KUBWA HOUSE AGENTS: ARE THEY REALLY THAT BAD?

On a street in 2-1 just last week, a man squeezed out of his gate that was almost completely blocked by a large truck. Men were loading household items, and it was a busy afternoon for them. He was relocating.

The man approached his car, which was parked outside the gate, and while trying to get in, a guy coincidentally got to him, and a very brief conversation ensued:

“Oga, well done o.”

“Yes o my brother”, the man replied with a friendly smile on his face.

“Pesin dey park?”;

He was trying to answer the stranger, but was interrupted…

“I be agent”.

Instantly, every friendly disposition vanished, the man gave a loud hiss, entered his car, started it and drove off! Oh, it was embarrassing to see.

The question then is, are these house agents that bad? Because for a while now, they have been receiving bad representation in Kubwa, and I hear, all over the FCT.

Scouring the internet–social media, actually, I find some very displeased house hunters who had some not-so-pleasant experiences with house agents. They express how frustrating agents can be when engaged to help find them accommodation.

To get any agent to even move an inch, the seeker must send transportation fare or officially referred to as inspection fee, which ranges up to N15,000.00! If the properties the agent has are not satisfactory, then the money is spent, gone. The house hunter would have to prepare another inspection fee for another day if there is news that another property is available for inspection.

For most, it is the way they trick and deceive their clients that gets them really angry. A creator on TikTok known as AbujaLagosBoy is one of those who have been played like that. His agent first told him his budget could not get him the house he was looking for only to turn around to inform him of one that was just available!  He continued to narrate his ordeal:

“Before I baff, spray perf to go see the house you are sending me another message saying, ‘someone has just paid for it, can you see you are not fast?’ I said no problem. Then he now sent another message saying another one has come out, but I would have to go there very early in the morning” He obliged. On arrival the next morning, it was stories and twists involving calling the office and colleagues to take them to the property. Meanwhile, the said office is under a tree somewhere! That is according to AbujaLagosBoy. There is also a cluster of estate agents at a corner of Veterans Plaza, looking very ready to deal in all real estate matters.

To compound his disappointment, he was offered to go far from his preferred areas. He declined, but ended up with an agent who drives a GLE!…

This is a standout story among many others on social media about what Kubwa people experience at the hands of house agents.

But then, among the agents are individuals who can best be described as angels or saints, if indeed the others are really that bad. They are those who carry their clients along, give the best advice, and some who don’t even insist on inspection fees.

Fantahchukwu, another creator on TikTok, has had satisfactory experiences working with agents and has made a video recommending some agents to those who may be new to Abuja and/or are house hunting. She spoke highly of them and how honest, detailed and considerate they were.

Estate agents are supposed to be a convenient link between property owners and renters or buyers, but if there is no culture of transparency, honesty and consideration for clients, then that line of business will soon come under threats and damage trust, thereby making it difficult for new entrants into the field to operate without a heightened sense of suspicion.

Estate agents should fix themselves up before it is too late.