The verdict in three sentences
A St Peter Port studio that designs, sources, delivers, installs and stages furnishing for second homes and rental properties mainly sells peace of mind to busy or absent owners: the site has to show clear packages and reliable timelines. A Guernsey agency makes sense if you need someone on the island producing content as projects progress; a remote studio is enough if your visuals exist and you want a short schedule. The 2026 Kolonell tiers are Starter at £2,300, Growth at £3,900 and Premium at £6,900.
Three ways to buy a website: which one fits you?
Guernsey's housing market, with its split between local market and open market, brings together long-established buyers, newcomers relocating for work and owners who let. Your site has to let each of them recognise themselves quickly. There are three ways to buy:
- Island agency: someone you bump into in St Peter Port, in-person workshops, property visits in St Martin or Cobo. 2026 ballpark from typical quotes: £5,000 to £15,000.
- Local or mainland freelancer: £2,000 to £6,000, flexible, but you depend on one person for code and maintenance.
- Remote studio: fixed price, a project manager reachable during UK hours, native English copywriting included, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. See the Kolonell international offer.
What timeline should you expect from each provider?
Timing matters a lot for a studio that wants to be visible before newcomers arrive or before the letting season. A typical comparison:
| Stage | Guernsey agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and workshop | weeks 1 to 2, in person | week 1, on video |
| Content collection | weeks 2 to 4 | week 1, checklist provided |
| Property photography | weeks 3 to 5, agency network | before kick-off, local photographer you hire |
| Design mock-ups | weeks 5 to 7 | week 2 |
| Development | weeks 7 to 10 | weeks 2 to 3 |
| Revisions and testing | weeks 10 to 11 | weeks 3 to 4 |
| Launch | around week 12 | week 4 |
The agency takes longer because it also does the groundwork. If that groundwork is already done in-house, the longer schedule gives you nothing extra.
When the island agency is the best choice
To be frank, the local agency wins if you have no photos or copy, if you want it to organise shoots across ten properties spread between St Sampson and the west coast, or if your owner clients insist on meeting the web provider. It also wins if you want a single partner for the website, brochures, signage and social media. In those cases the premium buys time and presence.
Site requirements and red flags in quotes
A turnkey furnishing site needs a portfolio by property type (harbour flat, family home, furnished let, staging for sale), WebP or AVIF images loaded on demand, photo credits and licences, no identifiable address and written consent from each owner. The form asks for property type, number of bedrooms, budget band and target date, nothing more. Add a process and fees page in general terms, a press page only if real coverage exists, links to Instagram, Pinterest or Houzz, and supplier partners described plainly.
| Red flag in a quote | Why it is a problem | What to require |
|---|---|---|
| Domain registered in the provider's name | you lose control if you part ways | domain and hosting in your name |
| Images bought without a written licence | risk of takedown or claims | licence covering site, social and listings |
| Mandatory maintenance with no term | hidden 3-year cost | written term, price and notice period |
| No performance target | slow galleries on mobile | LCP target under 2.5 seconds |
| A 12-field form | drop-offs and useless data | 4 to 5 fields, data minimisation |
| No handover pack | dependency on the provider | code, access and documentation handed over |
The Guernsey frame
Need a professional website?
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The Bailiwick applies its own law: the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2017, overseen by the Office of the Data Protection Authority. Your privacy notice, cookies and forms should refer to it, not only to UK GDPR. The title architect is protected in the UK and many other jurisdictions: present yourself as an interior design studio, never as architects without actual registration. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA on accessibility. This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Rachel runs a St Peter Port studio that furnishes properties turnkey for newcomers and landlords. She receives an island agency quote of £9,000 with maintenance at £120 a month from month 4 to month 36: £9,000 + 33 × £120 = £12,960 over three years.
Against it, Growth at £3,900 plus a day and a half from an independent local photographer at £700 a day, i.e. £1,050 of third-party cost: £4,950, with maintenance on quote after the 3 included months. As her core photos already exist, she picks the remote studio and keeps the option of a local photographer twice a year.
FAQ
Does a local agency know Guernsey law better?
Often, yes, but still require a written reference to the 2017 law in your notices. A review by a local adviser usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
How long until the site is live?
3 to 4 weeks at Kolonell once content is in, against about 12 weeks for an agency that also does the groundwork.
Growth or Premium?
Growth at £3,900 covers a filterable portfolio and a qualifying form. Premium at £6,900 (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) makes sense for an international clientele or deeper integrations.
Can I show properties on Herm or the neighbouring islands?
Yes, with the owner's consent and no detail that locates the property. On a small island a single view can identify a house: check every photo.
For detailed pricing, request a free quote.
Let's scope your project. A portfolio by property type, clear packages and a qualifying form, from £2,300 to £6,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.