The verdict in three sentences
For a 6-agent real estate agency in Nantes, a market transaction package costs 120–300 €/agent/month, i.e. 43,000–108,000 € over 5 years, while a custom CRM wired to portals and e-signature runs 60,000–100,000 € + ~12,000 €/year maintenance. Below 4–5 agents, SaaS is unbeatable; above that, or in a multi-branch setup with AI buyer matching, custom becomes profitable. The real gain isn't the license price but a higher mandate conversion rate and matching time cut in half.
5-year TCO: SaaS vs custom
| Item | Real estate SaaS (6 agents) | Custom CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Setup / build | 0–3,000 € | 60,000–100,000 € |
| Licenses 5 years | 43,000–108,000 € | 0 |
| Maintenance / evolutions 5 yrs | Included (limited) | 60,000–80,000 € |
| Portal integrations | Standard, fixed | Custom, included |
| 5-year TCO | 43,000–111,000 € | 120,000–180,000 € |
| Code/data ownership | No | Yes |
At 6 agents, SaaS stays cheaper in cash over 5 years. The math flips as soon as you add branches (SaaS bills per seat) or need proprietary automations the vendor doesn't offer.
Where custom creates value
| Lever | Concrete impact | Estimated 2026 gain |
|---|---|---|
| AI buyer matching | Right property to right buyer | +5–10 % more closed sales |
| Auto multi-portal publishing | One entry, all portals | 6–10 h/week saved |
| Integrated e-signature | Mandates signed in 24 h | -3 days of cycle |
| Real-time mandate reporting | Follow-up steering | +8–12 % exclusive mandates |
| Zero double entry | Portals ↔ CRM synced | 8–15 h/week/branch |
An agency closing 60 sales/year at a 6,000 € average commission generates 360,000 €. A 7 % conversion uplift = an extra 25,000 €/year, paying off the maintenance in a few months.
Mini case study
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Philippe runs an agency in Nantes: 6 agents, 60 transactions a year, 6,000 € average commission. His current SaaS costs 180 €/agent/month, i.e. 12,960 €/year. He is considering a custom CRM at 80,000 € + 12,000 €/year maintenance. Over 5 years custom costs 140,000 € versus ~65,000 € of SaaS: pricier in cash. But with AI matching and zero double entry he goes from 60 to 66 sales/year (+6), i.e. +36,000 €/year in commissions. Over 5 years that's 180,000 € of additional revenue, easily covering the gap. Here custom is justified by growth, not by license savings.
FAQ
At how many agents does custom become profitable? Generally beyond 8–10 users, or as soon as you go multi-branch, because SaaS bills per seat. Below that, a good SaaS remains the pragmatic choice.
Can you connect SeLoger and Leboncoin in a custom build? Yes, via their publishing APIs/feeds. Automated multi-portal publishing removes double entry and saves 6–10 hours a week.
Is e-signature easy to integrate? Yes, with an eIDAS provider. Budget 4,000–8,000 € for integration; mandates then get signed in 24 h instead of several days.
What happens to our history if we leave the SaaS? You export it (contacts, mandates, history) and migrate it into the custom CRM. Plan 3,000–7,000 € of migration depending on volume.
Is custom riskier? The risk is controlled with an MVP delivered in 12–16 weeks and quarterly increments. You validate value before committing the full budget.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your agent count, target portals and transaction volume for a costed SaaS-vs-custom TCO comparison. 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.
