809,258
I'm not sure that is something that we can require. Anybody can write an offer and we are required by law to present all offers. We can tell the seller the pros and cons of accepting an offer that has been written without viewing the property, and in the end, it is the sellers' decision.
As buyers' agents, we have written offers site unseen several times, and they have been accepted and closed. It isn't my favorite thing to do, but we work with a lot of out of state buyers and with technology it has become more common. I personally think it's a material fact that should be disclosed to the seller (sometimes they don't know the buyer hasn't seen the home because the agent goes through to preview it), though my real estate commission actually doesn't entirely agree. I have spoken with them at length about it. The truth is, our contract inspection period lets a buyer out for virtually any reason, including not liking something in a visual inspection. -K
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Abby Stiller
Cape Coral, FL
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Lynnea Miller
Bend, OR
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,052,211
Unless it's an investor making an offer on an income property, having reviewed all the operating data, sight unseen on a residential home that the user is going to occupy can be pretty weak. For reasons you've just stated.
I don't particularly want to see owner letting someone tie up a property they haven't seen.
'Good reasons' exist but are rare.
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Endre Barath, Jr.
Beverly Hills, CA
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Sandy Padula & Norm Pa...
, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
2,390,620
I have had this often but we made took that offer stating that if another came in theirs would be a back-up offer unless they were willing to remove that contingency Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! and then we continued to market it as if we had no offer.
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Abby Stiller
Cape Coral, FL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
John Pusa
Glendale, CA
-
Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
2,178,603
I don't know that it can be required but, as a listing agent, you certainly must consider the circumstances and warn the sellers about the risks. I sold many properties to out of state investors who never saw the property and maybe never will. The inspector and I were their eyes.
Under typical circumstances for owner/occupied it would be a rare instance I would recommend accepting such an offer... without a large non-refundable EM depost.
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Endre Barath, Jr.
Beverly Hills, CA
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Abby Stiller
Cape Coral, FL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
3,345,091
We cannot require it. However, if I know the buyer has not seen it that is good information for the seller to know. Making informed decisions! It might be better to wait for another buyer who has seen the property. Sellers decision.
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
482,547
I don't think I can require it and i don't know if I'd know unless the buyer's agent shared...
In the end it's the seller's decision, but if I do know I would STRONGLY advise the sellers to only accept if they can still market the home until any other contingencies are cleared and if there is a large money deposit in place.
Bruce
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bruce Kunz
Howell, NJ
3,383,334
It's not generally an issue in my area, but I will say, one time my sellers into a contract where the buyers had not viewed the property (unbeknownst to us.) That fact came out at home inspection when obvious issues, like broken window seals that would have been glaring the buyers in the face, were asked to be fixed. Buyer's agent then coughed up the truth. Buyers only saw it via skype. He hadn't pointed out the window issues and they had made an offer assuming they were fine. Meanwhile, sellers had assumed the buyers had already taken into account the obvious problem when they made their offer. Luckily, the deal stayed together, but not without a tense few days.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,230,113
It's totally up to the sellers but, I've sold several homes sight-unseen and never had an issue.
If I were representing the seller, I would recommend to the sellers that the buyers present a pretty hefty, non-refundable fee due to this fact though.
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Abby Stiller
Cape Coral, FL
-
John Pusa
Glendale, CA
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
4,572,283
If "known" inform the seller and let be aware of possible ramifications. Seller decides.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Peter Testa
Danbury, CT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
John Pusa
Glendale, CA
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
628,814
No, that would be up to the Seller if they choose to work with a Buyer in that situation. I have had a couple of Buyers relocating from over seas who have purchased one of my listings by looking at pictures
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
2,781,173
No offers until I see some evidence of goodwill...Many people make offers knowing they can withdraw them within the contingency periods. I am not willing to detain or tie up my clients property that way. I am looking for ready, willing and able with their finger on the trigger...
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,583,278
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER would I allow that to happen..... that's a buyer who wants to buy time to see it and then eliminate it....
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
4,882,355
I've never thought of that; however, that would be a decision the client would need to make.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
1,311,397
It depends on the attractiveness of the property and attractiveness of the offer. I would certainly quiz the buyers' agent as to why the buyers opted to pursue that strategy. How soon would the buyers be able to see the house and is that a contingency? Perhaps a counter offer to buy time and test the buyers' true desire to have that particular property.
There is not a yes or no answer to whether you would automatically advise the seller to reject the offer.
Of course, the buyer can write and cannot be forced to have visited the property. It would be an interesting discussion with the seller who is tasked with making the final decision whether to accept the offer or not.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
911,338
It's rare, but I've had a buyer doing 1031 exchanges to send her son out with me to decide what to buy. His parents bought those without seeing them.
But, in a case recently near here, a lady came from another state, liked a house near Leesburg, put it under contract. Then 45 or so days later, the day before settlement, the husband comes to town. His wife takes him to see the house she liked, and he about exploded. He said there isn't any effin way he's buying that house and living there. The deal fell apart obviously.
I'd let sellers decide if they want to accept an offer from someone who hasn't seen the house. I can't require it.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
1,502,998
Yes. Once bitten, twice shy.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
1,844,301
Are things that busy by you? I wonder if it is the buyers or the agent?
Either way, it doesn't end good for the seller.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
7,836,164
Not if the buyer is an investor.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,104,931
No, I don't. I will however negotiate a very large due diligence fee... it will hurt them to walk away from the contract. At the end of the day, it's up to the sellers to decide how much of a risk they wish to take.
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Diana Zaccaro Broker A...
Cocoa Beach, FL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
758,035
That happens occasionally on investment property. If it meets the investor's criteria then they don't always care about seeing it... BUT when the buyer's the end-user I'd feel a lot better if they saw the house.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
900,128
Interesting... we need to be mindful of fraud also when that happens, especially when "buyers" try to pay before seeing the home.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
191,939
I don't... I have represented a handful of buyers who have purchased homes sight unseen.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,772,575
Wanda,
In the dot com era, people from Silicon Valley were buying homes sight unseen....everything was going crazy. Personally, I would not trust an offer from someone who has not seen a property especially residential. A
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,090,872
If they are investors, no. I work with a lot of out of state investor clients and they cannot always be here to view a property in person so will make an offer sight unseen. In those cases I preview the property thoroughly, talke a LOT of pics and make sure they understand what they are getting into. I also recommend in writing that they be present for the inspection and most are.
I had one local investor who was an owner/developer (contractor) buying for rehab and rental who did not view personally. He would have his GM view the properties with me and make offers sight unseen based on our recommendations.
For the average buyer, I would not do unless it was absolutely, positively necessary.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,622,432
Depends. Some of my past clients were not in the country when they were buying a property. I usually do facetime or any other video viewing with them before submitting.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
613,494
We sell a lot of homes sight unseen...even one for $2M. We have had 3 "sight unseen" buyer sales in the past 2 months.
Never have any of the buyers backed out...why? Because we do go view it personally and do a hard core evaluation. We pull no punches and never paint a rosey picture.
It irks me to read about agents that make offers on property that they have never seen and then claim that they are not inspectors.
If you are afraid of liability, then don't do it. If you are going to write contracts for buyers and be their eyes and ears, you better make it a point to know more than the average agent.
Eve
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
4,160,899
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! it is a good idea buyer preview the property before negotiating an offer.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
921,504
Such buyers are operating under the 'get it off the market' SOP knowing they can jump ship on a whim. A non-refundable fee is appropriate for Opportunity Cost compensation.
Be aware, it is not the buyer who has gone goofy in such situations.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
2,436,099
I have had a few buyers in the past that wanted to put in an offer for a house, sight unseen, when they were physically capable of viewing it themselves. I convinced them to see it first.
As a listing agent, this is a good reminder to ensure I ask the buyer's agent if the buyer has seen it (especially when I have no record of that agent showing the house).
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
931,002
The old adage "present all offers" applies. But yes, offers without first viewing? These can turn out like your situation.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
6,393,609
In 2008 I had a renter all hot about one of my rentals, I reluctantly let him sign a lease so that he would have a place to move into when he arrived from Alaska.
The crap he pulled to get out of his lease left a permanent bruise on my memory that will prevent me from accepting future renters, and buyers, who have not viewed the property in person.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
1,543,823
Yes. Buyers must view or if investors, their contractor, "bird-dog" or manager must.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
1,725,996
Most definitely
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
851,242
Offers without showings typically raise nothing but red flags in our market.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
4,457,314
Absolutely and that is the key to not getting caught in landmines... something the Z's and T's of this world do not get...
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
785,475
No, I don't , That would be up to the seller to decide to work with that buyer's offer or not.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,751,129
Wanda, I can see why your question is important. Ironically, I've sold three houses in the past two years to buyers who never saw them. I sent videos of the homes and neighborhoods, and they all bought and are happy there today. I'll have to admit, I was nervous most of the time.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
4,434,127
No
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
4,800,082
I can't require it, but I am uncomfortable when they don't see it.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
536,943
It happens in our area because we have a lot of out of state buyers. They love the pics but when viewing the neighborhood or actual home (pics can be deceiving) they may pull out.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND