such an audit, it immediately became clear who looked good on paper and who was truly systematic. Now I would say that an internal review is mandatory, but an external expert provides a dispassionate, unbiased perspective.