[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":85},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-diy-comes-back":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":45,"prev":83,"next":84},{"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":35,"speakerAvatar":36,"audioUrl":37,"choices":38,"citations":44},"diy-comes-back","How should you structure a payment plan for a returning client?","Use a milestone-based payment schedule, and document existing conditions with photos, what is being demolished and why, the new scope, and the permit and…","Use a milestone-based payment schedule, and document existing conditions with photos, what is being demolished and why, the new scope, and the permit and inspection schedule in the contract.",[32,33],"Three weeks later, Carl calls back. He got two other estimates: $39,000 and $45,000. He also got one for $12,000 from a guy who said he'd 'make it work.'","\"I guess you were right. The cheap guy didn't even have a license when I checked. Can we talk about a payment plan?\"","Carl Brennan","A retired engineer who started a renovation himself, made it worse, and is now calling you to fix it. Convinced he knows more than you but clearly doesn't. His 'DIY' work is a code nightmare.","/media/characters/diy_disaster.png","/media/voices/diy_comes_back.mp3",[39],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Welcome him back. Set up a reasonable payment plan tied to project milestones. Include a written contract with clear scope that documents which of his original work is being replaced and why","best","Perfect outcome","Carl educated himself, verified your pricing was fair, caught an unlicensed contractor, and came back to you. A milestone-based payment plan is reasonable for a $42K project. The contract should clearly document: (1) existing conditions (photos), (2) what's being demolished and why (code citations), (3) new work scope, (4) permit and inspection schedule. Carl is now your best referral — he'll tell everyone 'get three estimates and check licenses.'",[],[46,49,52,55,58,61,64,65,68,71,74,77,80],{"slug":47,"title":48,"topic":24},"record-keeping","What records should a Maryland contractor keep?",{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},"concurrent-projects-limit","How many projects can you take on before quality suffers?",{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},"flipper-fast-and-cheap","How do you estimate honestly for a flipper on a tight budget?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},"flipper-negotiation","Should you match a lowball bid to win a job?",{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},"flipper-corner-cutting","Who is liable when a client tells your crew to cut corners?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},"diy-sticker-shock","How do you handle a client's sticker shock?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},"attorney-project-management","Are weekly progress reports worth the effort?",{"slug":69,"title":70,"topic":24},"veteran-accessibility","What grants help disabled veterans pay for home modifications?",{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},"contractor-mental-health","How does contractor burnout lead to MHIC complaints?",{"slug":75,"title":76,"topic":24},"final-exam-prep","What is the most important thing to know for the MHIC exam?",{"slug":78,"title":79,"topic":24},"the-right-way-summary","What one habit keeps contractors out of trouble with the MHIC?",{"slug":81,"title":82,"topic":24},"graduation-scenario","What advice would you give a newly licensed Maryland contractor?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},1792184485541]