[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":72},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-storm-chaser-competition":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":48,"prev":71,"next":34},{"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},"who-needs-a-license","Who Needs an MHIC License",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":47},"storm-chaser-competition","Do out-of-state storm chasers need a Maryland MHIC license?","Yes. Out-of-state contractors are not exempt, so a contractor from another state needs an MHIC license to work in Maryland.","Yes. Out-of-state contractors are not exempt, so a contractor from another state needs an MHIC license to work in Maryland. Homeowners should verify the license, look for a local address, and insist on a complete written contract.",[32,33],"After the storm, out-of-state contractors are canvassing neighborhoods, knocking on doors, offering 'free inspections' and signing people up for insurance-funded roof replacements. Most don't have Maryland MHIC licenses.","A homeowner asks if these storm chasers are legitimate.",null,"/media/voices/storm_chaser_competition.mp3",[37,42],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"Advise the homeowner to verify MHIC licensing before signing anything. Out-of-state contractors must be licensed in Maryland to perform home improvement work. 'Free inspections' from unlicensed door-to-door solicitors should be a major red flag","best","Correct","Out-of-state contractors are NOT exempt from MHIC licensing requirements. A contractor from Pennsylvania working in Maryland needs an MHIC license. 'Storm chaser' outfits that canvas after disasters are a known problem: they sign contracts (often door-to-door without proper cancellation notices), collect insurance proceeds, do substandard work, and disappear across state lines. Homeowners should: verify MHIC license, check for local address, demand written contracts with all required elements, and never sign at the door during an emergency.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"Mind your own business — more competition means the market decides","partial","Missed opportunity","A homeowner asking YOUR advice is an opportunity to educate and build trust. Unlicensed storm chasers hurt the entire industry — they do bad work, collect insurance money, and disappear, leaving homeowners with no recourse and making all contractors look bad. Educating consumers about MHIC verification protects them AND protects legitimate licensed contractors like you.",[],[49,52,55,58,61,64,67,70],{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},"what-is-home-improvement","What counts as home improvement under Maryland law?",{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},"unlicensed-handyman-question","Does a handyman need an MHIC license in Maryland?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},"rental-property-exception","Can a landlord renovate their own rentals without an MHIC license?",{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},"commercial-vs-residential","Does an MHIC license cover commercial renovation work?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},"pool-vs-home-improvement","Does an MHIC license cover building an in-ground pool?",{"slug":65,"title":66,"topic":24},"television-antenna","Is installing a TV antenna home improvement in Maryland?",{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},"unlicensed-competitor","How do you explain the risk of an unlicensed contractor to a homeowner?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},1792184484118]