The Hub went up to Hagerstown today to take the MHIC test ( that's Maryland Home Improvement Contractor). That's one more hurdle out of the way - next is a check of all of his references, his credit, etc. Probably the biggest obsticle for us is coming up with the $400 fee at the same time as we need new tags for both vehicles....but, such is life.

Even though he was really sick with a cold or flu he passed. A lot of people have to take the test twice to pass it, but he's smart. More than half of it has nothing to do with building or improving anything. It mostly has to do with laws and regulations governing taxes, what you can charge, how you can advertise, etc.

Note to anyone wondering why it is so difficult to get a contractor to come to your house to do a small job: He'd probably like to, but he can't afford it. There is so much regulation, registration, insurance, etc involved in being a legitmate home improvement contractor he HAS to line up some big jobs just to stay in business...even though what The Hub would really like to do are smaller "craftsman" type of jobs.

Anyway, he's been very lucky so far to have excellent customers all of whom have paid him on time and with whom he has been able to work out reasonable solutions to problems (i.e. nail pops which happen after settling of new construction which has to go back and fix sometimes several weeks after the job is completed.) I mean, there ARE customers in the world who see a nail pop and file a law suit - Thank GOD he hasn't run into anyone like that yet. Of course, he's always really careful to explain what he's doing, what to expect, etc. And he's never going to cut corners to turn a bigger profit....but he only wants to make a living, not make a killing, so I guess we'll be all right.

It's a good thing we don't have any kids to send to college though.