The verdict in three sentences
A Cork property management company looking after high-end homes for expatriate and absentee owners mostly sells trust at a distance: its clients live in Dubai, Boston or Munich and judge the firm on its website before any call. A remote studio meets this need well when your photography exists and the work is about fee clarity, the owner area and copywriting, on a fixed grid of €2,700 (Starter), €4,500 (Growth) or €8,200 (Premium). A Cork agency is preferable if you need regular shoots in the homes, in-person workshops with your partners or ongoing local marketing support.
What does an absentee owner expect from their manager's website?
The expatriate owner never walks into your office. They compare three websites on a Sunday evening, from another time zone, and look for proof of seriousness: licence, fee transparency, reporting rhythm, response in an emergency.
| Owner expectation | What the site must show | Build note |
|---|---|---|
| Knowing the firm is licensed | PSRA licence number and full contact details | footer and About page |
| Understanding the fees | clear grid: management, letting, call-outs | dedicated page, updated in the CMS |
| Following the property without calling | owner portal access, monthly reports | link to your software, integration on quote |
| Knowing who handles emergencies | incident procedure, response times | procedures page and maintenance form |
| Reassurance about tenants | vetting process, RTB registration of tenancies | "Our method" page |
| Reading in their language | English, sometimes German or French | Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) |
For homes to let, listings usually go through Daft.ie and MyHome.ie. Automatic syndication of your listings to these portals is priced on quote.
Where does each model win, stage by stage?
Comparing "local versus remote" as a block is not very useful. It is better to look at each stage of the project.
| Project stage | Cork agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping workshop | around a table, half a day | 2 video calls of 60 to 90 minutes, in Irish hours |
| Property photos and video | often via a partner photographer | local photographer booked by you, third-party cost |
| Page copywriting | Irish English, local tone | native English or French copywriting included |
| Build | typically 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Launch and ownership | domain and code to clarify in the contract | domain in your name, access handed over at delivery |
| Aftercare | monthly retainer common | 3 months of support included, then on quote |
| Local marketing activity | possible, usually billed on top | out of scope, search work on quote |
What should you budget, and what do Cork and Dublin agencies charge?
The figures below are a 2026 ballpark based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages. They vary with page count, integrations and the share of copywriting.
| Provider type | 2026 ballpark | Typical timeline | What is often included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork freelancer | €2,500 to €6,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | adapted theme, copy supplied by the client |
| Cork agency | €6,000 to €15,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | bespoke design, on-site workshops |
| Dublin agency | €12,000 to €35,000 | 8 to 14 weeks | strategy, advanced integrations |
| Kolonell Starter | €2,700 | 3 to 4 weeks | brochure site, native copy, 3 months of support |
| Kolonell Growth | €4,500 | 3 to 4 weeks | more pages, linked owner area, blog |
| Kolonell Premium | €8,200 | 3 to 4 weeks | the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
The tiers are detailed on the international offer page. One concrete reference: Kolonell built the website of Orven Properties (orvenproperties.com), a Dubai real estate company, which often resonates with owners based in the Gulf.
Regulatory frame to check. In Ireland, property service providers are licensed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) and residential tenancies are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Form data falls under GDPR, overseen by the Data Protection Commission. Target WCAG 2.2 AA for accessibility, and check whether any part of your online service falls within the scope of the European Accessibility Act. This is not legal advice.
When is the Cork agency clearly better?
- You want regular shoots in every home, each time a new property comes under management.
- Your partners insist on in-person workshops and a contact they meet around town.
- You are looking for a local marketing partner who also runs your campaigns and events.
- The project includes a bespoke owner platform with significant custom development.
In other cases, notably a website rebuild with existing photography and an international audience, the remote studio covers the essentials for a fraction of the budget.
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Ask the local agency: who holds the domain today? Can the monthly retainer be cancelled? Are the photos licensed with unlimited usage rights? Ask the remote studio: which time slots for video calls? Who writes and who reviews? What is the access handover procedure at the end of the project?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Siobhán runs a Cork property management company looking after 35 high-end homes for owners based in Dubai, Boston and Munich. Today, each owner receives a hand-written monthly email update: about 40 minutes per owner, more than 23 hours a month.
With a Growth site at €4,500 linking to her software's owner portal and a standardised reports page, the time drops to 10 minutes per owner. Saving: 35 × 30 minutes, so 17.5 hours a month. At an internal cost of €45 an hour, that is about €790 a month, or nearly €9,450 a year. A Cork agency quote for the same scope was €13,000.
FAQ
Is the Starter tier enough for a high-end manager?
For a 5 to 6 page site with fees, licence and a form, yes, at €2,700. As soon as you need to link the owner portal or publish regular content, the Growth tier at €4,500 fits better.
Can listings be pushed to Daft.ie and MyHome.ie from the site?
It is possible, but the integration depends on your property software and is priced on quote. Many firms publish to the portals from their software and then show the same homes on their website.
How do we work with a studio when our owners are in three time zones?
The project manager works in your Irish hours; your owners browse the site whenever they like. Plan 2 scoping calls and an online acceptance review over 3 to 4 weeks.
Should the site be translated into German or French?
Only if a significant share of your owners asks for it, for instance above 20%. The Premium tier at €8,200 is the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote.
Who pays the photographer?
You do, directly: it is a third-party cost, often €400 to €900 a day in Cork as a ballpark. The studio gives you the shot list you need.
For a precise figure, request a free quote stating the number of homes you manage and your owners' languages.
Let's scope your project. A high-end management website with clear fees, procedures and owner access, from €2,700 to €8,200 depending on the tier, 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.