The verdict in three sentences
A vertical block-management SaaS stays economical per lot (4 to 9 EUR/lot/year), but imposes its ergonomics and extranet limits. A custom platform with three extranets (owners, tenants, co-owners) lands between 70,000 and 150,000 EUR and pays off for a firm wanting to differentiate its service and automate rent statements, charge accounts and digital general meetings. The real return: -40% of time on statements and charge accounts, where your managers lose the most hours.
Block-management SaaS or custom platform: the 2026 costing
A property administration firm handles two lines at once: property management (leases, rent statements, escalations, charge reconciliations) and block management (charge calls, general meetings, budgets). The choice depends on lot volume and service ambition.
| Criterion | Vertical block SaaS | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000-lot cost (year 1) | 12,000 to 27,000 EUR | 70,000 to 150,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 12,000 to 27,000 EUR/year | Maintenance 1,100 to 2,400 EUR/month |
| Extranets included | often 1, basic | 3 custom |
| Digital general meeting | paid option | integrated |
| Automated rent statements | standard | advanced |
| Bank + accounting connector | included/limited | 8,000 to 16,000 EUR |
| Time to deploy | 4 to 8 weeks | 16 to 24 weeks |
Over three years, a 3,000-lot SaaS totals 36,000 to 81,000 EUR. A custom platform at 100,000 EUR with 1,700 EUR/month maintenance reaches 161,200 EUR. Custom becomes relevant once the portfolio exceeds a few thousand lots, the per-lot SaaS cost climbs, and extranet quality becomes a sales argument.
The building blocks of a property administration platform
The core rests on rent statements, charge calls, digital general meetings and multi-profile extranets. Here are 2026 custom ranges.
| Module | 2026 range | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Property management core (leases, statements) | 20,000 to 38,000 EUR | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Block module (charge calls, budgets) | 18,000 to 34,000 EUR | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Digital general meeting (notice, voting) | 10,000 to 20,000 EUR | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Owner extranet | 8,000 to 16,000 EUR | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Tenant + co-owner extranet | 12,000 to 24,000 EUR | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Bank + accounting connector | 8,000 to 16,000 EUR | 3 to 4 weeks |
The bank + accounting connector (8,000 to 16,000 EUR) is essential: it automates reconciliation of collected rents, charge calls and statements, and removes the error-prone accounting re-keying.
Mini case study
Mr Le Gall runs a property administration firm managing 2,800 lots under lease management and 1,400 lots under block management. His current package costs 21,000 EUR/year, but monthly rent statements tie up 3 managers for 2 days, about 48 hours/month. By automating statements and charge accounts (-40%), he saves 19 hours/month, i.e. 228 hours/year valued at 32 EUR/hour: 7,300 EUR/year. He invests in a custom platform at 108,000 EUR (property core + block + meetings + 3 extranets + bank connector), 1,700 EUR/month maintenance. He drops the SaaS subscription (21,000 EUR/year) and gains a strong sales argument with his extranets. Combined savings: about 28,300 EUR/year, payback around 4 years with an owned asset.
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FAQ
At what lot volume does custom become profitable?
Generally above 2,500 to 3,000 lots, when the cumulative per-lot SaaS cost (4 to 9 EUR/lot/year) durably exceeds a platform's amortization. Below that, SaaS stays cheaper.
Do extranets really improve client retention?
Yes. An owner extranet giving real-time access to statements, charge accounts and documents cuts calls and differentiates the firm. It is often the argument that justifies moving to custom.
Is a digital general meeting compliant?
Yes, provided you respect the block-management legal framework (notice, remote voting, attendance sheet). A custom module at 10,000 to 20,000 EUR integrates compliant notice, voting and minutes.
How long to migrate from a legacy package?
Data migration (lots, leases, accounts) represents 3 to 6 weeks within a 16-to-24-week project. The quality of the old tool's export strongly drives this timeline.
What maintenance budget after delivery?
Between 1,100 and 2,400 EUR/month depending on lots and extranets. This maintenance covers regulatory updates, fixes, backups and support, replacing the SaaS subscription.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your lots under lease and block management and the extranets you want, and we'll frame SaaS vs custom platform with an indicative budget. 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.
