The Ombuds Blog: California Association of Realtors Unveils Ombuds Program

September 06, 2013

California Association of Realtors Unveils Ombuds Program

The state trade association of 155,000 real estate professionals has adopted an Ombuds program for its members. According to a new website for the office:

The C.A.R. Ombudsman Hotline is here to help. C.A.R. Ombudsmen receive and respond to questions and complaints about members; can contact members to inform them that another REALTOR® has raised a question or issue; and can contact members to obtain information necessary to provide an informed response to the person complaining.

The Ombudsman's role is primarily one of communication and conciliation, not adjudication. Ombudsmen do not determine whether ethics violations have occurred, rather they anticipate, identify, and resolve misunderstandings and disagreements before matters ripen into more significant disputes.

Although details of the CAR Ombudsman program are not specified, other Realtor Ombuds programs closely follow IOA standards of confidentiality, independence, neutrality and informality. (CAR Ombuds.)

Related posts: Realtor Ombuds Programs Continue to Proliferate;National Association of Realtors Will Train Ombuds at Annual Conference; Sacramento Association of Realtors Implements Ombuds Program.

1 comment:

Anonymous9/18/2013 10:13 PM
Disagreements before matters ripen into more significant disputes.
Florida Real Estate Schools
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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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