Small Moments, Big Impact

April is the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Fair Housing month  and a great time to reinforce how good habits and actions, big and small, keep us accountable and have a significant impact in championing fair and equitable access to housing for all. Assuring that everyone has the same access to information about listings and opportunities to view properties is essential. Take action and support Fair Housing Forward by: 

• Considering accessibility in your listings and showings and fill out all the appropriate listing fields. NAR calls this issue of accessibility: Visitable Housing. Take into consideration how individuals with mobility or sensory challenges may be impacted. Among questions to consider are: Is there wheelchair accessibility? Are all age groups likely to be as comfortable accessing the listing? What type of latches are available on doors? Are there threshold height differences between types of flooring? Consider heights for countertops and how things like sinks and faucets are positioned can have a potential impact. Try to anticipate possible challenges clients may face living in the home and hosting others and disclose this information to make for a better experience for all. You can find these fields to consider on your listing forms and in ADD/EDIT in Matrix.

• Including Photo Type and Photo Description in your listings to improve their reach. Adding the caption or type to your listing photos and a description especially assists viewers who may use a visual accessibility screen reader.

Fields to Consider for Accessibility

• Using inclusive language in your listing remarks and ensure that you describe the property, not neighborhoods or people. Consider how your language aligns with Fair Housing guidelines and that you accurately and inclusively represent the property. Remember that the law prohibits directly or indirectly stating a preference or limitation based on any protected classes.

• Utilizing photos in your listing that depict property. Just as the descriptions in public remarks for your listing should contain only information pertinent to the property, not people, your photos should also be property-centric. Though you may choose to show people, remember that these images may create concerns about fair housing, inadvertently showing the ideal resident of a particular house, property, or neighborhood. They also create the potential for use of likeness complaints for the listing agent. Photos that contain multiple individuals of ONLY one race/class are of particular concern. 

• Calling out discrimination when you see it. We all understand that mistakes happen when entering or updating a listing or sale, but we also have a responsibility to uphold the law and act in support of fair housing. Please report questionable listings to Compliance@OneKeyMLS.com. Your report is confidential, and the Compliance team will follow up on each report. 

• Boosting transparency about layout by including floorplans with your listings. Your OneKey MLS subscription includes floor plans through CubiCasa, an easy and accessible way to add information to your listing.

• Highlighting down payment assistance programs and affordability options to make home ownership as accessible as possible with Down Payment Resource, included with your OneKey MLS subscription.

Test Your Knowledge Answer Key:

1. False, Coming Soon listings are not available for showings. 
2. True
3. False, though signs are considered a form of advertising and would indicate a listing that must be entered within 1 (one) business day, they may remain in place after a listing goes under contract.  
4. True
5. It depends . . . if an offer is accepted with no more showings it should be updated to Temp Off Market. If there is an accepted offer, but the seller has instructed you to continue showing the property it may stay Active. 
6. False, a contract must be fully executed by both parties to be Pending status. 
7. True