When your property hits the market, it’s tempting to jump at the biggest number. A tenant offers $20, $30, maybe even $50 more per week — and on paper, that looks like a win.

But here’s the thing most landlords learn the hard way:
It’s not what they offer — it’s whether they follow through.

At #1 Property Centre, we’ve seen it all — tenants who apply with glowing stories and high offers, then fall behind within weeks. Others who leave the place trashed at the end of a lease. And in nearly every case? Landlords chose the dollar figure over the person behind it.

Let’s break down why the right tenant will always be more valuable than the highest rent.

Let’s say someone offers $30 more per week. That’s an extra $1,560 per year — in theory.

But what if they stop paying after month three? Now you're chasing arrears, filing breach notices, and potentially heading to QCAT. That’s more stress, more time, and more money down the drain. On top of that, if they damage the property — or skip out without notice — you’re looking at weeks of lost rent, cleaning, repairs, re-leasing costs, and more.

In some cases, we’ve seen the damage bill hit $4,000+. That $30 a week doesn’t look so great now.

The right tenant:

These are the people you want. They save you money on repairs, reduce vacancy risk, and make managing the property easy — which means more money in your pocket in the long run.

It costs money every time a property becomes vacant. Advertising, application processing, routine cleaning, re-keying, final inspections — and that’s not counting the actual lost rent while it sits empty.

A reliable tenant who stays 2–3 years with regular rent increases and minimal fuss will give you a better return than someone offering more now but causing churn, complaints, or extra admin.

Let’s be clear — we’re not saying settle for less.

At #1 Property Centre, we push for top market rent. But we balance that with one key question: can the applicant afford it, and will they maintain it?

We never just look at who’s offering the most. We look at:

Sometimes the strongest offer is the one slightly below asking — but with a tenant who’ll respect the home and renew year after year.

We take tenant screening seriously. We don’t “approve and hope.” We dig in — calling agents, checking income, asking the right questions. We know the red flags because we’ve seen the worst-case scenarios before.

And if something feels off, we walk away.
Because getting the wrong person in is way more expensive than waiting for the right one.

We had a property in Chinchilla where two tenants applied. One offered $20 more per week, but their history showed late payments and a poor exit report. The other was on the lower offer, had solid employment, a perfect rental record, and wanted to sign for 18 months.

We went with the second applicant. That tenant stayed for two years, paid on time, and left the home in excellent condition. No issues, no drama — and the landlord ended up ahead by thousands, purely because of consistency and care.

Chasing the highest rent might feel like the smart move in the moment — but your investment isn’t just about the next 6 months. It’s about long-term performance, peace of mind, and getting the best return over time.

A great tenant gives you that.

And if you're working with the right property manager, you’ll always get a solid rent and the right person paying it.

Want us to review your current tenant, screen new applicants properly, or take over a property that’s been giving you trouble?

Reach out — we’ll make sure the right person is in your property, not just the highest bidder.