PrivateProperty.com.ng is an online platform where anyone can search for properties for sale and to rent in Nigeria. The portals launched November 2011 and based in Lagos and Abuja generates leads for properties advertised by Real Estate Agents from every state across the country.
Founded and run by Private Property Holdings South Africa, Oluwafemi Taiwo and Badmus Oluwafemi. PrivateProperty.com.ng founders says the portal is truly digital property marketplace making it easy for buyers and prospective tenants to find properties for sale, and to rent, and to provide enough quality property information to help them make a buying or renting decision.
How It Works
Speaking to TechMoran, Oluwafemi Taiwo says anyone with an internet connected device – PC, Tablet, Mobile Phones can use the portal to search for properties for sale or to rent in Nigeria by navigating to their particular area of interest.
Taiwo adds that the portal makes it easy for people to buy, sell or rent property in Nigeria as it has thousands of properties with photographs, videos and virtual tours. Virtual tours are 360 degree panoramic view of properties and allow viewers to experience a video like tour of the property.
With over 12,000 properties onsite advertised by over 500 certified Real Estate Companies in Nigeria, Private Property is primarily a subscription based business where estate agents pay a small fee to advertise their properties, the site also has banner ad spaces for sale to real estate related providers.
About competition Taiwo says, “We focus on quality information on every property listed on our portal which makes us the busiest property website in the country and we make sure we deliver value to our Estate Agent customers by making sure they get enquiries and leads to the properties they advertise on our website.”
To him a lot of websites springing up daily trying to solve the same problem but none is as a direct competitor at the moment.
Under One Africa Media Group
Private Property is backed by Africa’s largest classifieds group – One Africa Media and is working hard to woo property agents to use internet in Nigeria. Taiwo says estate Agents in the country still believe in the traditional forms of advertising like newspapers and it has been difficult to get them to list their properties on the portal, but this is slowly changing with the huge shift in their behaviour.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest telecom’s market with over 110 million mobile subscribers, Taiwo says they are launching mobile platforms to take advantage of this. According to Internet World Stats, Nigeria has around 50 million internet users among its 170 million population and is the leading internet consumer in Africa and as transactions moves online real estate will be the first to gain as people continue to embrace property ownership.
Going Mobile
He says, “We are launching a new interface, mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry. We are also expanding into other major cities in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa.