We are hearing from more and more people who are purchasing a home without looking at it in person. Supply and demand is talking right now! We have also heard about a number of bidding wars on homes that are going on the market. If you are aggressively hunting for a home, purchasing a home without seeing it in person might be a good tactic.
Most people who buy a home in a sight unseen type of manner are definitely looking at photographs and videos before making their final decision. Some people will have friends or family look at the home for them in person as well.
Although the affairs of 2020 were not normal by any means, 63% of those who purchased a home did not view it in person. The pandemic is one of the main reasons people are purchasing sight unseen – but not the only reason. The current increase in supply and demand is another huge reason.
With todays technology, photographs, 360 degree video tours, and FaceTimes provide quality images of the home. Although you will not physically be in the home, you will be able to get a very reliable idea of what the home is like.
Having a home inspection is always recommended, but it is definitely recommended in these sight unseen purchases. The home inspections is also a type of protection for you on the off chance there are more issues with the home than you realized.
We would also recommend using your real estate agent as your representative. If there are certain parts of the home that may be questionable for you, be honest with the agent and have them look into the situations further for you.
No matter what your reason is for wanting to purchase a home sight unseen, you are not the only one!