Nearly 20 percent of buyers bid without seeing homes

Nineteen percent of people who purchased or sold a home in the past 12 months made a bid on a home before they saw it in person, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 homebuyers by Redfin. 

Buyers of higher-end, pricier homes were nearly twice as likely to make a bid on a house without seeing it. Nearly four in 10 people who purchased a home that cost more than $750,000 made their offer without seeing the home in person first.

The report said that some homebuyers send family or friends to view the home before they make an offer. Bidding wars have been increasing as of late across the country, usually due to a lack of inventory on the market, so homebuyers are more likely to jump on a home they like, even if they haven’t been able to see it for themselves. Technology can also be an asset, as some agents offer virtual tours of the home, allowing clients to get a better view than just browsing photos. Additionally, with more Realtors^® alerting clients to homes that fit their needs as soon as they come on the market, potential homebuyers can view a home virtually the day the “for sale” sign goes up in the yard.

Also, sites like RPR®, a member resource for NAR members, allows Realtors® to quickly pull together reports for individual homes, which enables clients to see more information about the home itself, as well as things like what the local school district and neighborhoods are like.