Always Do Your Best

As one of the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, "Always Do Your Best", I reflect over the past 8 years in my goals to entering the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR  or #Mediation.

My first class at UC Berkeley,  was filled with a room of adult students who shared a interest in Mediation.

Some were practicing attorneys who simply what a change from litigation, others such as the two judges who simply wanted to have incite as to clearing their busy calendar.

For me, it from the eyes of a long term real estate broker, who wanted to apply life experiences to bringing out peace in disputes via negotiation.

One year of pro-bono at the Hayward court, with the goal of 100 mediations and 100 hours of post education.

I had a passion from the very beginning.

A Sonora judge gave me sound advise, "Use Your People Skills" as a student to mediation.

Eight years latter, a Fresno Presiding Judge gave more advice.

Help People Solve Problems

Build Trust, Touch Hearts

Don't treat parties like litigants, treat them like humans.

Today, I reflect back that I have met my goals and beyond, 600 + mediations, hundreds of hours of post education and lots of practice.

The road has taken me down not only the real estate path, but entry to 9 Superior Courts as a panel member for issues involving, technology, probate, family law, real estate, landlord tenant.

To being vice chair of the Alameda County Bar Association, Real Estate Section.

This week, I was accepted to the California Association of Realtors mediation panel for disputes between buyers and sellers and the real estate brokerage community.

This week, I used my skills to act as a neutral for a formerly married couple over the request of one parent to move a child long distance, the couple fought hard, and I think they both forgot, that what
should be in the "Best Interest" of the child.

A mediated agreement was met hours before trial.

A court trial that would have produced more anger, more dysfunction, more damage.

Persons who come to mediation often have longstanding anger, bitterness, disappointment and emotional wounds.

Mediation allows for a new starting point.

As a more experience mediator today, I often say, "I don't care what happened 5 years ago, last month"

Today is a new day, lets live in the moment to listen without the obstruction of emotional baggage.

"Lets work together" for a fresh new start.

Always Do Your Best for every day living, goals, & relationships.

Treat people with kindness, have empathy, be willing to listen.

Speak from the heart and Always Do Your Best.


JimW Hildreth is a Mediator who has offices in both Oakland & Sonora, CA
Real Estate Mediation Services

California Solar Easement and the Solar Shade Control Act

California Solar Easement and the Solar Shade Control Act: California’s solar access laws appear in the state’s Civil, Government, Health and Sa

Jim W Hildreth-Mediator
http://www.RealEstateMediation.org

Alameda County Superior Court, Oaklans, CA

Untitled, a photo by TulipFleurs on Flickr.

Oakland, CA Happy Holidays from Real Estate Mediation Services.
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Arbitrator Training Jim Hildreth

Arbitrator Training, a photo by JimHildreth on Flickr.

Completion of Arbitration Training at The San Francisco Bar Association November 2012

Palo Alto Online : Real Estate Matters

Palo Alto Online : Real Estate Matters

Jim W Hildreth Mediator

Testimonial

I had the opportunity to work with Jim Hildreth on one of my Real Estate transactions recently in Copperopolis, CA. This transaction required Mediation Services. Mr. Hildreth was the Mediator. He followed through with every detail and the transaction closed escrow in a timely manner. 

California Landlord Tenant Dispute

As a mediator I was assigned a mediation between Landlord and Tenant, over a dispute involving the security deposit.  The landlord had taken a larger amount of the security deposit and the case ended up in court.

Legal disputes between landlords and tenants have gained a reputation for being almost and strained and emotional as divorce court.

Many disputes are unnecessary and could be avoided.

In this case, Landlord had used a property manager, and no move in or move out inspections were completed.

In the mediation it was apparent communications between all parties had broken down, including the property manager.

Questions about worn carpet, a room with no heat, a room that had been painted for a baby's room, cost that were deducted filled the room in the 2.5 hour dispute.

The lesson to be learned in this heated exchange, that if the property manager had used an initial Move In Check List and had been copied to the landlord and in the end when tenant requested a Move Out Inspection, the manager should have completed this task, much of this dispute would have been avoided.

In addition it is the wise Landlord who will invest in knowledge of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlord Tenant Law in California.

It is also prudent, that tenants know their legal rights.

One good source for both Landlords ad Tenants is the Nolo Series http://www.Nolo.com, you can order these online, buy them at your favorite bookstore, or often find them at your local Law Library.

For the real estate community Move In and Move Out Inspections forms are available via the California Association of Realtors.

In the end the parties reached a settlement in Mediation.





Jim W Hildreth-Mediator-Referee- Arbitrator
http://www.RealEstateMediation.org