An Investigation of the Efficiency in Nigeria Real Estate Agency Practice

Abstract

Estate agency which has been researched upon particularly in the UK, US and Asia is still in its infancy in Nigeria. This
research aims at discovering the impact of different agency types in the efficiency of Nigeria real estate practice. The study of 159 Estate
Surveying firms and 91 Property development companies in the commercial nerve centre of the country (Lagos) representing both agents
and principal (vendor/purchasers) respectively, indicates that multiple agency is mostly adopted in Nigeria real estate practice. The
Relative Important Index coupled with Chi-Square test at 0.05 level of significance supports the posit of certain inefficiencies synonymous
with multiple agency as discovered in an earlier work carried out in the UK. The researchers thereby advocated the modification of subagency
practice particularly to involve the consent and commitment of principals so as to eradicate all inefficiencies by safeguarding the
interest of all parties. A call for focus on the neglected real estate agency research among Nigeria researchers is also advocated.