An ‘Arbitration Request’, is centered around monetary disputes. In this method, the association (a specially trained panel of peers) will arbitrate the issue and determine if monetary compensation should be granted. We require a $250 deposit to initiate an arbitration request, which would be returned to you IF you win the case. If you lose, we keep the deposit. All REALTORS® are mandated to participate in confirmed arbitration requests, and refusal to do so can result in their expulsion from membership.

‘Mediation’ is considered an optional step to take prior to arbitration. This is a free service, but it is voluntary. However, we’ve found that when approached by the Board to mediate an issue, the member tends to quickly settle in order to avoid any further issues - such as an arbitration request. There is no guarantee, and again, the REALTOR® can refuse to participate. However, there is no cost to initiating it, and after a refusal or failure of mediation, you can choose to follow it up with an arbitration request and/or ethics complaint.

You can file both an Ethics Complaint and an Arbitration Request on the same issue, but we will hold off on processing the Ethics Complaint until the Arbitration process is completed.