Organisations in different industries across the world including
education, medicine, finance, information technology, engineering, amongst
others have their workforce engaged in telework as the primary mode of
operation. This mode of operation became even more prevalent during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The adoption of telework in these industries is
evidenced by the availability of published literature and guidelines. However,
similar published evidence on telework as an alternative approach in the real
estate profession is very limited, both in Nigeria and globally. It is in this
light that this research sought to examine teleworking as an alternative to real
estate practice in Nigeria with a view to identifying the tools and techniques
applicable for the mode of practice. Via a review of literature, this study
investigated the characteristics of telework in three major industries which
included: education, medicine and Information Technology (IT). The
characteristics identified were: the central use of ICT, remote communication
with stakeholders, remote data acquisition and remote accessing and sharing
of files. From these discoveries, and through further literature review, tools
and techniques such as: Remote sensing and GIS, Property Management
Software, Facilities Management Information System, property marketing
platforms amongst other, were identified for remote real estate practice. It was however recommended that the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors
and Valuers (NIESV) performs a deeper investigation into the application of
telework to real estate practice in Nigeria so as to provide institutionalbacked
guidelines needed especially in situations similar to the COVID-19
pandemic