The verdict in three sentences
A luxury real estate agency in Boston sells imagery and discretion first, so the choice of provider depends on who produces your photos and video, and who holds your accounts. If you already work with a listing photographer and want a polished site, bilingual English and French, with exclusive property pages, a remote studio delivers for USD 2,900 to 8,900 in 3 to 4 weeks. If you expect a drone shoot, MLS-connected IDX search at launch and meetings in your Back Bay office, the local agency is the more logical choice.
Which criteria should you use to compare a Boston agency and a remote studio?
| Criterion | Boston web agency | Boston freelancer | Kolonell (remote studio) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overlap with your office hours | Same zone (Eastern Time) | Same zone | Team in Dakar (GMT), 4 to 5 hours ahead: your morning and early afternoon |
| Kickoff workshop | In person at your office | Often by video | Video only |
| Copy languages | English, other languages subcontracted | English | Native English or French; Premium bilingual English and French |
| Build budget (2026 ballpark) | USD 12,000 to 50,000 | USD 60 to 130 per hour, so USD 5,000 to 15,000 | USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 |
| Holder of domain, hosting and IDX account | Check it, sometimes the agency | Rarely specified | Written into the quote: accounts in your brokerage's name |
| Photos, video and drone | Often part of the package | Rarely | Not offered, book a local photographer |
| Time to launch | 10 to 16 weeks | Varies | 3 to 4 weeks |
| After launch | Monthly maintenance contract common | Case by case | 3 months of support included, then maintenance on quote |
These ranges draw on public pricing pages from Greater Boston agencies, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co profiles and hourly rates shown on Upwork and Codeable. They are a benchmark, not a quote.
What does the site cost over three years, on equal hypotheses?
Agencies specialised in luxury real estate often include IDX search. To compare fairly, the table assumes a curated listings site (exclusives and off-market homes shown as edited property pages), without IDX, and applies the same maintenance and photography hypotheses to all three options.
| Line (USD) | Boston agency | Boston freelancer | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 30,000 | 10,000 | 8,900 |
| Hosting and maintenance (hypothesis: USD 150 per month over 36 months) | 5,400 | 5,400 | 5,400 |
| Listing photography (same hypothesis over 3 years) | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Changes in years 2 and 3 (same hypothesis) | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| 3-year total | 43,900 | 23,900 | 22,800 |
| Time to launch | 10 to 16 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
The real gap sits in the build and the timeline. Connected IDX search, a buyer area with alerts or an integration with your real estate CRM are quoted on request. Tier contents are detailed in the international website offer.
Which rules apply to a real estate website in Massachusetts?
Agents and brokers are licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, and your site should accurately reflect the licensed brokerage's identity. The federal Fair Housing Act and Massachusetts anti-discrimination law (Chapter 151B) prohibit any advertisement indicating a preference or exclusion based on a protected characteristic: watch phrases such as 'ideal for a couple without children'. If you display MLS listings, your MLS's IDX display rules apply (attribution, refresh, disclaimers). On data, regulation 201 CMR 17.00 requires a written information security program for the personal information of Massachusetts residents, which covers your showing and financing forms. For accessibility, the practical target is WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA, all the more since ADA Title III website suits also reach real estate. This is not legal advice.
When is the Boston agency the better choice?
Kolonell does not travel and does no photography, video or drone work. For a portfolio of Wellesley homes or Seaport penthouses, visual quality is decisive: if you have no regular photographer, a local agency coordinating shoots and site spares you two vendors. It is also preferable if you require full IDX search from day one, monthly meetings in your office or a single retainer for the site, social media and advertising.
What should you ask each provider before signing?
- Will the domain, hosting and any IDX subscription be in the brokerage's name?
- How is an off-market property page protected (non-indexed page, access on request)?
- Who writes the property descriptions, and who checks them against the Fair Housing Act?
- Which languages are included in the price?
- How are showing requests passed to the right agent?
- What does adding a new property page cost after the support period?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
For a written estimate, send your page list through the free quote page.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Olivier T., principal broker of a four-agent boutique in Beacon Hill, works with French and Swiss families relocating for biotech or university positions. A local agency proposes USD 32,000 with IDX, in 14 weeks. He chooses Kolonell Premium at USD 8,900, bilingual English and French, with about twenty edited property pages, and keeps his usual photographer. Build gap: USD 23,100. Hypothesis: a 2.5 % commission on a USD 1,200,000 sale is USD 30,000 gross; a single extra transaction linked to the site covers both the gap and the build.
FAQ
Can IDX search be added later?
Yes, IDX integration is quoted on request and can come after launch. The IDX feed subscription is billed separately by the vendor, often monthly.
Can the site be in French for our French-speaking buyers?
The Premium tier at USD 8,900 is a complete bilingual English and French site. Other languages, such as Mandarin, require a separate translation.
Who supplies the property photos?
Your real estate photographer: Kolonell does no shoots. Budget for it the same way whichever web provider you pick.
How do we protect off-market listings?
Non-indexed property pages and an access-on-request form are possible. A true secure area with logins is custom work, quoted on request.
What is the payment schedule?
Bank transfer of 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, so USD 4,450 then USD 4,450 for Premium, with launch in 3 to 4 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us how many properties, neighbourhoods and languages you want to showcase and we will point you to the USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 tier, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.