Your property is listed on the portals. The price is right. Your agent says "give it time." But the phone isn't ringing and viewings aren't materialising.
Before you cut the asking price, take a look at the listing itself. Every article about low viewings tells you to reprice, redecorate, or switch agents. They rarely mention visual marketing — and it's often the easiest thing to fix.
Here are five visual marketing problems that cost properties viewings, all backed by research, and all fixable.
1. Your Photos Look Like Every Other Listing
Buyers scroll fast. A study from Missouri S&T found that people form first impressions of a webpage in a matter of seconds. Your listing photos need to stop that scroll — and most don't.
The National Association of Realtors reports that 85% of buyers say photos are the single most important factor when deciding which properties to view online. Yet research suggests only around 35% of agents use professional photographers. The rest rely on phone cameras and hope for the best.
The difference isn't subtle. Wide-angle lenses capture full rooms rather than awkward corners. Professional lighting and white balance produce accurate colours instead of orange-tinted interiors. Post-production refines natural light and removes distractions. According to Zoopla analysis, properties marketed with professional photography sell 32% faster on average.
When every other listing on the portal has dark, narrow phone photos, professional images immediately signal: this property is worth viewing. For a direct comparison, see: Professional Photography vs Smartphone: Is There a Difference?
See what professional property photography looks like →
2. You Have No Video Content
Photos show what a property looks like. Video shows what it feels like to walk through — the flow between rooms, the natural light, the sense of space that static images can't convey.
Research from the National Association of Realtors found that listings with video receive 403% more enquiries than those without. Despite this, the vast majority of London listings still go live with photos only. No walkthrough. No video tour. Nothing.
Video is standard practice in many international property markets, but London adoption remains low — which means any listing with a walkthrough immediately stands out. A professional video also pre-qualifies viewers: buyers who watch a walkthrough before booking tend to be more genuinely interested, meaning fewer time-wasters and more serious offers.
For a deeper look at the numbers: Do Property Videos Help Sell Houses Faster?
Explore our videography packages →
3. Your Listing Is Missing Key Visual Assets
Beyond photos and video, two assets that buyers actively look for — and that many listings still lack.
Floor plans. According to Rightmove data reported by CubiCasa, 1 in 5 buyers will skip a listing entirely if it doesn't include a floor plan. Listings that do include one see 52% higher click-through rates. Buyers want to understand the layout before they visit — especially with flats, where photos alone can be misleading about room sizes and how spaces connect.
Aerial photography. MLS data reported by Digital Camera World suggests properties marketed with drone photography sell 68% faster. Aerial shots establish context that ground-level photos miss: the garden, parking, proximity to green space, and the property's position within its surroundings. For properties with outdoor space or an unusual plot, drone footage is particularly effective.
Both are straightforward additions to any property marketing package and cost a fraction of a price reduction.
View our floor plan services →
4. Your Property Wasn't Prepared for the Camera
Even the best photographer can only work with what's in front of them. An unprepared property produces mediocre images regardless of the equipment.
The Home Staging Association UK reports that 95% of estate agents say staged properties sell faster. Staging doesn't require a design team or rented furniture. It means decluttering, cleaning thoroughly, opening curtains, turning on lamps in darker rooms, hiding bins, making beds, and clearing kitchen worktops.
Small details photograph better than you'd expect. Fresh flowers on a table. Towels folded in the bathroom. Outdoor furniture arranged as though expecting guests. An hour of preparation transforms the final images and helps buyers picture themselves living there.
We've written a step-by-step guide: How to Prepare Your Property for Marketing Photos
5. You Launched with Poor Visuals and Lost Your Best Window
The first 48 hours on Rightmove and Zoopla are when your listing gets maximum exposure. New listings are prioritised in search results, email alerts fire to registered buyers, and agents push new stock to their mailing lists. Weak visuals at launch waste the highest-traffic window your property will ever get.
The competition has never been stiffer. Rightmove reports that new listings jumped 81% in January 2026, with agents now marketing an average of 34 properties each — the highest figure in eight years. Meanwhile, the Zoopla House Price Index shows London price growth sitting below 1%. Buyers have options, and plenty of them.
A listing with phone photos, no video, and no floor plan doesn't just underperform in this market — it gets scrolled past entirely. You don't get a second first impression. And unlike a price reduction — which signals desperation and costs real money — upgrading your visual marketing signals quality and attracts serious buyers.
If your listing has already been live for weeks with poor visuals, the fix is to upgrade the marketing and effectively relaunch. Professional photos, a video walkthrough, and a floor plan can reset buyer interest and generate the attention your property should have had from day one.
Quick Listing Audit
Before you call your agent, score your own listing against these five questions:
- Do your photos look noticeably different from the ten listings around yours?
- Does your listing include a video walkthrough?
- Does it have a floor plan?
- Was the property cleaned, lit, and staged before the shoot?
- Were the photos taken by a professional — not your agent's phone?
If you answered "no" to any of these, that's very likely why viewings are low. The good news: every single one is fixable.
Ready to fix your listing? Browse our portfolio to see the difference professional visual marketing makes. Check our pricing for transparent costs — no hidden fees. Or book a session online and we'll take care of the rest.
