[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":88},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-concurrent-projects-limit":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":48,"prev":86,"next":87},{"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},"running-your-business","Running a Compliant Business",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":47},"concurrent-projects-limit","How many projects can you take on before quality suffers?","Only as many as you can run well. Overcommitting is a leading cause of MHIC complaints, through missed deadlines, slipping quality, poor communication, and…","Only as many as you can run well. Overcommitting is a leading cause of MHIC complaints, through missed deadlines, slipping quality, poor communication, and cut corners, so give new clients an honest start date.",[32,33],"Business is booming. You currently have 7 active projects with signed contracts. An 8th client is ready to sign — a $45,000 kitchen renovation.","You're already struggling to give each project adequate attention. Your crew is stretched thin.",null,"/media/voices/concurrent_projects_limit.mp3",[37,42],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"Be honest with the 8th client about your current workload. Offer to start in 6-8 weeks when current projects wind down. Taking on more than you can handle leads to delays, mistakes, and complaints across ALL projects","best","Correct","Overcommitting is the #1 operational cause of MHIC complaints. Contractors who take on too much work end up: missing deadlines (contract violations), reducing quality (workmanship complaints), neglecting communication (abandonment accusations), and cutting corners to catch up (code violations). Seven active projects is already a heavy load for a small operation. An honest timeline builds trust. A $45K client who waits 6 weeks is better than 8 clients who all get 70% of your attention.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"Take the job — you'll figure out the scheduling. Turning down $45K is bad business","wrong","The trap","$45K in revenue sounds great until it causes $20K in delays, complaints, and rework across your other 7 projects. Overcommitting is how contractors spiral: one delay causes schedule shifts on three other projects, clients complain, you rush to catch up, mistakes happen, more complaints follow. The MHIC doesn't care how busy you are — each complaint is evaluated independently. Eight complaints from eight stretched-thin projects can end a career.",[],[49,52,53,56,59,62,65,68,71,74,77,80,83],{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},"record-keeping","What records should a Maryland contractor keep?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":54,"title":55,"topic":24},"flipper-fast-and-cheap","How do you estimate honestly for a flipper on a tight budget?",{"slug":57,"title":58,"topic":24},"flipper-negotiation","Should you match a lowball bid to win a job?",{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},"flipper-corner-cutting","Who is liable when a client tells your crew to cut corners?",{"slug":63,"title":64,"topic":24},"diy-sticker-shock","How do you handle a client's sticker shock?",{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},"diy-comes-back","How should you structure a payment plan for a returning client?",{"slug":69,"title":70,"topic":24},"attorney-project-management","Are weekly progress reports worth the effort?",{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},"veteran-accessibility","What grants help disabled veterans pay for home modifications?",{"slug":75,"title":76,"topic":24},"contractor-mental-health","How does contractor burnout lead to MHIC complaints?",{"slug":78,"title":79,"topic":24},"final-exam-prep","What is the most important thing to know for the MHIC exam?",{"slug":81,"title":82,"topic":24},"the-right-way-summary","What one habit keeps contractors out of trouble with the MHIC?",{"slug":84,"title":85,"topic":24},"graduation-scenario","What advice would you give a newly licensed Maryland contractor?",{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},{"slug":54,"title":55,"topic":24},1792184485511]