Clients

If you would like to request a project, you may either contact me directly via E-mail at mike@mikegerwitz.com, or post your project on RentACoder and invite me. Details on each option are listed below.

I currently focus on web design with PHP and MySQL, and am accepting projects in those categories. All work, unless otherwise decided by the client, is done on my server to increase productivity. Clients are able, this way, to see the work as it is completed. Upon payment, work up to that point is released to the buyer. At the conclusion of the project, all traces are removed from my server and exclusive copyrights are given to the client (see below for copyright information).

I only use open source software when developing my projects. This includes Gentoo GNU/Linux as my operating system, VIM as my text editor, the GIMP as my photo editor and graphics suite, and Blender 3D as my 3D graphics program.

You may also view my certifications via the links at the top of the screen.

Areas of Expertise

• Communities - I have a passion for online communities, as demonstrated by MyCustomBB. I also have a great amount of experience with creating phpBB modifications.
• Security - I can ensure that your project is entirely secure. This includes freedom from SQL injections, which allow attackers to directly modify the database, and creating login systems, data encryption, etc.
• Caching - I’m a big fan of data caching; it greatly increases the speed of your website.
• Templates - Whenever possible, I like to use templates for pages. If you would like me to develop a template system for your project, I will have no problem doing so and will be able to design it around your unique specifications.
• JavaScript / AJAX - As the years progress, pages become more dynamic. We now call them web applications. This interface is both preferred by users because page reloads are not as frequent, and it saves on bandwidth.
• Graphics - I am able to create web-based graphics (templates, buttons, etc) for your project using the GIMP. I originally used photoshop however now only use open source products in my development. You receive these files with your project, so if you use photoshop I may save it in PSD format.
• XHTML / XML - All my web pages are designed with either XHTML or XML. For XHTML, I follow either XHTML 1.1 Strict or XHTML 1.1 Transitional, whichever is decided or required for the project.

Direct Contact

By contacting me directly and working outside of RentACoder, the cost of your project will be lowered. RAC (RentACoder) takes anywhere between 10% - 15% on projects, which I take into consideration when calculating your project’s cost. I support the following billing options. If you have another, we may discuss it.

• Check via Mail
• PayPal (2.9% + $0.30 USD fee)

If you decide to pay via check, work will not continue until payment is received for that phase/task. I am not responsible for any checks lost in the mail. Should you decide to go through PayPal, I take the transaction fee into account (as shown above).

When working directly with clients, I require that the project is split into phases unless you decide to pay me the entire amount of the project initially. I require payment before any work is completed*. Therefore clients may pay before each phase, or before X tasks within that phase. This allows clients to choose however large or small a payment before the work is completed until a trust has been gained. Note that if you decide to pay via check, the check must clear before I accept the payment. If you’re in a rush, it is recommended that you pay via PayPal.

For a price quote, please contact me via E-mail at mike@mikegerwitz.com. Please provide a detailed project description, as well as contact information (preferably e-mail).
For common concerns on pre-payment, please see the bottom of this page.

* If work is done on my server (which I recommend as it increases productivity), you may pay after work is completed per my guidelines. Under this condition, you have no access to the work completed until after payment has been received.

RentACoder

Please note that RentACoder charges a 15% fee on projects (see their website for more information), which I take into account when calculating the cost of your project; therefore it is recommended that you contact me directly.

With RentACoder, payment is put in an escrow until work is completed. Certain buyers may feel more comfortable with this option if they are willing to pay a slightly higher cost for their project. If you are concerned with pre-payment, please see the bottom of this page.

Please see my author bio on RentACoder for more information on this contact option.

Previous Works

If you would like to see some of my previous projects before requesting one of your own, please contact me directly. I will request permission from a previous client and froward you the project should they agree. You may also look at MyCustomBB, which will be the greatest example of my work and ability.

Note that you may also check my RentACoder bio for client comments and past project details.

Work Copyright

Clients are given full copyright and resell rights to the project whenever allowed. The only condition preventing this is the use of code or media from other copyrighted sources, such as source code released under the GNU General Public License. If open-sourced code is used, then you will be unable to receive the full copyright to your project.

Free Bug Fixes

I offer free bug fixes for the project for a predetermined amount of time. This amount of time depends on the size of the project. For larger projects, this tends to be 60 days. Note that I only fix bugs under this contract that were the result of my work. For example, if I create a MOD for your software, I will fix bugs related to or caused by that MOD, but not bugs in the software itself.

Pre-Payment Concerns

I require payment before the phase/task is completed, unless the work is done on my server, due to the simple fact that there are always clients looking to get free work. The truth is, it is much easier to trust a programmer with a positive client rating than it is to trust a new client whom nobody has had experience with before.

My rating on RentACoder is a 10/10 (excellent), which may be viewed on my RentACoder Bio, along with client comments. That is the best evidence I have to offer for my reliable work. Feel free to view other project information such as MyCustomBB to acquire a greater view on my personality and work ethic. If you wish to speak with previous clients regarding my work, I will request permission to forward you their contact information.

Remember that if work is done on my server, you may pay after that task/phase is completed. The work will then be transferred over to you.