What if a signed contract is missing the completion date?

Work it through

You're the contractor. Pick what you'd do, then see how each choice plays out.

1. AAdd the estimated completion date before accepting the deposit. It's a required contract element under Maryland law — the contract isn't complete without it
   Correct

   Maryland Business Regulation §8-501 requires contracts to include an estimated start and completion date. A contract missing required elements is deficient, which can be cited as a violation. Even if the homeowner doesn't care, the MHIC does. Take 30 seconds to add the date. 'When you can' is not an estimated completion date.

2. BTake the check — you'll add the date later or figure it out as the project develops
   Wrong

   Operating on an incomplete contract is a violation. The completion date isn't just bureaucratic — it sets expectations and creates accountability. Without it, you have no deadline and the homeowner has no recourse for unreasonable delays. Adding it 'later' means the homeowner already signed without seeing it, which undermines the contract's validity.