Ombudsman
Ombudsmen Program
A member that wants to resolve an issue by filing an Ethics or Arbitration complaint are advised to first consider the services of an Ombudsman. An Ombudsman helps resolve misunderstandings and disagreements through communication and conciliation, not adjudication.
Ombudsmen are trained REALTOR® members who are familiar with the WWRA Bylaws, MLS Rules & Regulations, Code of Ethics, Wisconsin real estate regulations, and current real estate practices. They can respond to a wide variety of inquiries and complaints, including general questions about real estate, transaction details, ethical practice, and enforcement issues. Ombudsmen can also respond to questions and complaints about members; contact members to inform them that a client or customer has raised an issue; and contact members for details that will provide an informed response.
If a party does not wish to attempt resolution with an Ombudsman, or the Ombudsman is unable to facilitate a resolution for the parties, the parties may progress to a formal Ethics or Arbitration Complaint.
If you would like to resolve your issue through the Ombudsman Program, start by submitting the Ombudsman Request Form Ombudsman Request Form by fax or email.
If you have any questions, contact the Professional Standards Administrator, Jean Conners at (715) 381-4663 or Jean@wwra.org
Ombudsman Program - Western Wisconsin REALTORS® Association.
Occasionally, a member of the public or WWRA members find themselves embroiled in a dispute with another member. Grievances between a member of the public and a REALTOR® or grievances between REALTORS® can include claims of possible ethics violations and communication issues, such as misrepresentation, lying or failure to communicate at all, as well as complaints surrounding cancellation of a contract, listing, or escrow. The WWRA Ombudsman Program is here to help.
WWRA Ombudsmen receive and respond to questions and complaints about members; can contact members to inform them that a member of the public or 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
Ombudsmen are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice or answer legal questions.
To learn more about this program: