Valuer Urges Property Buyers To Consult Professionals

Sequel to reports of falsification of title deeds and other
documents in the property business which have made some people to be victims to
swindlers on the purchase of property, an estate valuer in Port Harcourt, Mr.
Benjamin Oti, has urged the general public to always consult professionals for
any property business deal so as to be on a safe side.

Oti, who was speaking in a chat with The Tide in Port
Harcourt noted that a lot of intending property owners have lost huge sums of
money to swindlers who have deceived them in the process.

The estate expert, who is the principal partner of Ben Oti
and Co, a property consultancy firm, explained that there are technicalities
which real estate professionals use to determine whether a property is available  for sale or not.

He said that every registered estate surveyor and valuer has
a network with colleagues both in the government establishment and private
sector, as well as with agencies of government that deal on property matters,
and can always know which property is available or not and their cost.

According to him, many touts and quacks have used the system
of law rate to deceive their victims, pointing out that there are incidents
where a property that cannot be sold for N50 million in some choice area were
quickly put at N20 million by touts so as to attract the attention of their
victim, and at the end run away with such money.

Oti, therefore, urged the public, especially those that want
to purchase property not to be in hurry, but to always consult a registered
estate valuer before payment.

Corlins Walter