5 Ways to Brand Yourself an Equality Champion

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Your association can help you make real strides toward a more inclusive business. For a decade, the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics has gone beyond the law when it comes to fair housing. But many real estate practitioners are looking for ways to make a deeper and more visible commitment to equality. Resources from NAR can help.

1. Display the Equal Housing Opportunity logo on your company windows and in advertising. Decals, as well as a customizable poster, are available from the REALTOR® Team Store, or download the logo from nar.realtor.
2. Write a diversity and inclusion statement to promote as part of the personal or company mission. NAR’s statement says, in part: “We fully embrace perspectives from all walks of life—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, socioeconomic status, political affiliation or any other qualities by which we may define ourselves. We commit to bringing out the best in ourselves, uncovering our hidden talents, and celebrating differences in our day-to-day interactions. These beliefs are essential as we serve our members who help fulfill the dream of home and property ownership in America.”
3. Be open to self-examination. For insights into how your mind perceives and responds to differences, check out the fascinating, no-cost workshop from NAR, “Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing.” This 50-minute video program was developed in partnership with the Perception Institute, an organization that worked with other professionals, including judges and teachers, to overcome implicit bias. Watch the video, and use the online tool to test your own implicit biases.
4. Adopt the Equal Professional Service Model for your practice. Developed by NAR, the model has four key steps that should be applied consistently in interactions with buyers:
   
   • Do I use systematic procedures?
   • Do I have objective information?
   • Has my customer set the limits?
   • Have I offered a variety of choices?
    

   

   Source: Bruce Moncrieff, Max Ryujin, and Mike Peck. “Equal Professional Service Model.” NAR.
5. Earn NAR’s At Home With Diversity® certification. This day-long, interactive workshop—recently retooled—offers a wide range of insights and exercises to help you not only provide equal service but also transcend racial and cultural differences. Bonus: The program is available for continuing education credit in many states and counts as an elective credit toward several NAR designations.

For more resources—including information on diversity and inclusion grants available to local and state REALTOR® associations—visit nar.realtor/diversity.