Resolve Disputes
Interested in serving on NEFAR’s 2025 Grievance or Professional Standards Committees?
The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) offers its members and the public several dispute resolution options to address disagreements over the details of a real estate transaction involving a NEFAR Realtor member.
These services are:
- Utilizing the NEFAR Ombudsman service.
- Filing an Ethics Complaint against a NEFAR REALTOR®, for a possible violation of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS and/or other membership duty.
- Filing a request for arbitration for a commission/compensation dispute.
For more information about any of the dispute resolution options above, contact the NEFAR Professional Standards Administrator.
Meet your NEFAR Professional Standards Administrator
Ombudsman Service
Our trained Ombudsmen will:
- listen to your concerns;
- ascertain your desired outcome;
- explain possible avenues that might resolve the issue or reach the desired outcome; answer general questions and/or procedural questions;
- contact the REALTOR/potential respondent to explain your concerns and desired outcome;
- attempts to open the lines of communication, to assist the parties in resolving their differences/dispute;
- reports back to you; and,
- explains your rights after the completion of the Ombudsman process.
You may request an Ombudsman’s service, by completing the Ombudsman Request form that is included with both the Ethics Complaint information and the Mediation/Arbitration. Please submit each form as directed at the bottom of each document.
Ethics Complaint
Every REALTOR takes an oath pledging to uphold NAR’s Code of Ethics upon joining their local REALTOR association. NEFAR has ethical jurisdiction over its REALTOR members. Anyone who believes that a REALTOR has exhibited unethical conduct that may violate the REALTOR Code of Ethics may file an Ethics Complaint against that REALTOR.
Filing an Ethics Complaint involves charging a REALTOR with a violation of one or more Articles of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS and/or other membership duty, as set forth in the Bylaws of the Association. The process is quick, inexpensive, and handled by the Grievance and Professional Standards Committees of the Association. An Ethics Complaint must be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the alleged offense and facts constituting the matter complained of could have been known by the complainant in the exercise of reasonable diligence or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the conclusion of the transaction, or event, whichever is later.
For more information on filing an Ethics Complaint please click the button below.
Mediation/Arbitration
Mediation is a voluntary process that is offered prior to, or in lieu of, a more formal arbitration, by which REALTOR principal(s) who are disputing a claim to a real estate commission or compensation, or REALTORS and their clients or customers who have a dispute arising out of an agency relationship, can meet (virtually), and with the assistance of a Mediation Officer, attempt to resolve their differences and find an amicable resolution of their disagreement.
Arbitration is a more formal process by which REALTORS who are disputing a claim to a real estate commission or compensation, or REALTORS and their clients or customers who have a dispute arising out of an agency relationship, may come to the Association and request an impartial panel of the Professional Standards Committee to hear the evidence and render a decision on who is entitled to the commission/compensation on the basis of evidence and testimony presented at an Arbitration Hearing.
For more information on filing for Mediation/Arbitration please click the button below.
Click here for the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS®.
FAQ's
Can NEFAR resolve binder disputes?
NEFAR does not have jurisdiction over binder disputes. Binder disputes are a term in a Purchase & Sale Agreement between a buyer and seller.
Does NEFAR enforce employment agreement terms between licensees and their broker/brokerage?
NEFAR does not have jurisdiction/authority to enforce the terms of an employment agreement between a licensee and their broker/brokerage.
Can a complaint be filed anonymously?
Ethics Complaints cannot be filed anonymously.
How are Professional Standards matters conducted?
All Professional Standards matters are conducted via email (with pdf attachments, if applicable) and virtually via ZOOM.