Property development software: the complete guide for developers

Managing a new build development involves dozens of processes: sales prospecting, reservation tracking, stage payment collection, purchaser communications, and solicitor coordination. Without the right tools, teams spend a significant portion of their time on administrative tasks rather than selling.

Why has specialised software become essential?

Spreadsheets and generic CRMs quickly show their limitations when faced with property development specifics. Multi-site management, regulated off-plan workflows, staged payment tracking: these business needs require native functionality that generic tools simply don't provide.

Configuring a generic CRM to cover these requirements typically takes several months and involves significant development costs, with no guarantee of team adoption.

What features should you look for in development software?

Sales management and integrated CRM

Effective property development software centralises the entire sales cycle:

• Unified prospect database with full interaction history
• Lead scoring based on engagement and buying signals
• Real-time option and reservation management
• Automatic generation of pre-populated reservation agreements

Financial tracking and stage payments

Financial tracking is crucial for developer cash flow. Good software automates stage payment calls based on build progress, tracks receipts in real-time and alerts on payment delays.

Purchaser portal and communications

Buyers expect visibility on their property's progress. A dedicated purchaser portal allows them to track the build, access documents and contact the developer easily, reducing customer service enquiries.

How to evaluate development software?

The benefits of purpose-built software span several areas:

• Administrative time: automation of repetitive tasks (chasing, document generation)
• Follow-up quality: fewer lost leads, better sales responsiveness
• Cash flow: rigorous tracking of stage payments and receipts
• Customer satisfaction: transparency and self-service for purchasers

Vertical software vs generic suite: which to choose?

Generic solutions (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive) require significant configuration and custom development to meet property development needs. Vertical solutions like Unlatch offer native sector functionality and rapid deployment.

Essential selection criteria

• Functional coverage: does the software cover the entire off-plan sales cycle?
• Integrations: connection to property portals, e-signature, accounting systems
• Usability: will the tool be readily adopted by field teams?
• Support: initial training, technical assistance, product roadmap

Take action

Want to explore how specialised software can fit your processes? Request a demo to discuss your requirements with our experts.