Estate Surveying and Valuation: A Profession Endangered by Quackery in Awka, Anambra State (Published)
This paper aims to investigate the impact of quackery in Estate Surveying and Valuation practice in Awka, Anambra State. The challenges confronting the Estate Surveying and Valuation profession globally are substantial, and the future of the profession, particularly in Nigeria, is being questioned. Data for this study were gathered using questionnaires distributed to twenty-five (25) registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Awka. A total of twenty (20) completed questionnaires were returned and analyzed. The collected data were processed using Descriptive Statistics, including Weighted Mean Scores and Frequency Tables. The study found that the Estate Surveying and Valuation profession has significantly contributed to Nigeria’s economic growth. It also highlighted that factors such as the unregulated entry of quacks into the profession and the lack of awareness among clients are contributing to the rise of quackery. The research further showed that quackery undermines the positive role of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in real estate practice, potentially leading to the extinction of their relevance in estate agency and property management if not addressed. The study identified several factors that encourage quackery, including the high earnings from estate agency and property management, client ignorance, the shortage of qualified professionals, and clients’ reluctance to incur additional legal fees in litigation. The paper recommends that all real estate stakeholders and the general public be continuously educated through conferences, seminars, and workshops on the practice of Estate Surveying and Valuation and the dangers posed by quackery. The public should also be sensitized to the roles of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the real estate market. Additionally, ESVARBON must strengthen its resolve to regulate estate agency and property management in Nigeria and advocate for a bill granting exclusive rights to Estate Surveyors and Valuers in these areas, while also pushing for its passage into law. Furthermore, the process for admitting new graduates into the Institution should be simplified to accommodate the increasing demand for qualified professionals.
Keywords: Anambra State, Awka, Quackery, Valuation, estate surveying