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TikTok appears to be becoming the go-to storefront for housing in Cameroon, thanks to the pull of short-form video. For years, property agents relied on posters and signboards. Now they are moving onto social media. TechGriot took a closer look at the shift.
A parade of homes on digital platforms 🎥
Accounts with telling names announce their specialty from the first glance. Behind them, a digital-native generation of agents leans on storytelling and a light format: they film every corner of a property on a smartphone, from the kitchen to the bathrooms, the access road and the surroundings. Thanks to the platform’s recommendation algorithm, the system that decides which videos to show to which users, these clips can reach a far larger audience than a signboard planted outside a house, including people who weren’t yet looking for housing. Users can also comment, ask questions or send a private message, which can noticeably shorten the gap between spotting a listing and making first contact. John welcomes the shift:
« What I like about these real estate agents is that they’ve revolutionized this line of business, and today they can feel respected. »
Going digital reassures clients 🔒
Before social media took off, the relationship between agents and clients was often marked by mistrust. Many clients feared scams and fruitless trips. Marcel’s story illustrates the point: « I remember approaching a real estate agent in 2013, after my baccalauréat [the high-school leaving exam]. I needed a modern room. I paid the viewing fee [charged for visits], as was the custom, but I didn’t like what I saw when I got there. »
Increasingly, rooms, houses and studios are filmed and shown in advance. The video gives a look at the property, a sense of the neighborhood and the price before any visit. That transparency, which clients can rewatch at will, is said to be pushing back deceptive practices. It also reportedly rewards serious professionals, whose reputations are now built online, under the eyes of their community. Nadège is one satisfied client:
« I found my home through an agent I discovered on TikTok. I saw exactly what I was looking for and jumped on the opportunity right away. »
A trade that is professionalizing 📈
The shift is also changing the skills the job demands. Framing, editing, lighting, caption writing and comment management are now part of these agents’ daily routine. The smartphone becomes a production tool, and online visibility a selling point in its own right. Agents who adapt can build their reputation, while those who stay off the platform risk losing clients to more visible competitors.
The practice still needs structure: verifying listings, protecting personal data and fighting fake accounts remain open challenges if trust is to last.
Have you ever found a home through TikTok? Do you trust a video tour as much as an in-person visit? Tell us in the comments.
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