The verdict in three sentences
For a luxury real estate agency in Miami, the website build contract matters as much as the design, because it decides who owns the domain, code, content and IDX access the day you switch providers. Insist on payment milestones tied to verifiable deliverables, a written acceptance test that covers accessibility and an advertising compliance check, and an exit clause with full handover of credentials. At Kolonell those terms are standard on a fixed grid of $2,900 to $8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks with 3 months of support.
Which clauses should you require before signing?
In Brickell, Coral Gables or Miami Beach, many brokers only find out when they leave that the domain is registered to the web agency, or that the IDX theme license sits on the vendor's account. The table compares what typical local agency contracts say, what to ask for, and Kolonell's terms.
| Clause | Typical local agency contract | What to ask for | Kolonell terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope and page list | "Complete website", no list | Named list of pages and templates (listing, neighborhood, agent) | Page list attached to the quote |
| Domain and hosting | Often in the agency's name | In the brokerage's name, admin access for the client | Domain and hosting in the client's name |
| Code and content | Usage license while the subscription is paid | Assignment or perpetual license at handover, source files delivered | Code and content handed to the client at delivery |
| Payment milestones | 50% at signing, 50% at launch | 3 or 4 milestones tied to approved deliverables | Milestone payments, fixed amounts |
| Acceptance and revisions | "Two rounds" with no criteria | Written criteria, 5 to 10 business day test window | Acceptance against a criteria list, revisions included per stage |
| Change requests | Hourly rate of $125 to $200 | Written procedure, quote before any extra work | Written quote before any out-of-scope addition |
| Support and warranty | 30 days | 60 to 90 days of bug fixing | 3 months of support included, maintenance afterwards on quote |
| Exit and handover | Not covered | Credentials, content export, documentation | Documented handover of all access |
What does a luxury brokerage website cost in Miami in 2026?
2026 ballpark, based on typical Miami agency quotes and public rate pages of real estate web agencies:
| Option | Build budget | Timeline | Contract watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription IDX platform | $150 to $600 per month | 2 to 4 weeks | Site and content often lost if you cancel |
| Freelancer | $5,000 to $12,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | Code ownership rarely written down |
| Local agency, independent broker | $15,000 to $40,000 | 10 to 16 weeks | Check domain and licenses |
| Local agency, multi-office luxury network | $40,000 to $80,000+ | 4 to 6 months | Governance, CRM integrations |
| Kolonell Starter | $2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Standard terms above |
| Kolonell Growth | $4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | English and Spanish pages, neighborhood pages |
| Kolonell Premium | $8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Motion, video, multi-agent architecture |
Every plan includes a project manager reachable during Miami business hours, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support (see the international offer). IDX feed integration, a seller or buyer portal and ongoing SEO work are on quote. Kolonell built the website of Orven Properties, a real estate agency in Dubai.
Which Miami real estate specifics belong in the contract?
- MLS and IDX feed: the IDX license agreement binds the brokerage to its MLS (for example Miami Realtors). The contract should state that credentials and the agreement stay in the broker's name and that the vendor acts only as an approved technical provider.
- Photo and video rights: real estate photographers and videographers often license images only for marketing a given property. The contract should say who supplies the files and under which license they go online, especially drone footage.
- Florida Real Estate Commission advertising rules: ads must, among other things, identify the brokerage. Add an acceptance step where the broker of record signs off on the disclosures on every page template.
- Lead data: the Florida Information Protection Act of 2014 requires reasonable security measures and breach notifications for certain personal data. The contract should describe where form submissions are stored and who can access them.
- Accessibility: make WCAG 2.1 AA (or 2.2 AA) an acceptance criterion, as ADA Title III website lawsuits are common in Florida.
- Languages: specify which pages ship in Spanish, and possibly Portuguese for Brazilian buyers.
This is not legal advice: have the contract reviewed by your Florida attorney.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Valeria runs a six-agent luxury brokerage in Coral Gables. A local agency quotes $32,000, 50% at signing, with the domain registered to the agency and an IDX theme license on its account. Comparing with the Growth plan at $4,900, she negotiates four milestones: $1,225 at signing, $1,225 at design approval, $1,225 at acceptance, and $1,225 after 10 business days with no blocking issue.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Risk avoided: had she left the local agency after two years without recovering the domain or content, rebuilding the site and its 40 neighborhood pages would have cost at least $15,000 more, plus lost search rankings. She requests a free quote with her page list and current IDX license.
FAQ
Who should own the domain name?
Always the brokerage, with admin access at the registrar. Transferring a domain held by a vendor can take 5 to 60 days depending on how cooperative they are.
Can the vendor hold the IDX account?
It should not: the IDX agreement is between the broker and the MLS, and the vendor is only a technical provider. IDX feeds typically cost $50 to $300 per month depending on the vendor.
How many payment milestones make sense?
Three or four milestones suit a 3 to 4 week project. Avoid paying more than 50% before design approval.
What should acceptance testing cover?
A written list of criteria: mobile display, speed, tested forms, redirects, WCAG 2.1 AA and sign-off of advertising disclosures by the broker. A test window of 5 to 10 business days is reasonable.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Bugs are fixed for 3 months after delivery. After that, maintenance is offered on quote based on the volume of updates you need.
Let's scope your project. Send your page list, IDX license and contract requirements and we will propose a site between $2,900 and $8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks with domain and code in your name. 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.