[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":90},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-flipper-fast-and-cheap":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":50,"prev":88,"next":89},{"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":49},"flipper-fast-and-cheap","How do you estimate honestly for a flipper on a tight budget?","Give the real number for doing the work to code with proper permits, even if it is far above the client's budget.","Give the real number for doing the work to code with proper permits, even if it is far above the client's budget. A price that only works by skipping permits leaves you holding the liability.",[32,33],"Jordan Price calls. He just bought a foreclosure for $85,000 and wants to flip it for $180,000. He needs a full renovation — kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, paint — done in 3 weeks.","\"I've got my numbers dialed. Budget is $22,000 for everything. I need it done yesterday.\"","Jordan Price","A real estate investor who flips houses. Wants everything done fast, cheap, and 'good enough to sell.' Doesn't care about quality — cares about margins.","/media/characters/flipper_jordan.png","/media/voices/flipper_fast_and_cheap.mp3",[39,44],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Walk the property with Jordan, provide an honest estimate based on actual scope, and explain that a proper renovation with permits will take 6-8 weeks, not 3","best","Correct","An honest estimate protects both parties. $22,000 for a full-house renovation on a foreclosure is likely unrealistic if done to code with proper permits. Flippers often pressure contractors to skip permits and cut corners to hit their margin targets. Your MHIC license isn't worth Jordan's flip profit. Provide the real number — if he walks, you dodged a bullet.",{"text":45,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":48},"Take the job at $22,000 — flip work is volume business and leads to more referrals from investors","wrong","Risky","$22,000 for a full-house renovation likely means you'll need to cut corners to make any profit. When you inevitably skip permits or use cheap materials to stay in budget, you're the one holding the liability — not Jordan. Flip investors move on to the next house. You live with the code violations, inspection failures, and complaints from whoever buys the house.",[],[51,54,57,58,61,64,67,70,73,76,79,82,85],{"slug":52,"title":53,"topic":24},"record-keeping","What records should a Maryland contractor keep?",{"slug":55,"title":56,"topic":24},"concurrent-projects-limit","How many projects can you take on before quality suffers?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},"flipper-negotiation","Should you match a lowball bid to win a job?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},"flipper-corner-cutting","Who is liable when a client tells your crew to cut corners?",{"slug":65,"title":66,"topic":24},"diy-sticker-shock","How do you handle a client's sticker shock?",{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},"diy-comes-back","How should you structure a payment plan for a returning client?",{"slug":71,"title":72,"topic":24},"attorney-project-management","Are weekly progress reports worth the effort?",{"slug":74,"title":75,"topic":24},"veteran-accessibility","What grants help disabled veterans pay for home modifications?",{"slug":77,"title":78,"topic":24},"contractor-mental-health","How does contractor burnout lead to MHIC complaints?",{"slug":80,"title":81,"topic":24},"final-exam-prep","What is the most important thing to know for the MHIC exam?",{"slug":83,"title":84,"topic":24},"the-right-way-summary","What one habit keeps contractors out of trouble with the MHIC?",{"slug":86,"title":87,"topic":24},"graduation-scenario","What advice would you give a newly licensed Maryland contractor?",{"slug":55,"title":56,"topic":24},{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},1792184485518]