Handling Client Questions About Neighborhoods
Q:
"I have a showing with new clients. They are a couple moving to this area from out of state. I chatted with the wife a bit over the phone, and it made me think about the kinds of questions that might come up when I meet them in person. Everyone has to be so alert and careful these days and mindful about what they say. No one wants to risk any kind of Fair Housing violation. When someone is new to the area, it’s common for them to ask, "Is this a safe neighborhood?" and another big one is, "Are we in a good school district?" "
How do I answer those questions without risking any violations?
A:
You are right to be concerned about potential Fair Housing Act violations. Realtors cannot discuss demographics, crime rates, school district rankings, or anything that might refer to a protected class. Additionally, it's important that your response remains objective. I’m a bit surprised that you don’t already have an office-wide policy for these situations. My advice would be to encourage your clients to do their own due diligence and refer them to online websites where they can find answers to their questions.
Encourage clients to look up any crime information using general resources such as local police department websites and government websites.