You want to sell the apartment for more than its worth, and are thinking of renting it till the market recovers. You should consider the scenario that you will get more for it now than you will in 12 months time. Interest rates on offer by most banks have increased lately and unemployment figures are up. Couple that with the fact that the banks will be calling in their loans to developers soon, and we could have carnage...the **** may have yet to hit the fan
I would do it up so its looks better than the competition, sell it for 5k less, and have rid of it. Presumably this should not be a problem for you, as you are buying another house that has fallen a similar amount from the peak, no?..If, not, you should be prepared to bargain hard with them, they afre in the same situation as you.