Help Clients Get an Objective View of Local Schools

You can’t offer an opinion about school quality, but you can point customers toward data, resources and the right people to talk to about their concerns.

Children getting on school bus — © FatCamera - E+/Getty Images

A lot has been happening in America’s schools lately. Battles over the appropriateness of classroom curriculum and books in school libraries have captured the national conversation. This may lead to more questions from your clients about the suitability of local schools for their children. You must remember that it’s a violation of fair housing law to give customers your opinion about school quality and steer them toward or away from certain schools. But what can you discuss with clients, and how can you add value to the conversation without crossing the line? Two REALTORS® who are taking on this issue every day join host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss this important topic.

Jamie Zapata, an agent with Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper, REALTORS®, in San Antonio, specializes in serving the real estate needs of diverse clients, including the LGBTQ+ community. Zapata, a transgender woman, is a volunteer board member with Pride Center San Antonio, which provides health and wellness, support and education activities to the local community. Zapata often speaks publicly in support of trans and LGBTQ+ rights and has been recognized nationally for her work in the LGBTQ+ community.

Del Lile, SRES, an agent with Compass in Pasadena, Calif., possesses in-depth knowledge of his community’s businesses, architecture, schools and neighborhoods. Lile is on the board of the Pasadena Educational Foundation, a member of Pasadena Heritage, the Fiduciary Roundtable of the San Gabriel Valley and other service organizations. He has been involved in his local association’s program to educate REALTORS® about Pasadena public schools.

This episode is sponsored by: