[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":77},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-what-is-home-improvement":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":53,"prev":35,"next":76},{"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":35,"speakerDescription":35,"speakerAvatar":35,"audioUrl":36,"choices":37,"citations":51},"what-is-home-improvement","What counts as home improvement under Maryland law?","Work on residential property, as defined in Maryland Business Regulation §8-101.","Work on residential property, as defined in Maryland Business Regulation §8-101. Repairs, replacements, remodeling, painting, fencing, and water heater replacement all count; commercial buildings fall outside MHIC licensing.",[32,33,34],"A property manager asks you to handle several tasks across their rental portfolio:","1. Replace a water heater in Unit A\n2. Paint the exterior of Unit B\n3. Install a commercial security system in the office building\n4. Repair a fence at Unit C","\"Which of these need an MHIC contractor?\"",null,"/media/voices/what_is_home_improvement.mp3",[38,43,48],{"text":39,"verdict":40,"label":41,"explanation":42},"Items 1, 2, and 4 are home improvement work requiring MHIC licensing. Item 3 (commercial building) is NOT home improvement — MHIC covers residential properties only","best","Correct","Maryland Business Regulation §8-101 defines 'home improvement' as work on residential property. Water heater replacement, exterior painting, and fence repair on residential rental units all qualify. Commercial building work is NOT covered by MHIC — it may require other licenses but not the home improvement license. Understanding the definition's boundaries is critical for the exam.",{"text":44,"verdict":45,"label":46,"explanation":47},"All four require MHIC licensing — any building improvement needs a contractor","wrong","Wrong","MHIC licensing applies to residential home improvement only. Commercial properties fall outside §8-101's definition. Claiming you need an MHIC license for commercial work shows a misunderstanding of the law's scope. Other licensing may apply to commercial work, but it's not MHIC.",{"text":49,"verdict":45,"label":46,"explanation":50},"Only the water heater requires a licensed contractor — painting and fencing are maintenance, not improvement","The definition of home improvement under §8-101 is broad. It includes painting, fencing, and virtually any repair, replacement, remodeling, or improvement to residential property. There is no 'maintenance vs. improvement' exemption. Even seemingly minor work like fence repair falls under MHIC regulation when performed for compensation.",[52],"Business Regulation §8-101",[54,55,58,61,64,67,70,73],{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},"unlicensed-handyman-question","Does a handyman need an MHIC license in Maryland?",{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},"rental-property-exception","Can a landlord renovate their own rentals without an MHIC license?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},"commercial-vs-residential","Does an MHIC license cover commercial renovation work?",{"slug":65,"title":66,"topic":24},"pool-vs-home-improvement","Does an MHIC license cover building an in-ground pool?",{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},"television-antenna","Is installing a TV antenna home improvement in Maryland?",{"slug":71,"title":72,"topic":24},"unlicensed-competitor","How do you explain the risk of an unlicensed contractor to a homeowner?",{"slug":74,"title":75,"topic":24},"storm-chaser-competition","Do out-of-state storm chasers need a Maryland MHIC license?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},1792184484118]