[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":84},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-insurance-adjuster-dispute":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":50,"prev":82,"next":83},{"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},"payments-change-orders","Deposits, Payments & Change Orders",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":35,"speakerAvatar":36,"audioUrl":37,"choices":38,"citations":49},"insurance-adjuster-dispute","What if the insurance payout is lower than your estimate?","Help the homeowner challenge the payout rather than cutting the repair to fit it: a detailed scope comparison supports a re-inspection, a public adjuster…","Help the homeowner challenge the payout rather than cutting the repair to fit it: a detailed scope comparison supports a re-inspection, a public adjuster, or negotiation. Any reduced scope must be spelled out in the contract.",[32,33],"Denise Watkins, the insurance adjuster, approved a storm damage claim for $8,200. Your estimate for the same work is $13,500. She's firm on her number.","The homeowner is caught in the middle. \"Can you just do it for what insurance is paying?\"","Denise Watkins","An insurance adjuster who handles storm damage claims. Professional but works for the insurance company, not the homeowner. Her estimates are always lower than yours.","/media/characters/insurance_adjuster.png","/media/voices/insurance_adjuster_dispute.mp3",[39,44],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Provide a detailed scope comparison showing why your estimate is higher. The homeowner can request a re-inspection or hire a public adjuster. Don't compromise your scope to match an undervalued claim","best","Correct","Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not the homeowner. Their estimates often exclude items, use lower labor rates, or underestimate material costs. Your detailed scope comparison gives the homeowner ammunition to challenge the adjustment. Options: request re-inspection, hire a public adjuster, or negotiate directly. Never reduce your scope to match an undervalued claim — cutting corners to fit insurance money creates liability.",{"text":45,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":48},"Do the job for $8,200 — match the insurance estimate to win the work","partial","Risky","If $8,200 doesn't cover proper repairs, you'll either lose money or cut scope. Cutting scope means the damage isn't fully repaired, which becomes your warranty problem. If you agree to a reduced scope in writing, make sure the contract clearly states what IS and ISN'T included. The homeowner needs to understand they're accepting a partial repair if the insurance doesn't cover the full restoration.",[],[51,54,57,60,63,66,69,72,75,78,79],{"slug":52,"title":53,"topic":24},"deposit-too-large","How large a deposit can a Maryland contractor take?",{"slug":55,"title":56,"topic":24},"payment-schedule-dispute","Can you accept full payment up front for a home improvement job?",{"slug":58,"title":59,"topic":24},"deposit-refund-demand","Must you refund a deposit if the homeowner cancels before work starts?",{"slug":61,"title":62,"topic":24},"chase-sarah-payment","How do you collect an overdue progress payment?",{"slug":64,"title":65,"topic":24},"final-payment-holdback","Can a homeowner hold back part of the final payment?",{"slug":67,"title":68,"topic":24},"payment-by-credit-card","Who pays the fee when a homeowner pays by credit card?",{"slug":70,"title":71,"topic":24},"change-order-dispute","Does added work need a written change order?",{"slug":73,"title":74,"topic":24},"change-order-blowup","Can you collect for extra work that was never put in writing?",{"slug":76,"title":77,"topic":24},"rain-delay-dispute","How do you handle a weather delay past the contract completion date?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":80,"title":81,"topic":24},"newlyweds-budget-panic","How do you handle a client whose vision is bigger than the budget?",{"slug":76,"title":77,"topic":24},{"slug":80,"title":81,"topic":24},1792184484118]