In my mind, the options soften the blow and don't scare the tenants away as easily.  

As inventory increases, competition for homes may soften, and could even bring a moderation in sales prices, which, after 114 months of year-over-year gains, would be music to the ears of homebuyers throughout the country.

Wait for interest rates to increase and hope that the market will soften in a few months? 

New appliances, water heat & softener, roof (hail from 2018 got me a new one for under $1200). 

Doing a refi will also increase your interest deduction, which will soften the hit from capital gains on the sold property.

If the house has a water softener check if it is rented or owned and that is one thing that you will have to make sure has water softener salt in.

High heat will most likely cause it to soften.

Picking somewhere you'd like to go occasionally can soften that blow as well.

Once they are both completely full pull the plugs and between the hot water softening things, and the pressure of the water sometimes that will push things through. 

Stay the course, keep learning, and feel happy when your solid offer gets beat out by a crazy offer because those people are going to be losing money on their investment in two years while you will be cash flowing from being patient and waiting until the market softens a little bit.