The verdict in three sentences
An off-the-shelf developer CRM at 500 to 1,500 EUR excl. VAT a month works as long as your processes fit its model and you stay under 3 or 4 concurrent programs. Beyond 6 programs and 400 units, custom off-plan sales software at 40,000 to 80,000 EUR excl. VAT makes sense, especially if you work with external agents and want a buyer portal under your own brand. The real financial stake is the real-time unit grid: one double booking or an expired option left unchased costs more than a year of licenses.
What off-plan (VEFA) sales software must handle
Selling off-plan in France (VEFA) follows a long cycle: option, reservation with a deposit (capped at 5 % of the price if the sale closes within a year), notification of the reservation contract, a 10-day cooling-off period, financing, the notarial deed, then staged payment calls under article R261-14 of the Construction Code (35 % at foundations, 70 % when weathertight, 95 % at completion). Each step involves sales, agents, the notary, the buyer's bank and accounting.
| Feature | Problem solved | Market CRM | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time unit grid | Double bookings, wrong availability | Yes | Yes, with your blocking rules |
| Options with automatic expiry | Units tied up for 3 weeks for nothing | Yes | Yes, duration per channel |
| Agent portal | Excel exchanges with 15 partners | Add-on, 200 to 400 EUR/month | Yes, included |
| Conditions precedent tracking | Refused loans discovered too late | Partial | Yes, alerts at day 30 and 45 |
| Stage payment calls | Manual reminders, cash delays | Vendor-dependent | Yes, triggered by site milestones |
| Buyer portal | 200 calls a month to customer service | Often generic | Your brand, buyer customization choices |
| Accounting link | Payments keyed in twice | CSV export | Connector to your ERP |
Market CRM or custom: the 5-year cost
| Criterion | Market developer CRM | Custom by Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 3,000 to 15,000 EUR excl. VAT | 40,000 to 80,000 EUR excl. VAT |
| Subscription | 500 to 1,500 EUR excl. VAT/month | Hosting 150 to 400 EUR excl. VAT/month |
| Maintenance | Included | 6,000 to 12,000 EUR excl. VAT/year |
| 5-year cost | 33,000 to 105,000 EUR excl. VAT | 79,000 to 164,000 EUR excl. VAT |
| Agent and buyer modules | Often billed extra | Included in scope |
| Fit with your processes | Limited to configuration | Full |
| Time to start | 1 to 2 months | 4 to 6 months |
Custom software therefore costs more over 5 years in most cases. It is justified when you gain on sales velocity, when you want to own your buyer data, or when paid CRM add-ons (agents, client area, customization choices) push the subscription above 2,000 EUR a month.
Typical scope of a custom project
| Batch | Indicative budget (EUR excl. VAT) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, journeys and mockups | 5,000 to 9,000 | 4 weeks |
| Unit grid, options, reservations | 10,000 to 18,000 | 6 weeks |
| Agent portal | 6,000 to 12,000 | 4 weeks |
| Payment calls and accounting link | 7,000 to 15,000 | 4 weeks |
| Buyer portal and customization choices | 8,000 to 18,000 | 5 weeks |
| Acceptance, migration of 6 programs, training | 4,000 to 8,000 | 3 weeks |
Some batches run in parallel, bringing total delivery to 4 to 6 months.
Mini case study
Claire, sales director of a Lyon-based developer, runs 6 programs and 400 units at an average price of 280,000 EUR incl. VAT. Her team sees on average 8 options a month expire without follow-up, and about 1 in 4 of those units could have sold sooner. By cutting the average time to sell by 2 months on 24 units a year, the developer saves carrying costs estimated at 1,200 EUR per unit per month, i.e. 57,600 EUR a year.
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Add 0.5 FTE of sales assistant time freed by automating payment calls and reminders (about 22,000 EUR fully loaded per year). With a 65,000 EUR excl. VAT project and 9,000 EUR of annual maintenance, payback arrives in about 14 months.
FAQ
Does the software handle the SRU cooling-off period?
Yes, the 10-day period starts at first presentation of the notification, and the software blocks the move to a firm sale until it has elapsed. Electronic registered mail notification can be integrated for 1,500 to 3,000 EUR excl. VAT.
Can the software connect to our accounting?
Connectors to common real estate ERPs and accounting tools cost 3,000 to 8,000 EUR excl. VAT depending on the API. Payment call receipts then flow in with no double entry.
Do agents see availability live?
The agent portal shows the unit grid with the rules you set, for example a maximum of 2 concurrent 7-day options. That removes file exchanges that are often 48 hours out of date.
What does the buyer portal contain?
Signed documents, construction progress with photos, payment calls, finish choices and visit booking. Developers who open one cut customer service calls by 30 to 50 %.
How long does it take to migrate our existing programs?
Allow 1 to 2 days per program to import units, plans, prices and buyer files, i.e. 2 weeks for 6 programs with quality checks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of programs, units and current tools, and we will price a scope between 40,000 and 80,000 EUR excl. VAT with a 4 to 6 month plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.
