Househunting Online

This is so fun, I have to share. I sent the following email. And after, are the responses. I have such wonderful people in my life. I am verrrrrry lucky.

Subject line: Polling dear friends and trusted advisors
Have you ever or would you ever consider buying a house sight unseen? (I
included Carla, as my ringer, because I know she has done it...TWICE)

Responses (in the order rec'd)
Gini: ABSOLUTELY NOT. I would fly up tomorrow rather than not seeing it. but I think people are clearly different and some people are better at predicting their own reaction than I am. I would need to sit in it.

Evie: I can't imagine doing it even once, let alone twice. How did they work out
for Carla? I hate buying and selling houses enough to say I absolutely never would.

Nancy: Yes, I would. I'd make sure that it had a clean bill of health and that someone whose taste I trusted had had a look at it. In this case I think I'd definitely do it -- there are so many pluses -- size, location, type, and a likely really good investment that I don't think you can go wrong. Of course it's always easier to spend someone else's money!

Leslie: It depends, it depends, it depends. Because you know the area, the realtor,
the hoods, you might consider it. Is it to crazy to fly up and look? I will cross my fingers for you.

John: Just as an investment or to live in? If the latter, forget it! If the former, make sure the land value is equal to the asking price minus the cost of removing the home!
go look at it today!

Darla: No. would not think of it. so many things can be wrong--spoken like someone in the home inspection business...especially in this real estate market. my advice...get in your car and go see it...it will still be there in this market. thatès my two cents, sent to you on a french computer in quebec...

Erica: I might. A Norwegian friend of mine who was living a year in California, made a major financial commitment for a house back home in Tromso, without seeing it but based on the recommendations of friends who had seen it. I volunteer to go see it for you! and so does Kitty who just moved to NC.....But come to think of it, maybe that's how Bonnemaman and Bonpapa ended up with a piece of swamp in Florida. Current worth? $500 (this after over 50 years!)
Anyone for a piece of the Brooklyn Bridge?

Jane: Not sure: would need more details. My inclination would be no but hey........who knows.

Nancy: We bought our Vermont house after looking at it once and being in the area only two weeks. but i can't imagine not seeing it at all. there are so many intangibles - where does the sun set? Are there enough windows?

Chris: Nope--I would never buy a house unseen. . . why not go see?

Deborah: Great question.I might buy a house unseen, but I wouldn't buy it unless I knew the neighborhood, community, schools, train station, recreation, etc. I guess I'm saying the house itself is only one piece of the decision.

Maureen: I have not...but my friend Deborah bought her house in cape cod based on
the recommendation of two friends. She had been looking on the cape...was back home...a house came on the market...the friends went and looked at it...said it was perfect...and she bought it...and she loves it and it's wonderful!!! and if you're not confident...then get your ass on a plane and get up there and see it yourself!!! (not that i want you to leave...) who cares
how much the trip costs!! keep me posted...

Lisa: For me a home has to speak or I have to see the path to make it mine spiritually so no I would not buy a home sight unseen..I would buy one I feel in love with at first sight..is that different?

P&E: When I first read [the poll question], I exclaimed, "Holy s**t, Peggy has lost her mind! I would NEVER buy a house without seeing it!" E was nearby and heard all this so I explained what I was talking about. His response, (and I quote), was "If she were seeing me as a patient and she were going to do this, I'd be filling out that pink form where we get to involuntarily commit a patient to the psych ward for a 48 hour evaluation." I guess you know where we stand!

Emily: M'god. Why would you? The house you live in, rather than invest in, has to speak to you. This sounds like computer dating. What if everything is perfect on paper and on digital camera and you walk in and the shape of the front entrance hall reminds you of a creepy place from your childhood. What if the sunlight is in the wrong part of the house for your routine. Get a plane ticket and go! What could be more fun anyhow.

R: I bought sight unseen in previous years, with success. My husband and I currently own an apartment, furnished, that we paid seven figures for, and we've never seen. We hope to visit it sometime before the end of the year, and we expect some surprises despite all the due diligence, photos, and assurances. We don't mind adventure, and we don't mind creating Plan B if necessary.

Wendy: As to buying a house unseen. Never. But then I'm claustrophobic and light and air are so terribly important to me I'd have difficulty in a place without it. I've had several customers buy places unseen but they've been condos and they've seen similar floor plans and are able to see the location. I agree with your friend who asked why you don't just go and look
at it.

A: I have never bought a house sight unseen but LOVE western North Carolina. A lot of a house is its feel which is not just about the house itself but about the neighborhood, the view, the neighbors, the café up the street. If you haven't seen the house, are you familiar with its surroundings?

Susan: I would fly up immediately and sit in it cause I'm like Gini--I've got to feel it.

J&N: ABSOLUTELY NOT! But the fact that you're flying up to Aville tomorrow I assume means that you'll be seeing the unseen house asap? Good. In general, as good as friends may be and as much as you may trust their tastes, there's no substitute for seeing for your self.

D&E: I was about to say no ... but I have bought houses twice very, very, very quickly. In Seattle, I knew exactly what I wanted, but didn't think I could find it (a townhouse, near bus lines, commercial area, etc.). I looked at several other places, then saw "my place" from the outside and was ready to buy. Looked inside and was even more convinced. Ironically, the realtor I was working with refused to let me put in an offer that day; said I needed to at least sleep on it. The next day, I went over again with some girlfriends, all of whom agreed it was exactly the perfect place for me. We (my beloved Seattle townhouse) lived happily ever after for several years.
How we bought this house was pretty similar. And now I know that both Dick and I have a high capacity for making decisions quickly, when the intuition feels right. If you know that about yourself and this feels right, go for it. And I'm happy to hook you up with my dowser friend to get rid of any bad juju.

Janie: Very interesting idea and I love the responses! NC, here you come! How about this - if you find a house you really think you want to buy, can your realtor put in a bid "contingent upon buyer viewing property" within 3-5 whatever-will-work days? Maybe they won't do it, but you never know if you don't try.

I'd get on a plane and look at it - if you intend to live in it and not just use it as an investment. I'm with Gini on that. But if it's an investment, you want to be sure it will appeal to renters, so a trip up may still be in order.

Peter: only if you a) knew you were only going to stay there for a little while and b) had SOME reason to be confident it could be resold relatively easily, or c) you were buying as a fix it project so that it didn't matter if it needed new floors or whatever....

Sue: I would have little problem buying the house unseen...it's the neighborhood....and what one drives through to get there....I know that Cliff and Monika had this problem when doing this in Portland.....very cute house but a very sketchy hood....

Laurie: Not quite the same, but ... We bought land, designed a house, contracted with foundation/septic people and a builder, without knowing what we were doing. Surround
yourself with folks you like and trust, and everything will work out. Leap of faith.

Sara: First, I think that it would be "easier" to purchase sight unseen as a single person (less risk of blame game stuff). That being said, Scott and Amy bought a house sight unseen by them though they did have very good friends look at it. That too sounds like it has some pitfalls.
Has your real estate agent seen it? If so I'd say go for it. I guess, if I were single and someone who knew me or what I was looking for, saw the house, that I just might go sight unseen.
And heck, if you buy it and don't like it you can always sell it and the worst thing that could happen is that it costs you some money right? But then you would know that you are one of the few that has bought a house sight unseen!

Ellen: I agree with most of the people on your blog. I would never purchase a home sight
unseen. One must bask in the feel of the home. How the house sits in relation to the sun is very important to me. And be careful- you don't want a toilet in the middle of your living or
dining room. Some of those hill people are strange. I know because my sister lives near
Boone, and she is rather strange as well as most of her hill-residing neighbors.