The verdict in three sentences
A luxury real estate agency in Port Louis should redesign its website when an overseas buyer or a professional relocating to Mauritius cannot find, in their language, the properties open to non-citizens and an easy way to request a call back. With Kolonell, the redesign costs USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), against a 2026 ballpark of roughly USD 5,500 to 22,000 from Mauritian agencies. The listings feed is quoted separately, and the main danger is breaking the French and English URLs that already bring in visits.
Who are your visitors, and what must the site show them?
From Grand Baie to Tamarin, from Moka to Bel Ombre, a high-end agency website speaks to several audiences at once. The table below is the basis for the site structure.
| Profile | Language | What they look for | Key page |
|---|---|---|---|
| European buyer, second home | French | Properties open to foreigners, area, sea view | Development page and region page |
| South African family relocating | English | Nearby schools, security, renting before buying | Region page and lettings |
| Expat professional posted to Port Louis | English or French | Furnished rental in Moka or Ebene | Long-term lettings |
| Mauritian resident | French or English | Resale, valuation | Seller form |
| Remote investor | English | Approved schemes, documents | Buying in Mauritius page |
| Overseas partner agent | English | Printable property sheets | Listings area |
Foreign buyers purchase through approved schemes (IRS, RES, PDS and related programmes). The site can present them in general terms and point to an adviser, without promising eligibility or residence. This is not legal advice.
Technically, each language needs its own URLs (for example /fr/ and /en/), reciprocal hreflang tags and properly written copy, not a machine translation pasted under the original.
What budget for a redesign in Port Louis in 2026?
Local quotes are in Mauritian rupees; the USD conversion is approximate (about MUR 45 to USD 1) and the figures are a 2026 ballpark drawn from typical agency quotes.
| Option | Local quote (MUR) | Approximate equivalent | Real bilingual delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | MUR 80,000 to 250,000 | USD 1,800 to 5,500 | Often one polished language |
| Local studio | MUR 250,000 to 500,000 | USD 5,500 to 11,000 | French and English, uneven proofreading |
| Established agency | MUR 500,000 to 1,000,000 | USD 11,000 to 22,000 | Yes, often with CRM |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | One language, compact site | |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | Region pages, lettings, blog | |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Included in every package: a project manager reachable in the Mauritius time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Photography, video, drone shots and floor plans remain third-party costs (local photographer). See the international offer.
What timeline, and which risks?
Kolonell's timeline fits in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready:
- Week 1: inventory of French and English URLs, Search Console export, 301 map, choice of language structure.
- Weeks 1 and 2: region copy, development pages, minimal enquiry form.
- Weeks 2 and 3: build, hreflang, optimised galleries.
- Weeks 3 and 4: review of promotional copy and scheme wording, testing, switch-over.
| Risk | Consequence | Safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| Faulty hreflang | Google shows the English page to French speakers | Reciprocal tags tested in Search Console |
| Sold listings deleted | 404 errors, lost visits | 301 to the region or a sold page |
| Machine translation | Unconvincing tone for a high-end buyer | Native copywriting, agency proofreading |
| Greedy enquiry form | Sensitive data collected for no reason | Name, contact, property reference, optional budget |
| Residence promises | Misleading copy | Compliance review before go-live |
| CRM or portal feed | Integration delay | Separate scoping, on quote |
The Data Protection Act 2017, overseen by the Data Protection Office, governs the data you collect: no ID documents or bank statements in an open form. Anti-money-laundering checks sit within the agency's internal process.
Still on quote: listings feed, CRM connection, portal syndication, search optimisation.
Ask your provider: how do you handle hreflang? Who writes the English version? What happens to sold listings? Is the CRM feed included or quoted separately?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
When is a Mauritian agency the better option?
If you want a provider who drops by the office every week, also runs your social media in Creole and produces video tours, an agency in Port Louis or Ebene will be more practical. Kolonell suits a clear scope, a fixed price and a short timeline.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Ylang Estates, a family-run agency selling and letting high-end homes on the west coast, wants a full French and English journey for relocating buyers.
- Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote): USD 8,900.
- Local photographer (third-party cost), 12 properties at USD 120: USD 1,440.
- Maintenance over 33 months at USD 80 a month, market assumption (Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months on quote): USD 2,640.
- Three-year total excluding the listings feed: 8,900 + 1,440 + 2,640 = USD 12,980.
For comparison, a local quote of MUR 600,000 is roughly USD 13,300 before maintenance.
FAQ
Is Growth at USD 4,900 enough for two languages?
Growth covers one main language with region and lettings pages. For a genuine French and English journey, Premium at USD 8,900, the multilingual tier, is the right choice.
How long does the redesign take?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. The listings feed, quoted separately, can add 1 to 3 weeks.
Do we need separate URLs per language?
Yes, one URL per language and reciprocal hreflang tags. On a 150-listing site, that means 300 URLs to inventory and redirect properly.
Can the site explain the IRS, RES or PDS schemes?
Yes, in general terms, with a pointer to a licensed adviser. Plan a review of the copy before go-live, usually 2 to 3 days.
What do photos cost?
They are not part of the package. A local photographer often charges USD 100 to 200 per property, as a third-party cost.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual redesign for your Port Louis agency, USD 4,900 to 8,900 depending on the tier, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks, listings feed quoted 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.
