Elance is an excellent place to outsource expert developers and graphic designers to create your iPhone app. But the work doesn't stop once you hire the perfect app developer, and there are plenty of things you can do to ensure your project runs smoothly from start to finish.

One of the first things you'll be asked to do in the Elance Workroom is approve the terms and milestones for the project. Milestones are used to define the timeline and when payments will be released. They can be changed at any time during the project by you or the developer with approval from the other party. Most developers will already have a plan devised for the milestones, so the best thing to do in the beginning is sit back and wait for them to submit it. If your developer doesn't submit one though or you have a problem with their milestones, you can create your own.

The easiest way to break milestones down is by splitting up the major functions of the app. Let's say your app records audio and manipulates the recording to sound like the opposite sex when it's played back. The first milestone might be €Audio Recording Function Completed€, the second milestone could be €Recording Manipulation Function Completed,€ and then the last one would be, €Completed project approved by App Store€. Another option is to break the milestones down into the different screens in your app, and then mark them completed once the screens and all the functions associated with them are completed. This also happens to be a great option for Graphic Design job milestones.

Some contractors will request the first milestone to be an initial or upfront payment to kick off the job, this way they know you are serious about the job and have the money to back it up. These payments are usually 30-50% of the total cost of the project, which is a lot to dish out when you haven't received anything in return. This is one of the main reasons it's so important to communicate extensively with developers before you hire them and make sure you are both on the same page about the requirements for the app. In my experience I have noticed when you are working with a company of developers they are more likely to request this initial payment, whereas individual developers don't as often. But it really just depends on the developer.

If you want your contractors to follow the milestone dates you've both agreed on for a project, it's important for you to respect them as well. If a contractor updates you with a completed milestone and you are satisfied with the work, make sure you promptly release any payment for the milestone and fund the next one immediately so they can get started on it right away. Your contractors will appreciate receiving their payment on time and it will help prevent any delays in the project, making everyone a happy camper.

Effective communication with your contractor is one of the most important factors in your success and often times also happens to be the most difficult to achieve. Adjusting to time changes, overcoming language barriers, and getting used to different customs are all part of the deal you take to have the opportunity to work with talented contractors from around the world. Getting past language barriers is the biggest challenge for most people. It's so easy to get frustrated and angry when someone doesn't understand you, after all you're speaking perfect English! But that's exactly where the problem is. For some contractors, English might not be their first or primary language. Read over the instructions and messages you write contractors before you send them and make sure they are clear and there can only be one meaning interpreted from them.

Don't be afraid to stick to elementary school English either. If it seems like your developer is having a hard time understanding you, pull up Thesaurus.com and find synonyms for the words they seem to be having trouble with. Use basic words and even images if you have the opportunity to €show€ what you are trying to communicate. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words more than you ever could.The most important thing to remember when you're communicating with your contractor is to be patient, respectful, and professional at all times.

Nobody hopes for a dispute with their developers, just like nobody hopes for a hurricane in Florida. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't plan for either one. Try and use the Elance Message Board for all correspondences. If you decide to discuss the project over an instant messenger, be sure to save the conversation history and load the file to your Workroom so you have a record on Elance. Many developers love having Skype conferences and meetings to discuss project details, which is fine. But if you discuss any changes to the project make sure they are documented afterwards and saved to the Workroom. If all your conversations are documented it will be much easier to track and find them later if they are needed to resolve a dispute.