Shelter is an essential human need. It is the starting point of stability, dignity, and belonging. In Nigeria, however, the search for a home is often defined by exhaustion, misinformation, and uncertainty.
For this edition of The Radar, our magazine series spotlighting groundbreaking projects across industries shaping today’s world, we spoke with Babatope Ajirenike, founder of Locari, a Nigerian startup reimagining how people find homes. Designed with a user-first approach, Locari is building structure and transparency into one of Nigeria’s most chaotic everyday processes: house-hunting.
In this conversation, Babatope walks us through the inspiration behind the platform, its commitment to trust, structure, and efficiency, and offers a glimpse into the future of Nigeria’s rental experience.
What inspired the creation of Locari?
Locari came from my own frustration. I remember one time I needed to find a house in Ibadan. I spent weeks scrolling listing sites, calling agents, and moving from one area to another. Every time I got excited about a house, I’d show up and it was already taken. Or sometimes the agent just stopped replying, and I was left stranded. I thought, “There has to be a better way.” It wasn’t just me that experienced this; my friends and colleagues had also gone through the same stress. Agents were tired too, running from one inspection to another, barely making it worth their time. That’s when the idea hit me.
What if renters could see houses that are actually available, right now, on a map? What if they could request a live tour before traveling, negotiate inspection fees easily, and check the neighborhood for schools, hospitals, and everything before making a decision? What if agents could do multiple tours in a day, get paid fairly, and not waste time chasing people who aren’t serious? That chain of thoughts grew into Locari. It started as a way to save time and stress for both renters and agents, but has now evolved into a mission to make house-hunting in Nigeria something that actually works, instead of something people dread.
For someone hearing about Locari for the first time, how would you describe what your brand does in the simplest terms?
Locari shows you available houses in real-time on a map, so you can see what’s really out there near you. You can request a live tour, check the neighborhood, see schools and hospitals nearby, and even read reviews from previous tenants, all before spending time or money. For agents, it makes their work easier too. They can do multiple live tours in a day, get paid for each tour, and avoid wasting time on back-and-forth inspections. In the simplest terms, Locari makes finding a house fast, easy, and stress-free for renters, while helping agents work smarter.
What makes Locari different from existing platforms in the housing market?
Locari is different because it focuses on what actually works for real people, in real time. With us, renters see houses that are truly available right now, pinned on a map so they know exactly where they are. They can request live tours, either virtually or in person, and even negotiate inspection fees before going, just like hailing a ride. Agents can do multiple live tours in a day, get paid for each, and avoid wasting time on no-shows or repeated trips. Renters also get context about the neighborhood schools, hospitals, reviews, and everything they need to make a smart choice. So, unlike traditional listing sites, Locari isn’t just a random list of houses. It’s a real-time, smart, stress-free way to find a home, helping renters save time and helping agents earn more without burning out.
What’s the typical Locari experience for each user?
For a renter, they open Locari and see available houses pinned on a map near them. They can click on a house, check the neighborhood, read reviews, and request a live tour without leaving their current location. They can also opt for an in-person tour and negotiate the inspection fee if needed, and if they like it, they can proceed confidently, knowing the house is actually available. This saves them weeks of chasing houses and eliminates the stress of repeated inspections.
For an agent or landlord, they upload their verified listings, and instead of juggling multiple back-to-back inspections with no guarantee of serious renters, they can accept live tours one by one, get paid for each tour, and manage their schedule efficiently. They can do 10 tours in a day without stress, reaching more serious renters and earning more.
Basically, Locari turns house-hunting into a simple, predictable process, and makes managing listings and tours easier and more profitable. Everyone saves time, energy, and frustration.
Trust is a major issue in Nigeria’s housing market. How does Locari build trust with users and verify listings?
Trust is everything in house-hunting. I remember talking to friends who had wasted weeks visiting houses that didn’t exist and paying inspection fees for apartments that were already taken. That frustration is why we knew Locari had to solve trust upfront. Here are some of the ways Locari builds trust:
1. Real-time availability: Renters see only houses that are actually available right now, so they’re not chasing old or rented-out listings.
2. Live tours: Renters can request a live tour virtual or in-person before committing to anything. They see the house for themselves before paying or traveling.
3. Neighborhood context & reviews: Users can check schools, hospitals, and other nearby amenities, plus read reviews from previous tenants about the landlord and property.
4. Verified agents and listings: Only agents with real, up-to-date listings can host live tours. This means every interaction is with someone serious and accountable.
At Locari, our approach is simple: show what’s real, let people see it themselves, and give them the information to make confident decisions. We turn house-hunting from a gamble into a predictable and stress-free exercise.
What milestones have you achieved so far?
One of the first milestones was building a working version of Locari that actually shows real-time houses on a map. That was huge because it proved our idea could work in practice, not just on paper. Another crucial milestone was getting agents and landlords to embrace live tours. At first, some were hesitant and ask questions such as “Why should I change how I’ve always done inspections?” But when they saw they could do multiple tours in a day, earn more, and reduce wasted trips, they were convinced. That was a big validation for us.
We’ve also seen real users find houses through the platform, saving weeks of stress and frustration. Hearing their stories and seeing their excitement was a worthy milestone in itself as it made all the hardwork worth it.
And finally, we’ve started building a community of trusted agents, landlords, and renters who rely on Locari regularly. It’s small but growing, a beautiful reminder of our progress towards changing how house-hunting works in Nigeria.
What challenges have you faced, and how did you navigate them?
One of the biggest challenges was convincing agents and landlords to try something new. Many were used to doing inspections the old way, and some didn’t trust technology or were skeptical about live tours. At first, adoption was slow, and we had to spend time showing them the benefits, walking them through the platform, and even doing the first few tours with them to build their confidence. Another challenge we faced was getting real-time listings and accurate house data. We quickly realized that outdated or wrong information would ruin trust, so we built systems to verify availability and update listings constantly, even before agents started hosting live tours.
On the user side, some renters were hesitant to pay inspection fees upfront or worried the tours wouldn’t be real. We addressed this by making the process transparent: renters can see the exact location, negotiate the tour fee, and see reviews from previous tenants.
What’s been the most rewarding moment in building Locari?
Honestly, the most rewarding moment was the first time I heard a renter say something like, “I found my house in a day, and I didn’t have to chase anyone or waste money. This is amazing!”
Up until that point, it was just ideas, prototypes, and testing. But hearing someone actually experience relief and excitement because of Locari, it made all the late nights and challenges worth it.
Seeing agents do multiple live tours in a day and actually enjoy it, instead of feeling drained by endless inspections. They were earning more, working smarter, and telling us they finally felt the system was fair. Those small stories showed me that Locari isn’t just an app or a platform. It is a game changer, transforming the way people live and work, which is a priceless feeling.
How do you work with landlords, agents, and property managers to ensure quality listings?
We guide them through the process: how to upload listings properly, add accurate details, and update availability in real-time. For agents, we show them how to host live tours, and we give tips on taking clear photos and providing honest descriptions. We also encourage a feedback loop. Renters can leave reviews about the house and the landlord or agent, and we monitor this to make sure the listings remain trustworthy. If a property isn’t up to standard, we work with the agent or landlord to fix it or remove it.
Basically, it’s about partnership and accountability. By working closely with the people behind the listings and giving them incentives to do things right, we make sure renters can trust what they see, and agents and landlords get better results without unnecessary stress.
Beyond transactions, what impact do you hope Locari has on Nigeria’s housing landscape?
Beyond just matching people with homes, I want Locari to empower renters to make smart choices with real-time information about the house and neighborhood, help agents and landlords work smarter and earn more without unnecessary stress, raise the standard for transparency and trust across the housing market, so everyone knows what to expect.
If we get this right, Locari causes a major shift in the housing culture in Nigeria, birthing a new reality where finding a house doesn’t feel like a gamble anymore.
It’s 2030. What does Locari look like now?
By 2030, Locari has grown into a global platform that solves that problem everywhere. Renters can see real-time, available homes on a map, explore neighborhoods virtually, read reviews, and request live tours instantly, whether they’re moving across town or across continents. They can check nearby schools, hospitals, transit, and even local services, so they feel confident making a decision before stepping their foot in the door.
By then, Locari wouldn’t just be about renting anymore, it will be a trusted platform helping people start a fresh with confidence and ease anywhere in the world . By 2030, it becomes the go-to platform for anyone relocating, combining technology, transparency, and trust to make housing a simple, stress-free experience globally.
What advice would you give to aspiring founders tackling systemic problems in Nigeria?
My advice is to start with empathy. Step into the shoes of the people facing these challenges every day. Listen to their stories, observe their struggles, and find the pain points that everyone else assumes are “normal.” Solve the root problem, not just what seems obvious on the surface.
Think bigger than borders. The solutions you create at home could work anywhere in the world if they truly address a fundamental need. Don’t limit yourself, design systems that are scalable and adaptable globally. And lastly, be persistent. Systemic problems aren’t solved overnight. It takes testing, failing, learning, and iterating.
But every small win, every person whose life you make easier is proof that your solution matters. Over time, those small wins can transform industries and communities, both locally and internationally.
The Radar is a Moveee series bringing you fresh stories across industries on notable culture projects shaping today’s world. Do you have a project you would love to spotlight? Get in touch with us today.
