GUIDE · HIRING
Hiring a developer to fix or finish an AI-built app
Hire someone who reads your existing code before quoting, works from read-only access, gives a fixed written scope, and delivers fixes as pull requests you own. Prepare the exact error, steps to reproduce and repo access first. Be wary of anyone who proposes a full rewrite before looking at the code.
What to prepare
- Repo access (GitHub export from Lovable, Bolt or Replit), read-only to start.
- The exact error text from the browser console, server logs or deploy log.
- Steps to reproduce, and what "fixed" means to you.
- The names of your environment variables, never the values.
Questions to ask
- Will you diagnose before quoting, and is the quote a fixed price?
- What access do you need? (Read-only repo should be enough to start.)
- How do fixes arrive? (Pull requests you merge keep you in control.)
- Who reviews the work before handoff?
- What happens if the fix does not hold?
- Will I be able to keep using my AI builder afterwards?
Red flags
- A rewrite quote before anyone has read the code.
- Asking for owner passwords or full secret keys up front.
- Hourly billing with no written scope or cap.
- No explanation of the root cause, only "it works now".
Freelancer, agency or fixed-price service?
| Option | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly freelancer | Open-ended work with a clear owner | Uncapped hours, vetting is on you |
| Agency | Large builds and teams | Minimum budgets, rewrite-first proposals |
| Fixed-price fix service | Specific problems: security, login, payments, deploy | Scope limits; check what is included |
How VibePitstop works
A $149 diagnosis (credited to any paid job), then a fixed written scope before you pay. Read-only access, a human review on every fix, pull requests you merge, and a written report. Fixed, or we keep working free until it is (within the written scope).
Get a $149 diagnosis See pricing Fix my auth & database security
- Fixed, or we keep working free until it is (within the written scope).
- A human reviews every fix before it ships.
- read-only access; fixes arrive as pull requests you merge
- Your $149 diagnosis is credited in full toward any paid job.
FAQ
How much does it cost to hire someone to fix an AI-built app?
Fixed-price offers for a single fix commonly start in the hundreds of dollars; larger production passes run into the thousands. At VibePitstop a single fix is $400–800 and a diagnosis is $149.
Should I give a developer my passwords?
No. Grant read-only repo access and, if needed, a restricted key or read-only database role. Revoke access at handoff.
Can a developer fix it without rewriting?
Usually. Most problems sit in one layer: database rules, auth settings, environment variables or webhooks.
How fast can work start?
Turnaround is confirmed in your quote.