SCAOR.com Home Page  |  REALTOR® Code of Ethics  |  Contact SCAOR
Find a REALTOR   Newsletters   In the News   Ask Ronnie   Members Only  

IN THE NEWS

 
Recent Releases

April is Fair Housing Month
COMPLYING WITH FAIR HOUSING
8 TIPS FOR FAIR HOUSING COMPLIANCE

  1. Educate sellers about fair housing laws and explain what they mean in the transaction.

  2. Treat all prospective buyers in substantially the same way. Use the same approach and manner to greet people, show homes, qualify prospects, obtain listings, conduct open houses, present purchase offers, keep records, and follow up with prospects.

  3. Use forms or checklists to standardize the questions you ask and the information you request from prospective buyers.

  4. Market your property to a diverse group of prospective buyers. Avoid using exclusionary words or pictures. Any marketing plan that indicates a preference or limitation or discriminates on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin violates the Fair Housing Act.

  5. Allow prospective buyers to select their own preferred neighborhoods. Never "steer" prospects toward or away from any neighborhood, however subtly. Offer every prospect a variety of housing choices.

  6. Contact local fair housing organizations and REALTOR® associations for information about fair housing compliance and compliance self-testing. Fair housing guidance is posted online at NAR's Library, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and The National Fair Housing Advocate.

  7. Be vocal and proactive in expressing your own personal commitment to fair housing.

  8. Include a statement in your advertising stating that your company doesn't discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status. A statement isn't absolute protection against liability for noncompliance, but it can be used as evidence of your company's commitment to fair housing.

 
TIP: You can't control the prejudices of others, but discriminating in any way, even at the request of a seller, is illegal. If a seller wants you to discriminate, walk away from the transaction.

 


Advanced Customer Service Systems
Licensed from CyberVillage Networkers, Inc.
©2010 Sussex County Association of REALTORS®
23407 Park Ave., Georgetown, DE 19947, USA
(302) 855-2300 - fax: (302) 855-2319 - info@scaor.com
Last Modified 9 April 2009.