SRAR Mediation Service - Quick, Inexpensive Dispute Resolution

Experienced Realtors work hard to avoid problems in every transaction, yet inevitably conflicts sometimes arise and when they do mediation presents a quick, cost-effective alternative to litigation.

In fact, it’s consistently reported that mediation resolves disputes to the satisfaction of all parties in 90 percent of all disputes.
Why?

* Because the parties get to decide, not a judge or an arbitrator.

* Because mediation is voluntary, leaving the door open to arbitration or litigation if mediation fails to resolve all issues to the satisfaction of all parties.

* Because it’s fast – considerably faster than arbitration and much, much faster than litigation.

* Because mediation is inexpensive, with limited or no attorney fees.

Mediation offers a fair, fast mechanism to control the outcome – hopefully, before emotions spiral out of control and push the issue into the time-consuming, costly court system where a judge or jury will decide.

The best and most common way to resolve a dispute is for the parties to sit down and, one-on-one, state their positions until an agreement is reached.

In other words, talk to each other. Negotiation allows the maximum amount of self-determination.

Any other form of resolutions will mean giving some measure of control to a third party, which typically means each party will have to live with an often unpleasant concession.

Mediation is similar and the next best technique to one-on-one negotiation. Mediation offers a hope, a chance of resolving a problem without having to make a concession.

The key difference is that the process is facilitated by a third party, called a mediator who assists the parties in reaching a resolution while retaining substantial self-determination.

A skilled mediator will speed up the process, keep discussions focused on the key issues and coax parties to seek and accept a fair resolution. If the parties fail to come to an agreement, either may turn to other dispute resolution techniques.

The Southland Regional Association of Realtors ground-breaking program was designed to settle real estate-related disputes through the use of trained mediators – mediators who understand local residential real estate transactions.

The goal of the mediation program offered by the Southland Regional Association of Realtors is to empower participants in a dispute.
Go on-line to www.findavalleyhome.com/consumers/ct-mediation.php for a description of the various types of dispute resolution.

For more information about the SRAR Mediation Service contact Tess Martin, professional standards administrator, via e-mail at tessm@srar.com or by calling 818-947-2271.