The verdict in three sentences
For a developer running 6 schemes a year in Dublin, managing 300 off-plan units in spreadsheets delays deposit and closing collections and multiplies errors on extras and contract changes. A sector tool linking the price list, reservations, payment schedule, solicitors and a buyer portal speeds up collections by 10 to 20 days per milestone. The choice between a package and a custom build depends mainly on your specifics: extras, Help to Buy and First Home cases, and sales agents.
What spreadsheet-based off-plan management costs
In Ireland, off-plan sales usually follow a booking deposit of EUR 5,000 to 10,000, a contract deposit bringing the total to 10%, and the balance at closing, sometimes with stage payments on larger schemes. Each step triggers letters, solicitor exchanges, Help to Buy claims and mortgage drawdowns on the buyer side. In Excel, every step depends on one person.
| Friction point | 2026 order of magnitude (300 units, 6 schemes) | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Time to issue a payment request | 7 to 15 days after the trigger | Delayed cash |
| Average collection time | 35 to 50 days | Finance costs on development loans |
| Errors on extras and changes | 3 to 6% of contracts | Disputes at handover |
| Buyer calls to customer service | 8 to 12 per unit per year | 1 FTE tied up |
| Preparing solicitor packs | 2 to 3 h per unit | Delayed contract signing |
| Sales reporting | 1 day per week | Late pricing decisions |
On EUR 120M of sales, gaining 15 days of collection on 70% of the amounts cuts finance costs by roughly EUR 200,000 to 250,000 a year at a development loan rate around 6%.
The must-have modules
An effective developer tool starts with a unit price list with revision history and extras (parking, storage, finishes). It handles reservations and booking deposits, issues the sales pack to the buyer's solicitor, then runs the payment schedule triggered by contract and construction milestones. The buyer portal centralizes documents, finish choices, snagging appointments and payment tracking.
| Option | 2026 cost | Timeline | Fits if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-the-shelf developer package | EUR 15,000 to 40,000 per year | 2 to 4 months | Standard processes, few extras |
| Configured generic CRM | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 per year + integration | 3 to 5 months | Focus on sales |
| Custom build by a Dublin integrator | EUR 50,000 to 120,000 | 6 to 9 months | Extras, schemes, multiple agents |
| Kolonell custom build | 2.5 to 15M+ FCFA (EUR 3,810 to 22,870+) depending on complexity | 3 to 6 months | Focused buyer portal or payment module, the rest on quote |
| Custom maintenance and hosting | 15 to 20% of the project per year | Ongoing | Any custom solution |
| Excel + mail merge | Near zero | Immediate | One scheme a year at most |
Over five years, a EUR 30,000 per year package costs EUR 150,000 without code ownership. A EUR 80,000 custom build plus EUR 14,000 annual maintenance comes to EUR 136,000, with a tool that fits your processes. A hybrid approach, package for accounting and a custom buyer portal, is often the best compromise.
Integrations to require
Ask for export to your development accounting, payment requests in the format banks expect, eIDAS-compliant e-signature on reservation forms and secure document exchange with solicitors. Buyer data falls under GDPR, overseen by the Data Protection Commission: EU hosting and a defined retention period.
Mini case study
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Aoife Brennan, CFO of a Dublin developer delivering 6 schemes a year, manages 300 units and EUR 120M of sales. Payment requests go out 12 days after triggers. With an automated schedule module and buyer portal at EUR 70,000, issue time drops to 2 days. Gain: 10 days of collection on EUR 84M requested in the year, roughly EUR 138,000 of finance costs avoided at 6%, plus 0.6 FTE of customer service freed, around EUR 30,000. Payback: about 5 months.
FAQ
How much does property developer software cost in Dublin?
EUR 15,000 to 40,000 a year for a package, or EUR 50,000 to 120,000 for a custom build. A focused Kolonell module starts at 2.5M FCFA (EUR 3,810).
Does the software handle Irish deposit and closing schedules?
Yes, booking deposits, contract deposits, stage payments and closing balances are configured per scheme, and each request is linked to its trigger document.
Does a buyer portal really reduce customer service calls?
In practice, requests fall by 40 to 60% when buyers can see their documents, payments and construction progress online.
Can solicitors be connected?
Yes, through secure exchange of packs and documents, saving 2 to 3 hours of preparation per unit.
How long does deployment take?
3 to 9 months depending on the option, ideally starting with a scheme at the beginning of its sales launch.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of schemes, units and current tools: we price a payment schedule and buyer portal scope with an indicative budget and timeline. 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.
