The software a small independent estate agency actually needs
Nine categories, what each one really does, a plain monthly cost range for a one to two branch agency, and an honest column showing where MoveLane fits — and where it does not.
The short answer
Small independent agencies usually need four things: listing and portal distribution, an enquiry inbox with follow-up, basic vendor and applicant records, and compliance evidence. MoveLane covers listings, enquiry routing and AI follow-up drafting £99/month, published, with no commission.
Monthly software cost by stack
Pick the stage closest to your agency. Ranges are typical UK market pricing for one to two branches — we publish MoveLane’s own price as a fact and only ranges for everything else, because other suppliers quote per branch and do not publish rate cards.
Sales plus a handful of lettings, growing instruction volume.
Estimated monthly software spend
£229 – £2,300
Excludes per-property media costs and any one-off setup fees.
| Category | Typical monthly | How it’s priced | MoveLane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property portal exposureGetting your listings in front of buyers and tenants who are actively searching. must have | £99 – £1,200 | Per branch per month. Major portals quote privately; MoveLane publishes £99/month. | MoveLane covers thisYour listings, enquiry capture and lead routing are included in every MoveLane plan at a published price. |
| Estate agency CRMApplicant records, matching, offers, chains, sales progression and compliance history. must have | £60 – £300 | Usually per user or per branch, often with a setup fee and a minimum term. | MoveLane covers part of thisMoveLane handles enquiries, viewing and valuation requests, and lead follow-up. It is not a full sales-progression CRM, so keep yours if you manage chains in it. |
| Agency website and hostingYour own branded site, listing pages and valuation forms. usually needed | £20 – £200 | Template sites are cheap; bespoke builds carry a one-off fee plus monthly hosting. | MoveLane covers part of thisYou get an indexed MoveLane profile and listing pages you can link to, but you should still own your own domain and site. |
| Media, floorplans and EPCsPhotography, floorplan drawing, virtual tours and EPC ordering. must have | £0 – £250 | Mostly per property rather than monthly — budget per instruction, not per seat. | You still need thisMoveLane hosts and displays your media. It does not produce it. |
| E-signature and document storageTerms of business, tenancy paperwork and signed agreements. usually needed | £10 – £60 | Per user per month, usually with a monthly envelope limit. | You still need thisKeep your own signing tool; MoveLane does not handle contracts. |
| AML and ID verificationIdentity checks and record keeping required under UK money-laundering rules. must have | £15 – £120 | Often a small monthly fee plus a per-check charge. | You still need thisThis is a regulated obligation you must run yourself. |
| Accounting and client moneyBookkeeping, VAT returns and client-account reconciliation for lettings. must have | £15 – £90 | Per month by company size; lettings client accounting costs more. | You still need thisNothing in MoveLane touches your accounts. |
| Email, phone and SMSBusiness email, a number that follows you, and SMS for viewing confirmations. must have | £10 – £80 | Per user per month, plus SMS bundles. | MoveLane covers part of thisMoveLane sends enquiry acknowledgements and can draft replies for you to approve, but you still need your own mailbox and number. |
What MoveLane replaces — and what it definitely does not
In scope
- Published-price portal exposure for your listings, £99/month, rolling monthly.
- Enquiry, viewing and valuation capture with instant acknowledgement to the applicant.
- Lead triage and follow-up drafts, with a human approval gate on anything commercial or sensitive.
- A verified agency profile and indexed listing pages you can link to from your own site.
Not in scope
- It is not an estate agency CRM replacement for sales progression, chain management or tenancy lifecycles.
- It does not run AML or right-to-rent checks, and it does not store your compliance evidence.
- It does not do client accounting, rent collection or landlord statements.
- It does not produce photography, floorplans or EPCs.
- It does not sign or store contracts on your behalf.
If a supplier tells you one product covers portal exposure, CRM, compliance and accounting, ask which regulated records it holds. Most small independents are better off with a lean stack of specialists than one tool that half-covers everything.
Working out portal spend specifically? See the portal cost breakdown or the UK portal fee index. Just starting out? Read the launch guide.
Estate agency software: common questions
Straight answers for owners of one and two branch agencies.
What software do estate agents actually use?
Most UK independents run five things: portal exposure for listings, a CRM for applicants and progression, their own website, an AML/ID checking tool, and standard business email and phone. Everything else — e-signature, social scheduling, virtual tours — is added when volume justifies it.
How much should a small independent agency budget for software?
For a one to two person agency, a workable monthly range is roughly £150 to £700 a month excluding per-property media costs. Portal exposure is normally the largest single line, which is why it is the first place to look for savings.
Does MoveLane replace my CRM?
No. MoveLane replaces or reduces your portal spend and handles enquiry capture and follow-up. Sales progression, chain management and tenancy records should stay in your CRM.
Can I run an agency on free tools plus a portal?
For a solo sales-only agent, yes for a while: a portal, a simple website, free design and scheduling tools, and a paid AML checker will get you trading. You will outgrow it once you are handling more than a few live instructions at once.
What does MoveLane cost and is there a contract?
Founding Agent Membership is £99/month for the first 100 agencies (normal price £199/month), published on the pricing page, run rolling monthly, and include a 14-day free trial. There is no commission on a sale or let.
Which software should I cut first if money is tight?
Cut duplicated tools before essential ones. Social schedulers, second portals and premium listing add-ons are usually the first to go; AML, accounting and your CRM are not sensible places to economise.
Tell us your current stack
List what you pay for today and we’ll say plainly which lines MoveLane could replace, and which you should keep.
Replace your biggest software line first
Portal exposure £99/month, rolling monthly, 14-day free trial, no commission.