The verdict in three sentences
A vertical development solution (60-120 EUR/user/month) is enough to structure a small firm, but a multi-programme developer benefits from owning its custom tool covering unit reservations, funding calls and after-sales. Budget 80,000 to 170,000 EUR for software with an integrated buyer portal and works tracking. The ROI reads as: -30 % commercial follow-up time, funding-call traceability and measurable buyer satisfaction.
Vertical solution or custom software
An off-the-shelf vertical tool covers standard programmes. A developer with specific structures (complex off-plan sales, mixed-use, structured after-sales, premium buyer portal) will quickly find value in a custom core connected to its accounting.
| Criterion | Vertical solution | Custom software |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3,000 to 15,000 EUR | 80,000 to 170,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 60-120 EUR/user/month | Hosting 200-600 EUR/month |
| Unit reservation | Standard | Tailored to your structures |
| Funding calls | Fixed model | Custom off-plan schedules |
| Buyer portal | Basic or absent | Full portal, works tracking |
| After-sales / snagging | Optional | Integrated, with reminders |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
For 15 users, a solution at 90 EUR/month represents 16,200 EUR/year, nearly 50,000 EUR over three years — without owning the tool or being able to adapt it to your structures.
Where custom creates value
In property development, commercial time, financial traceability and buyer satisfaction drive performance. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for a developer delivering 3 programmes/year (180 units), 45 M EUR revenue.
| Lever | 2026 situation | Estimated annual gain |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial follow-up time | -30 % | 1 to 1.5 FTE, i.e. 55,000 to 80,000 EUR |
| Funding-call traceability | -80 % errors/delays | Reliable cash flow, DSO -10 days |
| Buyer portal (self-service) | -50 % after-sales calls | 0.5 FTE relieved |
| Centralised works tracking | -25 % handover disputes | 40,000 to 70,000 EUR of avoided goodwill |
Mini case study
Ms Rousseau, director of a property development company in Nantes (3 programmes/year, 180 units, 15 staff), tracks reservations and funding calls in spreadsheets and by email. She invests 135,000 EUR in custom software: unit reservation, automated off-plan funding calls, buyer portal with works tracking, after-sales management. Within 12 months, commercial follow-up time drops 30 % (1.2 FTE relieved, ~66,000 EUR), funding calls are traced without error and handover disputes fall 25 % (50,000 EUR of avoided goodwill). Annual gain: 116,000 EUR, payback in about 14 months.
FAQ
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Doesn't a vertical solution already handle funding calls?
It handles standard cases, but specific structures (complex off-plan, atypical schedules, mixed-use) generate manual workarounds. Custom automates your exact rules and secures cash flow.
Does the buyer portal really change things?
Yes: buyers track works progress, their funding calls and documents in self-service. It cuts after-sales calls by 40 to 50 % and markedly improves satisfaction.
Can the software connect to our accounting?
Yes, connecting funding calls and accounting (Sage, Cegid) is a key module, priced 10,000 to 20,000 EUR. It avoids double entry and makes financial tracking reliable.
How long for deployment?
Budget 5 to 8 months for a complete core. The reservation and funding-call modules, with high ROI, can be delivered in 10 to 12 weeks.
What annual maintenance budget?
Between 12 and 18 % of development, i.e. 16,000 to 30,000 EUR for a 135,000 EUR project, including regulatory evolutions (off-plan, GDPR) and hosting.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of programmes, units and pain points (funding calls, after-sales, buyer portal): we'll price custom development software suited to your structures. 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.
