Many Illinois REALTORS® who serve as ombudsmen met in Naperville June 1, 2016 to discuss the program and how it can best serve members and the public. Pictured here are front row (left to right) Illinois REALTORS® Rebecca Carraher, Bob Floss, Chris Read, Kim Noyes, Yvonne Seffer; back row, Terry Umecker, Wayne Paprocki, Ginger Westin, Georgia Pierini, Kim Trimmel, Linda Pilmer, Eleanor Nastepniak, Joan Sandrik, Debbie Hymen, Steve Hudson and Matt Difanis. (Photo by Matt Difanis)

Illinois REALTORS® operates a program which seeks to resolve disputes between association members or members of the public and association members.

Called ombudsmen, these REALTOR® volunteers handle calls for help which come in by phone and email. The program was established two years ago to make sure that there was a mechanism to help resolve issues before they became bigger issues that might require arbitration or other action.

The program has been a success, and the association’s ombudsmen met this week in Naperville to discuss possible program improvements and share what they have learned from handling the requests for assistance.

The program handled 198 requests in 2015, and already this year ombudsmen have handled 92 cases through the end of May.