Practical Next Steps If You’re Considering an Off-Market STR Sale
Once STR owners realize that selling off-market is a legitimate and strategic option, the next question is usually: What would I actually need to do differently?
Selling off-market isn’t about secrecy or shortcuts. When it works well, it’s because the seller is prepared, intentional, and clear about what they want from the outcome. Whether you ultimately sell privately or decide the MLS is still the right move, these steps will help you think about your STR sale more strategically.
Start With Your Real Numbers
Off-market buyers don’t start with comps, they start with performance.
Before you talk to anyone about selling, make sure you understand and can clearly explain:
Your actual STR revenue (not best-case projections)
Your operating expenses
Your net cash flow
Any existing debt or financing terms
If you can’t summarize this without pulling multiple spreadsheets, that’s normal, but it’s also the first thing to clean up. Clear numbers signal seriousness and immediately elevate the quality of conversations you’ll have with buyers.
Separate Price From Outcome
One of the biggest mindset shifts for off-market sellers is realizing that the best outcome isn’t always the highest headline price.
In many STR transactions, terms matter just as much as price. Timing, financing structure, tax considerations, and flexibility can materially change what you walk away with at the end of the deal.
Off-market selling gives you room to evaluate the entire picture instead of anchoring on a single number and letting everything else fall where it may.
Think Carefully About Who Your Ideal Buyer Is
Not every buyer is right for every STR.
Before going off-market, it helps to think through:
Is this property best suited for a cash-flow investor or a lifestyle buyer?
Does its value come from current income, future upside, or both?
Would flexible terms attract stronger buyers than a price adjustment?
Answering these questions upfront prevents wasted conversations and helps you position the property in a way that resonates with the right audience.
Decide How Much Privacy and Control Matter to You
Some sellers want maximum exposure. Others want discretion, fewer conversations, and cleaner negotiations.
Off-market selling favors the latter. It allows you to stay private, avoid public price history, and control how and when information is shared. For many STR owners, especially those with performing assets, that control is a meaningful advantage.
There’s no universally “correct” choice — but knowing what you value makes the decision far clearer.
Be Honest About Your Timeline
Off-market selling isn’t about speed for its own sake. It’s about alignment.
If your timeline is flexible, you often have more leverage to structure a deal intelligently and wait for the right fit. If you need immediate liquidity, that urgency will shape which approach makes the most sense.
Being honest with yourself about timing prevents frustration later.
Final Thought
Selling your STR off-market works best when it’s intentional, not reactive.
Even if you ultimately choose to list publicly, understanding how off-market transactions work, and preparing as if you were going to sell privately, will make you a more informed, strategic seller either way.
Remember, the goal isn’t to avoid the market.
It’s to engage it more thoughtfully.
If you’re ready to sell more strategically and save 10s of thousands of dollars on sales commissions reach out to us here.