Impediments to FM Professionals' Engagement at the Design Phase of a Building

Despite extensive documentation of the benefits of involving FM professionals at the design stage of a building project in the literature, there are still a number of barriers to their participation. This study thus sought to investigate the perception of built-environment professionals in Lagos State of the impediments to the engagement of FM professionals. Three hundred and forty questionnaires were distributed to builders, engineers, architects, and quantity surveyors in the study area, and a response rate of 78 percent was obtained. The Mean and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyse the data, and tables were used to present the findings of the analyses. The outcome of the analysis using mean shows that all the built-environment professionals agree that the major impediments to the engagement of FM professionals at the  design stage of a building project are: the belief that FM professionals are required only when construction is complete (mean=3.69), non-awareness of the advantages gained by engaging them at the design stage (mean=3.67), and discord between FM specialists' professional judgment and the client's desires (mean=3.57). Moreover, the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test indicates that there is no significant difference in the mean of the built-environment professionals. The study concluded, among other things, that FM professionals need to work hard to establish a presence within the built environment that will demonstrate their significance, if they want to succeed in today's fiercely competitive market. &nbsp

Impact of HVOTLS on Residential Property Rental Values in High-Brow Lagos Metropolis

High Voltage Overhead Transmission Lines (HVOTLs) otherwise refered to as power-lines have been debated to facilitate property value diminution. This current study investigates the impact of power-lines on the rents of residential properties in high brow Lagos. Questionnaires were distributed to registered Estate Surveying firms, residents within 200m to power-lines in Surulere area of Lagos while an indepth interview of the Manager and field officers of the Akangba PHCN sub-station was conducted. On the average, a response rate of 66.5% was recorded. Findings revealed that residential property rents increased as distance from power-lines increased averagely by =N=5,000.00 and a mean value impact of =N=786 on neighbourhood rental value.The study encouraged the use of buried armour cables instead of overhead power-lines in future and the strict enforcement of ROWs within Lagos metropolis where power-lines already exist, in a bid to abate the effect of power line on property investments

Influence of Office Layout on Academic Staff Performance in Covenant University, Ota

Previous research has indicated that it is critical to regularly monitor academic staffperformance in higher  educational institutions. This is because it has an inevitable and continuous impact on both organisational and student academic performance. Taking this into consideration, this study, with a focus on the academic staff of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, evaluated the influence of office layout on staff performance. The objectives of the study were to investigate staff perception of office layout, examine factors influencing staff performance in an office, and establish the nature of the relationship between office layout and staff performance. One hundred questionnaires were randomly administered to academic staff at the university, and a response rate of 60% was obtained. It was discovered that the academic staff perceived all the ten office layout elements presented to them to be "good". The results also showed that office layout (mean=4.68), reliable internet (mean=4.55) and office furniture (mean=4.40) are among the crucial factors influencing academic staff performance. Finally, the study revealed that office layout has a significant impact on performance. It was recommended, among other things, that the Management of the institution should improve on office layout in order to enhance performance. These findings imply that if the Management of the University is desirous of keeping staff performance high, it must grasp the key factors influencing their performance. In order to achieve the desiredperformance levels, it is necessary for the management to understand what to do to effectively bring about those levels

What Lenders Want from Mortgage Valuation Reports:A Survey of Nigeria Banks

For over a decade now, the Nigerian real estate industry has witnessed a steady but continuous growth as via the participatory activities of major private sector players both nationally and internationally. Hence, the need to urgently explore the requirements of valuation report users is eminent as the report serves as an important input to lenders' decision making. Surveying the existing twenty-two (22) Nigerian banks as prime users of valuation reports in the country, this study examines the need of these banks vis-a-vis the report content with a view to determine their needs and further improve on the quality of valuers’ reports. The needs of the banks were examined in accordance with the reporting format of Nigerian valuation reports. Using mean ranking coupled with the relative importance index (RII) methods, retrieved data were analysed and findings showed that lenders require more explicit details relating to salient aspects of the property market in valuation reports which include valuation calculations and uncertainty in valuation figures. The study concluded that the profession of estate surveyors and valuers should be mindful of the new expectation of their clients and try as much as possible to meet those expectations to retain the reliability of valuation reports in Nigeria

An Exposition on Principals’ Influence in Real Estate Negotiation

The conflicting interest between principals’ and the intermediary role played by Estate Surveyors and Valuers during real estate negotiation could prone the latter to influence from these principals’ as evident in valuation. The research which entailed a survey of 159 Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Lagos metropolis was analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and the Relative Important Index. It was discovered that potential tenants are most apt in influencing real estate negotiation which is usually carried out with the use of reward powers and information power where pecuniary gains are offered to Estate Surveyors and Valuers in order to accomplish their whims while access to information by these principals are also used against the Estate Surveyor and Valuer working in an unfamiliar terrain respectively. The researchers therefore opines that a wakeup call by both the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers and the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria in curbing the prevalence of this influence will help preserve the integrity of the Estate Surveying and valuation profession

Shopping Mall Patronage: A Review of Predictive Factors

Given the increasing popularity of shopping malls globally, it is vital for would-be investors and their consultants (bankers, estate surveyors and valuers, among others) to examine the critical variables for the feasibility and viability of such an investment. Taking this into consideration, a systematic review of prior studies on shopping malls was conducted with the aim of highlighting the factors predicting patronage. To accomplish this aim, the researchers reviewed papers published within a ten-year period. According to the summary, research on shopping malls has gotten a lot of attention, especially in developing countries. The study also discovered that, in both developed and developing countries, income, location, accessibility, and price are the most important factors influencing mall patronage. In conclusion, shopping mall stakeholders should consider using the fifteen variables highlighted in this study as an investment guide

An Investigation of the Factors Motivating Students’ Stay in Private Universities’ Hostels

Provision of housing accommodation to students of higher institutions has been a great challenge over the years. Various efforts had been made both by the government and private individuals/organisations to assuage this situation but astronomical increase in the number of students gaining admission into the available institutions has all the time dwarf these efforts. This study therefore examined the factors motivating students to stay in the hostels. Questionnaires were administered on 325 students in the Bells University of Technology and Crawford University. The data collected were analysed using frequency distribution and mean. . The study found that electricity supply, peer/friendship influence, security, parental influence and water supply are mostly the factors motivating students to stay in the hostel. Following these findings, the study recommends that hostel providers should take critical look into and incorporate these factors that motivate students to stay in the hostel. This study is expected to serve as a guide to new hostel providers

Rental Value Around HVOTL Facilities in Residential Neighborhoods of Metropolitan Lagos,Nigeria

There has been a constant debate that High Voltage Overhead Transmission Lines (HVOTLs) facilitate residential property values diminution. This study therefore tries to capture the pattern of residential property rental values around HVOTLs using a rent comparison basis within Lagos metropolis. Questionnaires were distributed to Estate Surveyors and Valuers, residents within 200m to power lines in Surulere and Alimosho areas of Lagos coupled with an indepth interview with the Managers and field officers of the Akangba and Alimosho PHCN sub station. An average response rate of 66.5% was recorded and collated data were analysed via descriptive and analytical statistics. Findings revealed a homogeneous trend in residential property value and neighbourhood characteristic. Finally, the study encouraged the burial of power lines inclusive of the strict enforcement of ROWs in Lagos metropolis to play down and abate the unanticipated impact of HVOTL on property investments

The Role of Education towards Achieving Sustaining Housing and Environmental Development in Nigeria

Education constitutes the most effective means that the society needs to confront the challenges of the world. Succinctly put, the sustainable progress of man depends wholly on educated minds in every walk of life. It is the major factor that can be used to create enduring relationships among people and foster greater respect for the needs of human beings in any situation on earth. The paper examines the possible ways of sustaining existing low-cost housing estates in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lessons from experiences of developed nations on low-cost housing estates welfare mechanisms as it relates to the basis of allocation, usage, periodic maintenance, transferability and social cohesion were ascertained from literature and compared with existing situations in Lagos State. Findings showed that there is need for continuous life learning efforts to be embarked upon and sustained by the three tiers of government in Nigeria towards achieving sustainable housing and environmental development. The study recommends that the three arms of government need to embark on educational re-orientation of Nigerians on sustainable home ownership built on equitable, social, economic and political fair play