Update from ReColorado:
Master Bed/Bath Label Change Effective 3/9
On March 9, several options in the Room Type field will be renamed. The label “Master” will be updated to “Primary” for the following options:
Master Bedroom --> Primary Bedroom
Master Bathroom (1/2) --> Primary Bathroom (1/2)
Master Bathroom (1/4) --> Primary Bathroom (1/4)
Master Bathroom (3/4) --> Primary Bathroom (3/4)
Master Bathroom (Full) --> Primary Bathroom (Full)
Additionally, the option Master Suite within the InteriorFeatures field will be updated to Primary Suite.
If you display the detailed room information on your IDX or VOW websites, you must update how these room types display to reflect the new names.
If you have any questions about this change or how it will impact your data feed, IDX website, or product, please contact datasupport@REcolorado.com.
Thank you,
REcolorado Data Support
Original Post:
Throughout the country over the last few years, Real Estate organizations have considered removing the terms “master bedroom, master bathroom and master suite” from their lexicon.
REcolorado, the prevailing local MLS organization of over 25,000 agents in the Denver Metro area, was recently faced with a decision, based on a participant request, to amend the term in databases in Colorado. Following brief discussions, the voting committee said by majority - no.
The writing on the bedroom wall
The 40,000 member Houston Association of Realtors officially revised the term in June. Visitors can see the use of “primary” on any listing on HAR.com in the rooms detail section.
Changing the official term from “master” bedroom and bath to another term is a clerical errand. The work required to edit a word in a computer application is as trivial as it sounds.
Realtors have mixed views on the topic and John Legend tweeted to the coverage in Houston, “Real problem: realtors don't show black people all the properties they qualify for. Fake problem: calling the master bedroom the master bedroom. Fix the real problem, realtors.”
REcolorado subscribers from around Colorado make up the MLS Rules and Regulation Committee, an experienced group that influence our industry on a local level and include brokerage owners (including West + Main Homes), appraisers, and other interested parties as a collective voice to evaluate suggested MLS changes and the boundaries created around MLS-defined responses to mandates.
Just so it’s clear, none of the representatives on the voting committee were to be tasked with the implementation of the revised term. Just a vote to send a support ticket to the MLS or not.
To view the term how it appears in the MLS and on the REcolorado public website: click here.
But the majority of the committee voted against this minor change, a back-end upgrade that would not dictate advertising or govern the speech of individual brokers still using the label.
It’s an academic question for leaders.
Is there a sound argument for continuing to mandate the term “master” when referring to a bedroom, bathroom or suite - when it can be so easily amended?
Denver area Realtors are working on more transformative issues. That’s why they should expect approval of nominal administrative fixes reflecting those issues, even when subtle.
But our region has seen it’s share of problems too, well documented - here, here, and here.
Denver Realtors are doing bigger things
Our community deserves to see how Realtors are fighting systemic discrimination in the real estate market, not scrutinizing their organizations’ refusal to do obvious and simple updates.
We are calling on REcolorado’s leadership, including its staff or Board of Directors, to override the decision made by Committee and remove/replace the term “master” from its product suite.
It’s literally the easiest thing we can do. Small steps are the only way to complete long journeys and Fair Housing in Real Estate has a long way to go. While this issue is a bare-minimum endeavor, let’s not use our energy to specifically oppose it either, as it could be done by now.
To view what West + Main listing marketing looks like with a change in terminology: click here
Have an opinion? Please reach out to support@recolorado.com or your MLS Leadership and let them know what you think. They want to hear from you.
Further Reading & Background
Why and how Houston decided to remove the term from the MLS - link
06/24/20 | Houston ChronicleTweets from John Legend criticizing PR generated from changing the term - link
06/27/20 | TwitterLeading real estate brokerage in Chicago pledges to stop using the term - link
06/30/20 | @properties blogA list of Diversity Resources by DMAR to showcase advocacy and links - link
07/17/20 | Denver Metro Association of RealtorsNational real estate data organization recommends switching the term - link
07/20/20 | Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) blogNew York agencies pledge to have deep conversations or change the term - link
08/05/20 | The New York TimesSee the treatment of “primary” room on any Houston area website listing - link
10/29/20 | Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) WebsiteThree-year investigation reveals widespread discrimination by Realtors - link
11/17/19 | Newsday Special Report: Long Island DividedNew coverage of New York senatorial investigation to agent discrimination - link
10/23/20 | The Notorious ROBNational Association of Realtors is not focused on the issue at this time - link
06/25/20 | Realtor MagazineNationwide Realtor survey reveals some don’t see a need to change the term - link
07/02/20 | Chicago Agent MagazineA tenured Denver Realtor stole and destroyed Black Lives Matter yard signs - link
08/20/20 | WestwordA Denver neighborhood named after a klan ally finally changed it’s name - link
06/17/20 | WestwordRealtors made obtuse Fresh Prince parody in Denver’s most gentrified area - link
07/23/19 | Westword
