Five property marketing blunders quality tenants hate

When it comes to attracting quality tenants, your marketing does most of the heavy lifting.

Before a tenant ever steps through the door, they’ve already formed an opinion based on what they see online. In fact, around 90% of a tenant’s initial decision is driven by visuals. Your photos and listing description are your first, and sometimes only, chance to make a strong impression.

Quality tenants are discerning. They scroll quickly, compare easily and move on without hesitation if something doesn’t feel right. The good news? Avoiding a few common mistakes can dramatically improve how your property is perceived.

Here are five property marketing blunders that quality tenants notice and often quietly reject.

1. Photographing meaningless things

Yes, toilets are essential. Hallways exist for a reason. Wardrobes are useful. But they rarely deserve centre stage in your listing.

Photos should showcase the feel and function of a home – living spaces, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor areas. Images of toilet bowls, empty corridors or the inside of cupboards add no value and can make a listing feel amateur.

Every photo should answer one question: Does this help a tenant imagine themselves living here? If the answer is no, it doesn’t belong.

2. Leaving clutter in the frame

Mess in photos is one of the fastest ways to lose interest from quality tenants.

Unmade beds, overflowing benches, children’s toys and laundry piles don’t just distract, they signal disorganisation and poor care. Even if a tenant understands that people live in the home, they still expect marketing to show the property at its best.

Before photos are taken:

• Clear surfaces
• Remove personal items
• Tidy every room
• Open space where possible

Photo-enhancing technology can now digitally tidy and brighten rooms, creating clean, professional images even in occupied homes. Used well, it can transform presentation without being misleading.

3. Making yourself the feature

Reflections in mirrors, camera flashes on glossy surfaces, handbags on benches and people in frames are surprisingly common.

These distractions break immersion and pull attention away from the home. Tenants don’t want to see who took the photo, they want to see the property.

Take a moment to check:

• Mirrors and wardrobe doors
• Shower screens
• Television reflections
• Benchtops and side tables

A clean frame keeps the focus where it belongs.

4. Dark, gloomy or blurry images

Natural light sells homes. Dark rooms, closed curtains and poorly lit spaces make even good properties feel uninviting.

Before photographing:

• Open blinds and curtains
• Turn on lights
• Let fresh air through
• Shoot from corners to show space

Blurry or out-of-focus photos suggest haste and lack of care. Quality tenants often equate poor marketing with poor management and move on.

If lighting conditions aren’t ideal, professional editing can lift brightness, correct colour and sharpen detail, giving your property the best possible presentation.

5. Not reviewing the listing after upload

Mistakes happen, especially when things are rushed.

Photos load sideways. The wrong image appears. Occasionally, something unintended slips through. These errors undermine trust and professionalism.

Always review your listing once it’s live:

• Are images upright and in the right order?
• Do they match the property?
• Is the description accurate and clear?

A quick check can prevent an embarrassing error and ensure your property is represented correctly.

Marketing isn’t just about showing what a property is, it’s about showing what it could be. Clean, bright, well-framed images help tenants imagine their future in the space.

If your property is sitting vacant, poor marketing may be part of the problem. You may also find “Five mistakes that keep your property vacant longer” helpful, as it explores how presentation and pricing impact demand.

How we can help

Great marketing is about more than listing a property – it’s about positioning it to attract the right tenant, quickly and confidently. We help landlords present their homes in the best possible light, using professional photography, smart descriptions and proven marketing tools to reduce vacancy and lift results.