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Mobile Area Association of REALTORS®

30 tips for 30 days of Fair Housing Month REALTORS® can use

MOBILE, Ala. — The MAAR team has assembled 30 tips REALTORS® can use for the 30 days of April, which is Fair Housing Month.

Read through the list and make sure to incorporate them into your day as we all strive to make our communities the best they can be.

  1. Review your understanding of fair housing laws and regulations.
  2. Review your advertising to ensure it does not violate fair housing laws.
  3. Display fair housing posters in your office.
  4. Attend a fair housing training or seminar.
  5. Review your screening criteria to ensure they are non-discriminatory.
  6. Offer fair housing training to your team.
  7. Familiarize yourself with local fair housing organizations and resources.
  8. Review the protected classes in your state and local area.
  9. Ensure that your property listings are inclusive and do not exclude any protected classes.
  10. Conduct market research to identify and address any patterns of discrimination in your area.
  11. Avoid making assumptions about a client’s needs based on their race, ethnicity, gender, etc.
  12. Be careful when using descriptive language in your marketing materials to avoid any discriminatory language.
  13. Ensure that all clients are treated equally and fairly.
  14. Avoid steering clients to certain neighborhoods based on their protected status.
  15. Learn how to properly respond to requests for reasonable accommodations.
  16. Be aware of any implicit biases you may have and take steps to address them.
  17. Ensure that your team is knowledgeable about fair housing laws and regulations.
  18. Offer diversity and inclusion training to your team.
  19. Encourage fair housing practices among your colleagues and competitors.
  20. Use inclusive language when communicating with clients and colleagues.
  21. Avoid discriminatory practices when screening potential tenants.
  22. Ensure that your team members do not make any discriminatory statements or engage in discriminatory practices.
  23. Provide reasonable accommodations to clients with disabilities.
  24. Be aware of the potential for redlining and avoid any practices that may contribute to it.
  25. Ensure that all clients have equal access to your services and resources.
  26. Avoid discrimination based on a client’s source of income.
  27. Understand the implications of gentrification and take steps to avoid contributing to it.
  28. Monitor your team’s practices to ensure that they are not engaging in any discriminatory behavior.
  29. Familiarize yourself with the complaint process for fair housing violations.
  30. Be an advocate for fair housing practices in your community.

For more information on Fair Housing Month, click here. To read MAAR’s previous blog on Fair Housing, click here.