Anyone who, for compensation, solicits or secures business for a residential builder or maintenance and alteration (M&A) contractor must be licensed to that residential builder or M&A contractor as a residential builder or M&A contractor salesperson. This includes commissioned salespersons, licensed builder or M&A contractors who refer a customer to another builder or M&A contractor for a referral fee, staff at home centers who both sell a product and contract for its installation on behalf of the licensee, and those individuals working in model homes to solicit customers for future construction. A salesperson may only be licensed to one builder or M&A contractor, so serving as a representative for several builders or M&A contractors is not permitted by law.

To be licensed as a salesperson, an individual must pass an examination and have the builder or M&A contractor submit an application for licensure. The license will be issued in the name of the salesperson and mailed to the builder or M&A contractor employing the salesperson. The builder or M&A contractor will display the wall license, and the salesperson will carry the pocket card. If employment is terminated, the residential builder or M&A contractor sends the wall license and pocket card to the department along with a statement, on company letterhead, stating the salesperson's disassociation date and signed by the owner/qualifying officer of the employer.  The salesperson's new employer then requests that the license be transferred, and a new wall license and pocket card are issued, showing the new employer.

Special Considerations:

An individual who is currently licensed as a builder or M&A contractor (or who has been actively licensed in the past 3 years) can be licensed as a salesperson in the employ of another builder or M&A contractor (employee or independent contractor) without taking the salesperson's examination. (An individual may have only one license as a salesperson.)

The residential builder or M&A contractor salesperson licensing is not the same as being a real estate salesperson. That license is issued through the Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, and not the Residential Builder and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors Board. (A licensed real estate salesperson works for a real estate broker selling properties listed for sale with that broker. They do not sell for a residential builder or M&A contractor unless the builder or M&A contractor has listed a property with a real estate broker.)

If you have other questions about builder or M&A contractor salesperson's licensing requirements, contact the board via e-mail at bcslic@michigan.gov, or by telephone at (517) 241-9288.