The verdict in three sentences
In Palm Beach, the right question is not only the redesign price but the cost over three years: a portal-only presence can mean USD 18,000 to 54,000 in paid placements, while a Kolonell redesign at USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium), with a market maintenance assumption, lands between USD 9,850 and 18,800 over the same period. Portals remain useful for exposure; your own site keeps your URLs, your seller enquiries and your brand on Palm Beach island, Jupiter Island or in Wellington. The IDX feed is priced separately on quote, and the build takes 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready.
Portals only or your own site: what does it cost over three years?
2026 ballpark figures, based on public rate pages and typical quotes. Running costs are market assumptions, not Kolonell prices. IDX feed excluded from the custom scenarios.
| Scenario | Build (year 1) | Annual running cost (market assumption) | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portals only, paid placements | USD 0 | USD 6,000 to 18,000 | USD 18,000 to 54,000 |
| Real estate platform with built-in IDX | USD 1,500 | USD 3,600 (USD 300 a month) | USD 12,300 |
| Local agency, custom site | USD 25,000 to 60,000 | USD 3,000 to 7,200 | USD 34,000 to 81,600 |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | USD 150 to 300 a month over 33 months | USD 9,850 to 14,800 |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | USD 150 to 300 a month over 33 months | USD 13,850 to 18,800 |
For the Kolonell rows, the first 3 months of support are included, hence 33 months of maintenance assumption; beyond that, Kolonell maintenance is on quote. The USD 2,900 Starter tier suits agencies publishing few properties. Every tier includes a project manager in your time zone and native English or French copywriting. Photos, video tours, drone and floor plans remain third-party costs from your local photographer. See the international offer.
When does a redesign become necessary?
Three signals come up often at penthouse and prime apartment agencies: the site no longer presents full-service residences properly, the Palm Beach island or Wellington pages lost their rankings after a theme change, and relocating New York buyers find no dedicated journey (timing, remote viewings, direct contact). If your current site no longer brings direct enquiries and everything flows through portals, the redesign is justified by the cost above, not by aesthetics.
Timeline, risks and mitigation
| Step | Duration | Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| URL and inbound link inventory | 3 to 5 days | losing ranking residence pages | Search Console export, 301 redirect map |
| Content and forms | 1 to 2 weeks (you) | intrusive seller form | name, contact, property address, optional timeframe |
| Design and build | weeks 1 to 3 | property pages unreadable on mobile | phone-first mockups |
| Sold and archived listings | part of the migration | 404 errors in bulk | redirect to the residence page or an archive, per MLS rules |
| Compliance review | 3 to 5 days | questionable advertising wording | Fair Housing and compensation wording reviewed by your broker |
| Go-live | 1 day | service interruption | low-traffic switchover, rollback ready |
The Fair Housing Act applies to all your wording, the Florida Real Estate Commission oversees broker activity, and since the 2024 NAR settlement the way buyer agreements and compensation are presented has changed: have that copy reviewed. Anti-money-laundering checks stay in your internal process, never in an open form. Target WCAG 2.2 AA, as ADA Title III suits are frequent, and follow CAN-SPAM for your emails. This is not legal advice.
On quote: IDX or MLS feed, CRM integration, a private buyer area, maintenance after 3 months.
Local agency or Kolonell: the honest answer
A Palm Beach or West Palm Beach agency will fit better if you want regular shoots inside residences, a presence at in-season events and print campaigns run in the same place. Kolonell fits if you want a fixed price, delivery within a month and a site that reduces your dependence on portals. Questions to ask: how many URLs in the 301 map? What happens to sold properties? Who handles the IDX approval with the MLS? What maintenance after delivery, and at what price?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Coralstone Residences, a fictional agency focused on penthouses and prime apartments, run by Victoria. She spends USD 900 a month on portal placements, USD 32,400 over three years. Scenario: she keeps the portals but drops one USD 400 monthly placement, saving 400 x 36 = USD 14,400 over three years. Against that, a USD 4,900 Growth redesign plus a market maintenance assumption of USD 200 a month over 33 months (USD 6,600) totals USD 11,500. The balance is 14,400 minus 11,500 = USD 2,900, IDX on quote and photos as a third-party cost excluded. This calculation assumes no volume of enquiries.
FAQ
How much does a luxury agency website redesign cost in Palm Beach?
USD 25,000 to 60,000 at a local agency for a custom site, USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium) with Kolonell, IDX on quote.
Aren't portals enough?
They bring exposure, but USD 6,000 to 18,000 a year in placements leaves you with no URLs or data of your own. The two work together.
What timeline should we plan?
3 to 4 weeks of build with Kolonell once content is ready, plus 1 to 2 weeks of preparation and the MLS approval time for IDX.
What does maintenance cost afterwards?
The first 3 months are included with Kolonell, then on quote. On the market, assume USD 150 to 300 a month for a site this size.
How do I avoid losing my Google rankings?
Inventory every URL, often 150 to 500 for an active agency, 301 redirect each one before switchover, then monitor Search Console for 4 weeks.
Let's scope your project. A Growth redesign at USD 4,900 or Premium at USD 8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks, with IDX and maintenance priced separately. 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.
