Off-the-shelf real estate script vs custom development — how do I decide?

If you're going to buy a ready-made script, the most critical technical detail to watch out for is server requirements. Most cheap scripts are stuck on PHP 7.4, and modern hosting companies are phasing those versions out. Definitely ask the seller about PHP 8.2 or 8.3 compatibility and whether it runs on a well-known framework like Laravel.

We faced the exact same dilemma two years ago. We bought an off-the-shelf script for 6.000 TL, and it ran smoothly for the first 8 months. Then, when our agent count grew to 8, we wanted to add an automatic watermark feature, but the original developer was nowhere to be found. Hiring an outside developer to figure out the code and add the feature ended up costing us an extra 18.000 TL. If the code hadn't been open-source, we would've had to scrap the whole thing.

Before handing over 85.000 TL to an agency, ask them this: Can they import and push listings via XML or API to and from the major real estate portals? If you're going to manually post listings in both places anyway, it's a total waste of money. No custom software pays for itself if it doesn't save your agents time.

Do you honestly believe the agency pitching custom software is actually building it from scratch? Chances are they'll just reskin a 5-year-old template they have lying around with your logo and call it a day. The number of agencies in this industry that actually code a real estate engine from the ground up can be counted on one hand.

edit: I wrote something wrong above, sorry about that.

we started with a 4 thousand lira script and it gets the job done tbh just make sure to download weekly backups to your own computer... I mean if the server goes down the support company usually ghosts your calls learned that the hard way.

edit: typed from phone, sorry for typos.

Back in 2021, we excitedly paid to have a custom real estate portal built. The agency promised a 6-week turnaround but it ended up taking 7 months. When they finally handed it over the search filters didn't work and listing photos were overflowing the screen on mobile. If we had just spent that money on local search ads for 3 years our office would have doubled its revenue instead.

At the procurement stage, I strongly advise having intellectual property rights, source code delivery terms, and a minimum 1-year bug-fix warranty explicitly committed to writing in the contract with the vendor. Otherwise, clients face severe losses of legal rights in the event of a dispute.

I was thinking the same thing. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

Good luck with that.

We need to make a distinction here. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

When you try to change everything at once, nothing settles. Good luck with that.

I'm in the same situation, that's why I'm asking. Implementing a change request process doesn't slow things down, it speeds them up.

Payment schedules should be tied to project phases, not calendar dates. Just leaving this note, it might be useful.

my perspective changed after experiencing that. anyway don't hesitate to ask; thhose who don't ask always pay more.

i'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

I've been down this road, let me tell you. If code ownership isn't in the contract, you have no bargaining power when leaving.

Of course it varies if your situation is different.

My perspective changed after experiencing that. Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

Everyone rushing into real estate website script gets stuck at the same point. That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

we experienced almost the exact same thing last year... if code ownership isn't in the contract you have no bargaining poer when leaving.

when making decisions write down the worst-case scenario too not just the best but if you have questions, wite them; I'll answer as best I can.

same here and mistakes made on the real estate website script side are usually reversible but expensive.

if you have questions write them; I'll answer as best I can.

Exactly like that. Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

exactly like that. btw ask who prepared the quote and who will actually do the work.

porven by experience.

To get into the details: In legacy systems, the most expensive thing is unknown dependencies.

Of course, it varies if your situation is different.