Chapter 4
Equal Professional Service

Learning Objectives: Know the criteria for equal professional service and evaluate specific sales office situations to apply these principles to practical real life circumstances.


Real estate licensees are required to provide equal professional service, without regard to a prospective buyer’s (or tenant’s) race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. Areas where consistent service is required include, but are not limited to:

1. Greeting when entering or calling the office.

   Example:

Prospect #1 enters the sales office and quickly the salesperson jumps up, warmly welcomes the prospect and provides an overview of the community.


Prospect #2 enters the sales office and the salesperson glances up and then keeps working on the computer. The salesperson tells the prospect to grab a price sheet and let her know if there are any questions.

Could this be a violation of fair housing laws? Possibly.

The salesperson is required to provide equal professional service. If the salesperson wraps up what she is working on and then catches up with Prospect #2, provides a warm welcome and information about the community, then the service is consistent.