MD MHIC Contractor study plan

Map every element a Maryland home improvement contract must contain, including the three-day cancellation notice, and state why each element exists

Distinguish home improvement work from work that falls outside the license scope, such as new home construction and home sales

Write a compliant sample contract for a kitchen remodel with a deposit, a payment schedule, and a change-order clause

Identify which contract defects most often trigger complaints and Guaranty Fund exposure

Sequence a full job from initial estimate through final walkthrough, listing the written documents produced at each step

Draft change orders, lien waivers, and a written warranty clause that survive a dispute

Explain how deposits and progress payments must be structured and documented under Maryland requirements

Convert three common verbal promises into enforceable written contract language

Summarize the Maryland Home Improvement Commission's authority, including licensing, investigation, and disciplinary powers

State the licensing thresholds and exemptions that determine who must hold a contractor or salesperson license

Describe the disciplinary actions the Commission can impose, from reprimand through license revocation and fines

Explain the hearing and appeal path available to a contractor facing a complaint

List the insurance and financial-responsibility requirements a licensee must maintain and the consequences of a lapse

Explain how a license is obtained, renewed, and what triggers suspension

Describe advertising and solicitation rules, including required license-number disclosure

Identify recordkeeping and response obligations when the Commission opens an inquiry

Explain what the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund is, who pays into it, and what losses it can and cannot cover

Outline the claim process step by step, from filing through investigation, hearing, and award

State the filing deadlines, required documentation, and the caps or limits on recovery

Describe what a contractor must do when a claim is filed against their license

Analyze how Guaranty Fund payouts affect a contractor's license status and future eligibility

Draft a written response strategy for a contractor notified of a claim, including evidence to assemble

Explain how business structure, contracts, and documentation reduce claims exposure

Distinguish the Guaranty Fund from general liability insurance and from a surety bond

Build a pre-signature review routine that checks license status, insurance certificates, and subcontractor coverage

Draft subcontractor agreements that keep responsibility and insurance obligations clear

Explain how to handle a client dispute before it escalates to a Commission complaint

Identify the business practices most frequently cited in disciplinary cases

Complete a timed 100-question practice set across all four domains and score each domain separately

Re-teach your two weakest domains using your own notes and corrected errors

Recite the contract elements, license thresholds, and claims deadlines from memory

Build a one-page final review sheet of numbers, deadlines, and statutory terms