[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":90},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-shady-competitor-steals-client":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":50,"prev":88,"next":89},{"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":35,"speakerAvatar":36,"audioUrl":37,"choices":38,"citations":49},"shady-competitor-steals-client","How do you compete with a far lower bid from a questionable contractor?","Give the homeowner the means to check for themselves: verify the MHIC license, call references, ask for proof of $50,000 liability insurance, demand a…","Give the homeowner the means to check for themselves: verify the MHIC license, call references, ask for proof of $50,000 liability insurance, demand a complete written contract, and avoid large upfront payments.",[32,33],"You provided a $28,000 estimate for a kitchen renovation. The homeowner calls back: \"Derek Sloan said he'd do the same job for $16,000. He showed me pictures of his work and it looked great.\"","You know Derek's work. You've seen his code violations. You also know his 'portfolio photos' are stolen from other contractors' websites.","Derek Sloan","A competitor who underbids everyone, uses unlicensed subs, skips permits, and badmouths other contractors to steal clients. He's been reported twice but keeps operating.","/media/characters/competitor_shady.png","/media/voices/shady_competitor_steals_client.mp3",[39,44],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Don't badmouth Derek directly. Instead, educate the homeowner: verify his MHIC license, ask for references you can actually call, request proof of insurance, and get everything in a written contract. The truth will surface through due diligence","best","Correct","If Derek is legitimate, due diligence confirms it. If he's not, the homeowner discovers it themselves — which is far more convincing than you telling them. Suggest they: (1) verify his MHIC license number, (2) call actual references, (3) ask for proof of $50,000 liability insurance, (4) get a detailed written contract with all required elements, (5) never pay more than 33% upfront. If Derek can satisfy all of that, maybe he's improved. If not, the homeowner will see it without you saying a word.",{"text":45,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":48},"Tell the homeowner about Derek's stolen portfolio photos and code violations","partial","Risky","Even if true, this can come across as sour grapes from a contractor who lost the bid. If the homeowner tells Derek you accused him of stealing photos, he might threaten defamation. Better approach: empower the homeowner with the tools to verify for themselves. 'Have you done a reverse image search on those portfolio photos?' is more powerful than 'he stole them.'",[],[51,54,57,60,63,66,69,72,75,78,81,82,85],{"slug":52,"title":53,"topic":24},"first-client-call","Do you have to give homeowners your MHIC license number?",{"slug":55,"title":56,"topic":24},"advertising-mistake","What must Maryland home improvement advertising include?",{"slug":58,"title":59,"topic":24},"vehicle-display","Does your MHIC number have to be on your work truck?",{"slug":61,"title":62,"topic":24},"business-name-on-everything","Where must your MHIC license number appear?",{"slug":64,"title":65,"topic":24},"social-media-advertising","Does a contractor's Facebook page need the MHIC number?",{"slug":67,"title":68,"topic":24},"salesperson-license-check","Does a home improvement salesperson need an MHIC license?",{"slug":70,"title":71,"topic":24},"brenda-training","Are you responsible for your salesperson's violations?",{"slug":73,"title":74,"topic":24},"salesperson-representation","Are you bound by a warranty your salesperson promised?",{"slug":76,"title":77,"topic":24},"competitor-badmouthing","How do you answer a competitor's false claims about your license?",{"slug":79,"title":80,"topic":24},"online-review-response","How should a contractor respond to a false online review?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":83,"title":84,"topic":24},"multiple-bids-ethics","Should you use a competitor's bid to undercut them?",{"slug":86,"title":87,"topic":24},"green-building-upsell","When is suggesting upgrades good practice and not an upsell?",{"slug":79,"title":80,"topic":24},{"slug":83,"title":84,"topic":24},1792184484119]