Mediation Services

The Columbus Board of REALTORS® (CBR) has adopted voluntary mediation as an alternative method for resolving disputes.  As a voluntary alternative, mediation is strongly encouraged but not mandatory.   

Who May Mediate?
Any REALTOR®, client or customer entitled to invoke CBR’s arbitration facilities may also use CBR’s mediation service once a dispute has been determined by the Grievance Committee to be properly the subject of arbitration.

What is Mediation?
Mediation is a form of facilitated negotiation, conducted in a more informal setting, by which a trained and experienced third party helps the disputing parties to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.

What are the Advantages of Mediation?

• Mediation enables the parties to determine promptly whether there is a possibility of settling the dispute. 
• Mediation saves time. 
• Mediation can salvage relationships. 
• Since both parties consent to the mediation, the ultimate solution is in the hands of the parties - rather than a hearing panel.

How Can I Obtain CBR’s Service of Mediation?
Once CBR’s Grievance Committee has determined that a Request for Arbitration is properly subject to arbitration, and both parties have notified CBR of their willingness to mediate, one of CBR’s mediators will contact them.  The mediator will arrange for a time that is convenient to both parties to come to the CBR office for the mediation. 

If an agreement is reached through mediation, both parties will be asked to sign a written agreement, and $200 of each party’s $250 arbitration fee will be refunded.  Failure to reach agreement through mediation will not be considered by a hearing panel during any subsequent arbitration hearing.