Buying a duplex sight unseen (interior)

[David P.]

I was looking into buying a duplex sight unseen interior due to tenants not wanting to be bothered. I do have an inspection report already that shows some pictures of the interior but thats about all i have to go off.  The the last duplex i purchased i did not mind because the property was built new in 2008 and was fairly new. The property Im looking at is built in 1993 but one particular unit has a hoarder tenant who lived there 10 years and base on the pictures looks like the property is left in shambles in the inside. I don't think she ever had anything repaired and I even see significant amount of black mold growing under the kitchen sink. Nevertheless the property does have good bones and I still like to make an offer on it if the price is right. My question is...do you feel comfortable purchasing a property that you can not enter yourself and just have go off inspection reports? It seems like this is fairly standard nowadays with properties that are tenant occupied. 

[Brian Ploszay]

It is reasonable for a buyer, not only to view, but also inspect a building they want to purchase.  Don't be intimidated by tenants;  It is the seller's problem that access is challenging.  Get it under contract with an inspection provision, then demand to inspect the units.

I do not like to purchase buildings sight unseen, or without inspection.  Occasionally I have done this when buying a foreclosure at a sheriff sale auction.  I have ways to justify that risk, which is usually to purchase the property cheap.

The other day I went into a property that I was interested in purchasing.  The pictures made it look good.  But it wasn't.  It was just an incredible photographer.  Who probably cleaned the photos up a bit in photoshop.  

Going inside will also allow you to meet the tenants you will inherit.  There have been buildings that I have turned down because I didn't want to deal with the current tenancy.