Multi-family offers before viewing the property is this normal???

[Brett Danehey]

I'm shopping for a duplex/triplex in my area, and everyone that is occupied they are asking that I put in an offer and they have to accept to even view the property. I get that it's a bit of a inconvenience for the tenants but is this normal? Sight unseen I'm going to low ball like crazy, but I don't feel like having something excepted have to pay some type of earnest money and walk into a complete mess. 

Normal??