The verdict in three sentences
In Fribourg, a luxury real estate agency redesigning its website should think in 3-year terms: build plus maintenance, roughly CHF 13,400 to 49,400 in 2026 depending on the provider, and about CHF 11,100 to 14,800 on Kolonell's grid (Growth CHF 4,500, Premium CHF 8,200, maintenance as a market assumption). A portal-only presence looks cheaper, but the agency owns neither its neighbourhood pages nor the relationship with the seller. For homes overlooking Lake Murten or the Gruyère foothills, staging and storytelling matter, and they play out on your own site.
What does a site cost over 3 years, compared with portals alone?
Homegate or ImmoScout24 subscriptions stay the same in every scenario, so they are left out. The table isolates the extra cost of the website. Ranges come from typical agency quotes and public rate pages; maintenance is a market assumption, not a Kolonell price.
| Scenario | Build | Maintenance over 3 years (market assumption) | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portals only | CHF 0 | CHF 0 | CHF 0, no pages of your own |
| Freelancer | CHF 8,000 | CHF 150 a month × 36 = CHF 5,400 | CHF 13,400 |
| Fribourg agency | CHF 25,000 | CHF 300 a month × 36 = CHF 10,800 | CHF 35,800 |
| Bern or Lausanne agency | CHF 35,000 | CHF 400 a month × 36 = CHF 14,400 | CHF 49,400 |
| Kolonell Growth | CHF 4,500 | 3 months included, then CHF 200 a month × 33 = CHF 6,600 | CHF 11,100 |
| Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) | CHF 8,200 | 3 months included, then CHF 200 a month × 33 = CHF 6,600 | CHF 14,800 |
At Kolonell, maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote; the CHF 200 a month is only there to compare like with like. Starter, at CHF 2,700, also exists but fits a bilingual canton poorly. The listings feed from your software or to the portals is a separate line on quote in every scenario. Tier details are on the international offer page.
What do you lose by staying on portals alone?
| Criterion | Portals only | Own site plus portals |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership of enquiries | shared with the portal | enquiries received directly |
| Neighbourhood pages (Bourg, Pérolles, Marly, Murten) | none | written in French and German |
| Showcasing the view and grounds | standard template | tailored galleries and plans |
| Presenting the agency to sellers | a short profile | mandate page and working method |
| Dependence on portal rules | total | partial |
| Marginal cost over 3 years | CHF 0 | CHF 11,100 to 49,400 depending on the option |
An owner near Murten choosing between two agencies rarely stops at the portal: they search for the agency's name. The website then acts as your credentials pack.
What timeline, and which redesign risks?
Once content is ready, Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks: URL inventory from Search Console and scoping in week 1, mock-ups in week 2, copy and build in weeks 2 and 3, testing, 301 map and compliance review in week 4. Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting and 3 months of support. German, essential in a bilingual canton, falls under Premium, with languages set in the quote; proofreading by an independent translator is a third-party cost.
Risks to scope before signing:
- listing and neighbourhood pages that already rank need a 301 redirect, and sold properties should point to their area, never to a 404;
- French and German versions must stay aligned URL by URL;
- the listings feed is tested on staging before switchover;
- the DNS switch happens off-peak, to avoid visible downtime;
- marketing copy is reviewed before go-live: no promise on price, time to sell or capital gain;
- forms are limited to name, contact details, property reference and an optional budget range, with no ID or financial documents.
Anti-money-laundering checks are part of the agency's internal process. For buyers abroad, the Lex Koller deserves a general mention pointing to a lawyer. The revised Swiss data protection act (nLPD/revFADP) has been in force since 1 September 2023; the GDPR may apply if you target EU residents. This is not legal advice. Photography, video, drone footage and floor plans remain third-party costs, handled by a local photographer.
When is a Fribourg agency the better choice?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
If you expect a partner on the ground in Fribourg for site visits, signboards and printed brochures, or a heavy integration with Swiss German property software, a local agency justifies its budget of CHF 25,000 and up. The remote model fits when the scope is clear and the goal is a solid bilingual site at a controlled cost.
Mini case study
Rives et Panoramas Immobilier (illustrative example) has 3 brokers specialising in homes with views over Lake Murten and in the Gruyère. Today it publishes on portals only. Chosen scenario: Premium CHF 8,200, maintenance as a market assumption CHF 6,600 over 33 months, German proofreading by an independent translator (third-party cost) CHF 1,200. 3-year total: CHF 16,000, about CHF 444 a month. The listings feed stays on quote, photos go to a local photographer.
FAQ
Why think over 3 years rather than the build price?
Because maintenance often weighs as much as the build: CHF 10,800 over 3 years for a local agency at CHF 300 a month, as a market assumption.
Does Kolonell charge CHF 200 a month for maintenance?
No, that figure is a market assumption used for comparison. The first 3 months of support are included, the rest is on quote.
Does Premium cover French and German?
Premium at CHF 8,200 is the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote. External native proofreading remains a third-party cost, around CHF 800 to 1,500.
Should we drop the portals after the redesign?
No, the two work together. The site adds CHF 11,100 to 49,400 over 3 years depending on the option, without replacing portal visibility.
How long does it take?
3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, plus the listings feed schedule set in its quote.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual site in 3 to 4 weeks, from CHF 4,500 to 8,200, with the 3-year cost set out in black and white. 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.
