Key Takeaways

• A Slow Sale Isn’t the End—It’s an Opportunity: If your apartment isn’t selling, consider turning it into a rental. Renting can generate steady monthly income, preserve property value, and even offer tax benefits while you wait for a stronger sales market.
• Renting Offers Flexibility Without Commitment: Switching to a rental strategy doesn’t mean you’re locked in forever. You can always sell later—often with the added advantage of proven rental income, which may appeal to future buyers.
• Professional Management Makes Renting Hassle-Free: If you don’t want to be a hands-on landlord, a property management company like B&R Property Management can handle everything—from tenant screening and rent collection to maintenance and legal compliance—so you can earn without the stress.

You listed your apartment for sale. You’ve cleaned it, showed it, waited. Maybe you’ve even dropped the price once or twice.

After all that, still nothing. No offers, no serious buyers. Just silence.

If you’ve found yourself tied to a piece of property that just will not sell, you are not alone. However, you have many more options available. As a matter of fact, the roadblock you experience may be an opportunity to switch into a new direction.

B&R Property Management is here to help you understand why your apartment is not selling, offer tips to help it sell, and offer some alternative solutions.

Why Isn’t Your Property Selling?

Here are a few things that might be holding buyers back:

• The price is too high (even slightly)
• Nearby competition offers better finishes or lower prices
• Interest rates—buyers don’t love high monthly payments
• Slower season (listings often stall in winter or early fall)
• Local market factors, like new developments or changes in school zoning

Especially with apartment units, small shifts in supply and demand can make a big difference. In places where many residents already rent, listing a unit for sale might just be bad timing.

If buyers aren’t biting, maybe renters will.

What If You Rented It Out Instead?

Think about it for a second.

While you wait months (or longer) for a sale, your apartment is sitting empty. No money coming in. But what if you flipped the strategy and started earning instead?

Renting out your apartment could be the smarter move—at least for now.

Here’s why:

Steady Monthly Income

When the sales market is cold, the rental market may be hot. All tenants are in transition–particularly in college cities, business capitals or cityscapes on the rise. Renting out your property can earn you some money in no time with the assistance of a property manager.

Buy Time to Reevaluate

Renting gives you space to wait out the market. Maybe things will shift in six months or a year. Either way, you’re not losing money while you decide what to do next.

Preserve Property Value

Vacant apartments get stale fast. Dust builds up, appliances sit unused, and pipes freeze. A renter helps keep things active, monitored, and maintained. They help preserve value that will come in handy later if you decide to sell.

You Might Save on Taxes

There are several potential tax perks tied to owning rental property, like deductions on repairs, depreciation, and even professional management fees. Speak with your accountant for more details. 

Bottom line: Renting could mean less stress, more income, and long-term flexibility.

But What If You Don’t Want to Be a Landlord?

Totally valid.

Managing tenants, chasing rent, handling repairs—that’s not everyone’s idea of passive income.

That’s where we come in.

At B&R Property Management, we take the load off your plate. You own the apartment—we handle the rest. That means:

Providing detailed financial reports

• Marketing the unit
• Screening applicants
• Collecting rent
• Scheduling maintenance
• Responding to tenant requests

You won’t have to field late night emergency maintenance requests, chase down late rent payments, or learn all the ins and outs of landlord-tenant laws on your own. We’ve got it covered.

It’s a simple switch and one that often makes more financial sense than waiting on a slow sale.

How to Pivot From Selling to Renting

If you’re thinking of turning your apartment into a rental property, here are are a few tips:

1. Take a Step Back From the Sale

If your listing has gone stale, consider pulling it temporarily. You can always bring it back later, but starting fresh down the road often works better than letting it sit.

2. Get a Rental Price Estimate

Not sure what the apartment would rent for? We’ll do a quick market analysis based on similar properties nearby to give you a realistic view of your potential income.

3. Prep the Unit

Chances are, you’ve already cleaned and staged the apartment for showings. Great start. Now you just need to make sure everything functions—appliances, lights, HVAC, locks, and so on.

4. Talk With a Property Manager

We’ll walk you through the process, draft legally compliant lease agreements, and set expectations with tenants. Our commitment to transparency means you’ll know exactly what to expect.

5. Start Earning Rent

Once the unit is leased, you’ll begin to receive rent payments each month, minus a small management fee in exchange for not having to lift a finger.

You Can Still Sell Later

Here’s something a lot of owners don’t realize: renting doesn’t mean you’re locked into that path forever.

You can always choose to sell down the road. In fact, some owners rent for a year or two, then relist when the market rebounds.

Sometimes, having a rental history even helps. Buyers can see it’s a strong-performing investment and may be more willing to make an offer.

Many U.S. cities have seen a steady rise in rental demand over recent years. According to Federal Reserve housing data, the national rental rate continues to trend upward, making apartments easier to lease than sell in many cases. That’s especially true when the property is well-managed and competitively priced.

Bottom Line

It’s frustrating when your apartment won’t sell, especially after you’ve put time, money, and effort into getting it ready.

But this doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

Renting your unit might be the smartest thing you do this year. It keeps cash coming in and protects your investment. And let you wait for a better moment to sell—if that’s what you want later.

And if the idea of managing a rental property sounds daunting, that’s where we step in. Contact B&R Property Management today and we’ll walk you through the next steps.