[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":76},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-model-home-referral-scam":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":49,"prev":75,"next":34},{"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},"consumer-protection","Cancellation Rights & Consumer Protection",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":47},"model-home-referral-scam","How does COMAR regulate model home and referral offers?","COMAR 09.08.01.10 regulates both. Presenting a job as a model or demonstration home to imply a discount you don't give is deceptive, and referral offers…","COMAR 09.08.01.10 regulates both. Presenting a job as a model or demonstration home to imply a discount you don't give is deceptive, and referral offers must meet specific disclosure requirements.",[32,33],"A marketing consultant approaches you with a deal: \"Pick a homeowner in a nice neighborhood. Do their renovation at cost. Then put a sign in their yard and tell prospects 'This is our model home — you get a discount for referrals.' People eat it up.\"","He guarantees you'll triple your leads.",null,"/media/voices/model_home_referral_scam.mp3",[37,42],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"Decline — model home offers and referral fee arrangements have specific MHIC regulations that this scheme likely violates","best","Correct","COMAR 09.08.01.10 specifically regulates model home offers and referral offers. Using a completed job as a 'model home' to lure neighbors with implied discounts, while charging them full price, is a deceptive practice. Referral fee arrangements where homeowners are promised compensation for leads must comply with specific disclosure requirements. This consultant's scheme is a classic complaint generator.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"Great idea — word-of-mouth marketing powered by visible work in nice neighborhoods","wrong","Dangerous","While there's nothing wrong with yard signs or satisfied customer referrals, the 'model home' pitch as described is a regulated practice under COMAR 09.08.01.10. Representing a home as a 'model' or 'demonstration' project to imply special pricing, when the actual price isn't discounted, is deceptive. This is one of the specific practices the MHIC was created to regulate.",[48],"COMAR 09.08.01.10",[50,53,56,59,62,65,68,71,74],{"slug":51,"title":52,"topic":24},"brenda-doortodoor","What must a door-to-door home improvement contract include?",{"slug":54,"title":55,"topic":24},"homeowner-cancellation-rights","Does every homeowner have a 3-day right to cancel?",{"slug":57,"title":58,"topic":24},"right-of-rescission-confusion","Does a home show sale carry a 3-day right to cancel?",{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},"elderly-pressure-sale","What should you do about a pressured sale to an elderly homeowner?",{"slug":63,"title":64,"topic":24},"elder-abuse-investigation","What happens when a contractor is accused of exploiting an elderly client?",{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},"price-gouging-after-storm","Can contractors raise prices after a storm in Maryland?",{"slug":69,"title":70,"topic":24},"dual-contract-scam","Is writing a second contract for the insurance company fraud?",{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},"insurance-claim-roofing","Can you sign an invoice for more than the work you did?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},1792184484119]