Our own craigslist?: Estate agents of DHA, Clifton launch website

Website to help “protect customers from imposters,” and to protect the business of brokers and property agents.

KARACHI:

The Defence and Clifton Association of Real Estate Agents launched its official website on Monday “to protect customers from imposters”.

The association’s acting president Shahid Aleem said the website was necessary as imposters and fraudsters have driven brokers and commission agents out of business.

He said the website would connect people to the real estate business. All the data available online would help discourage scams.

Aleem said that the availability of places to rent, sell or buy, along with other particulars and information and contacts of around 1,200 real estate agents could prevent cheating.

“We cannot afford the rising trend in real estate scams because we realise that the customer puts his lifetime’s saving on the table when he comes to buy property,” said website founder Muhammad Younus Rizvi.

In the second phase, the website would be updated with more options according to the advice and suggestions from clients. There are at least 500 house listings in the two areas of Defence Housing Authority and Clifton every month, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2011.