As part of efforts to

check quackery, and give support to non professionals operating in the real estate sector, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), has established an agency association.

Making this known at the inaugural meeting of the new executive  of the Rivers State branch of the institution in Port Harcourt, last Thursday, the chairman of the institution, Mr. Emmanuel Okas Wike said that NIESV established the agency association so that those practicing agency and are not qualified NIESV members, can register there.

Wike said that the institution will monitor their activities, pointing out that two factors that can distinguish a professional from a quack are the use of NIESV Logo in their sign post and other documents as well as the non demand of registration fee from client before a job is done, which non members do before work.

The chairman also stated that the institution was forwarding a bill to the National Assembly for a law making it mandatory for all estate agents to register, adding that the branch will follow what the national body was doing.

He said that some key areas that his new executive will focus on in the next two years were to have interface with other relevant bodies, groups and institutions and create a synergy among them for higher productivity, as well as instill discipline among members, and work harder towards providing a permanent secretariat for the institution at the Greater Port Harcourt City, as well as increase  membership of the profession.

In his response, the publicity secretary, Mr. Monday Ahine described the estate surveying profession as the fore-most profession in the built community, since they have dealings with the end users and those that need houses on a regular and continuous basis.

Ahine therefore urged members of the public to contact NIESV to know more about issues in real estate business, pointing out that the body will let the market forces to determine house rent in Port Harcourt.