Bridging Ethical Gaps in Real Estate Agency Practices: Insights from agents and consumers

Authors

  • Gunavathy Kanniyapan Assistant Professor, Department of Real Estate, Faculty of Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Ting Kien Hwa Professor, Department of Real Estate, Faculty of Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Tan Say Keat Senior Lecturer, Department of Real Estate, Faculty of Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Chin Wen Aun Assistant Professor, Department of Real Estate, Faculty of Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Tan Boon Yeow Principal Lecturer, Department of Real Estate, Faculty of Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
  • Graeme Newell Professor, Department of Economics, Finance & Property, School of Business, Western Sydney University, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10i31.6284

Keywords:

Ethical behavior, Real estate agent, Client-Agent relationship, Marketing

Abstract

The Malaysian real estate sector significantly contributes to national revenue but faces ethical challenges impacting trust and integrity. This study examines ethical issues in marketing, professional relationships, and agent-client relationships. A preliminary survey was conducted among 30 real estate professionals and 30 consumers, revealing a perceptual gap: agents rate their compliance moderately, while clients view them positively in transparency and communication. The findings highlight opportunities for agents to improve client relations through enhanced transparency and communication. Strengthened professional development and regulatory oversight are recommended to build trust, improve client satisfaction, and foster stability, ultimately enhancing the sector's reputation and long-term growth.

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Published

2025-01-30

How to Cite

Kanniyapan, G., Ting Kien Hwa, Tan Say Keat, Chin Wen Aun, Tan Boon Yeow, & Graeme Newell. (2025). Bridging Ethical Gaps in Real Estate Agency Practices: Insights from agents and consumers . Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 10(31), 373–380. https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10i31.6284