Buying A Home Sight Unseen? Avoid These Mistakes

Buying A Home Sight Unseen? Avoid These Mistakes

Because of social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and other COVID-related challenges, buying a home sight unseen has become increasingly common. When you do it the right way, you can find exactly what you’re looking for in a property. You will need a buyers agent who can help provide this service to you without ever actually seeing it in person.

But if you do it the wrong way? It can be a real challenge. So, the question is, what are the biggest mistakes buyers make when buying a property virtually—and, more importantly, how can you avoid those mistakes?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the key mistakes buyers should avoid when purchasing a property sight unseen, including:

• Not leveraging all the available technology. When you can’t tour a home in person, you want to take advantage of any and all available technology to get a feel for the property and neighborhood. That includes going through any online listings, taking a comprehensive video tour (or a few!), and using Google Street View to check out the surrounding area.
• Skipping the home inspection. Getting a home inspection is always important—but it’s especially important when you haven’t seen a property in person. It can be hard to determine the condition of a home strictly based on photos and video tours; the home inspection will tell you exactly how much work the home needs—and whether you’re willing to tackle that work.
• Not working with the right local agent. A local agent is an invaluable resource when you’re buying a home sight unseen; they’re able to tour the home in person, answer your questions, and share any insights that you might miss when touring a home virtually.

The Takeaway:

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re considering buying a home sight unseen, it’s important to understand the common mistakes buyers make. We want you to avoid those mistakes—and make sure the home you’re buying is the right fit for you.  Contact us and let’s talk about your move to Gainesville!