 |  | PREPACKAGED SALES MEETING: FAIR ADVERTISING PRACTICES | |
|  Fair Advertising Practices, Introduction Component 1: Facilitator Talking Points Component 2: Agenda Component 3: Handout 1, Who is protected by Fair Housing? Component 4: Suggestions for a Company Fair Housing Policy Component 5: Activity 1, Say It Fairly Quiz Component 6: Activity 1, Quiz Answers Component 7: Handout 3, What's in A Word? Component 8: Activity 2, Advertising Critique Component 9: Activity 2, Suggested Ad Changes Component 10: Handout 4, Avoiding Selectivity Trap Component 11: Activity 3, Let's Play Ad Agency Component 12: Activity 3, Ad Creation Tips Component 13: Other Resources | Component 6 Activity 1: Say It Fairly Quiz Answers 1. You must include an Equal Opportunity logo in ads larger than 3 inches by 3 inches that promote residential property for sale. Answer: False. The Fair Housing Act does not require the use of Equal Opportunity logo or slogan in any ad. However, using the logo is good evidence of the company’s commitment to fair housing compliance. Regulations do require the display of the HUD fair housing poster at the brokerage office and at dwellings under construction. 2. The description of a house used on the local MLS is also subject to fair housing guidelines. Answer: True. Information made available over an MLS, including any comments on the listing, is subject to the same fair housing guidelines as any other form of advertising. 3. Indicating in an ad that a property has handicapped accessibility is a violation of the Fair Housing Act. Answer: False. Information on accessible features such as ramps and grab bars is permissible in advertising a dwelling for either sale or rental. 4. Brokers are liable for discrimination in ads placed by sales associates even if they had no knowledge of the ad before publication. Answer: True. Brokers may be named in any discrimination suits brought against agents under their control. To protect themselves, brokers should have a written company fair housing policy, train all associates in fair housing practices, and take prompt action to identify and correct failures in performance. Note: If teh brokerage is incorporated, it is generally the corporation that is liable, not an innocent broker personally. 5. It is acceptable to use only white models in your advertising, provided that your market area is at least 85 percent white and that you do not include any discriminatory language in the copy of your ads. Answer: False. Advertising that uses only models of one race over an extended period of time is considered discriminatory. Models used in property advertising should also include both sexes, children, persons with a variety of disabilities, and a diversity of racial and ethnic representatives. Component 7: Handout 3, What's in A Word? > |