[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":95},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-advertising-mistake":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":55,"prev":93,"next":94},{"name":5,"tagline":6,"title":7,"description":8,"guideTitle":9,"guideDescription":10,"ogImage":11,"disclaimer":12,"practicePitch":13,"citationsTitle":14},"Free MHIC Training","Maryland home improvement exam prep","Free MHIC Exam Prep: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Practice","Free, narrated MHIC exam prep: 147 real Maryland contractor scenarios, every choice explained, with the law cited where it applies.","MHIC Exam Study Guide","Every scenario in the free Maryland Contractor Simulator, written out as a practice question: the situation, your options, how each choice plays out, and the Maryland law where it applies.","/og/free-mhic-training.png","Free MHIC Training is free study material for the Maryland home improvement contractor exam. It is not affiliated with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and is not legal advice.","The free Maryland Contractor Simulator puts you in situations like these across a 40-day contracting career, narrated, with your license on the line. No account needed.","Law and codes cited",{"slug":16,"title":17,"subtitle":18,"description":19,"maxTurns":20,"characterCount":21,"scenarioCount":22},"maryland-contractor-simulator","Maryland Contractor Simulator","Learn the law by living it.","You just got your MHIC license application approved and you're starting your home improvement business in Maryland. Navigate real contractor scenarios — contracts, permits, clients, subcontractors, and inspectors. Every choice teaches you the law through consequence, not memorization. Master all five exam areas to pass.",40,20,147,{"slug":24,"title":25},"advertising-sales","Advertising & Salespeople",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":52},"advertising-mistake","What must Maryland home improvement advertising include?","Your MHIC license number, on every ad, every time, under COMAR 09.08.01.09. Claims must also be truthful: unsubstantiated superlatives like \"best\" or…","Your MHIC license number, on every ad, every time, under COMAR 09.08.01.09. Claims must also be truthful: unsubstantiated superlatives like \"best\" or \"lowest prices guaranteed\" can be misleading under COMAR 09.08.01.10.",[32,33],"You're designing a flyer for a spring promotion. Your marketing assistant drafted it with a big bold headline: \"BEST CONTRACTOR IN MARYLAND — LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED!\"","The flyer doesn't include your MHIC license number anywhere.",null,"/media/voices/advertising_mistake.mp3",[37,42,47],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"Reject the flyer — it needs your MHIC number on it, and the claims are misleading under advertising regulations","best","Correct","COMAR 09.08.01.09 requires your MHIC license number on ALL advertising. Additionally, claims like 'best' and 'lowest prices guaranteed' without substantiation could be considered misleading under COMAR 09.08.01.10. Your advertising must be truthful and include your license number — every ad, every time. Flyers, vehicle wraps, website, business cards, social media — everything.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"Just add the MHIC number to the bottom and send it to print — the rest is fine","partial","Partial","Adding the MHIC number is necessary, but 'Best Contractor in Maryland' and 'Lowest Prices Guaranteed' are claims you'd need to substantiate. Under COMAR 09.08.01.09 and .10, advertising must be truthful. Unsubstantiated superlative claims can trigger complaints and MHIC investigation.",{"text":48,"verdict":49,"label":50,"explanation":51},"Approve it as-is — it's just a flyer, not a contract","wrong","Wrong","Advertising regulations apply to ALL marketing materials, not just contracts. COMAR 09.08.01.09 requires your MHIC number on every piece of advertising. Missing it is a citable violation. Combined with misleading claims, this flyer could generate both consumer complaints and MHIC regulatory action.",[53,54],"COMAR 09.08.01.09","COMAR 09.08.01.10",[56,59,60,63,66,69,72,75,78,81,84,87,90],{"slug":57,"title":58,"topic":24},"first-client-call","Do you have to give homeowners your MHIC license number?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":61,"title":62,"topic":24},"vehicle-display","Does your MHIC number have to be on your work truck?",{"slug":64,"title":65,"topic":24},"business-name-on-everything","Where must your MHIC license number appear?",{"slug":67,"title":68,"topic":24},"social-media-advertising","Does a contractor's Facebook page need the MHIC number?",{"slug":70,"title":71,"topic":24},"salesperson-license-check","Does a home improvement salesperson need an MHIC license?",{"slug":73,"title":74,"topic":24},"brenda-training","Are you responsible for your salesperson's violations?",{"slug":76,"title":77,"topic":24},"salesperson-representation","Are you bound by a warranty your salesperson promised?",{"slug":79,"title":80,"topic":24},"competitor-badmouthing","How do you answer a competitor's false claims about your license?",{"slug":82,"title":83,"topic":24},"online-review-response","How should a contractor respond to a false online review?",{"slug":85,"title":86,"topic":24},"shady-competitor-steals-client","How do you compete with a far lower bid from a questionable contractor?",{"slug":88,"title":89,"topic":24},"multiple-bids-ethics","Should you use a competitor's bid to undercut them?",{"slug":91,"title":92,"topic":24},"green-building-upsell","When is suggesting upgrades good practice and not an upsell?",{"slug":57,"title":58,"topic":24},{"slug":61,"title":62,"topic":24},1792184484118]