Sight unseen offer

[Carlyle Campbell]

Hey guys, I have done a few deals but still wet behind the ear. I need some advice here. I live in Virginia where I reached out to a home owner who lives in another state who has a house that has been unoccupied for over a year. He wants me to make a cash offer sight unseen and I will not be allowed to get inside the property. What are some recommendations to mitigate this situation? 

[Bruce Woodruff]

Quote from @Matthew Paul:

Offer only the land value . 

And/or assume that everything is trashed and you have to rehab the entire house.

I have bought houses without going inside, but you can usually get on the property and look in some windows. check the roof, exterior siding, main panel, etc and get a pretty good idea of what the house will need. If you can't see certain rooms, like the kitchen, just budget for a complete kitchen. Do this for the whole house and then add on 20% for complete unknowns.

Realize that there is some reason that this owner does not want you to see the inside of the house, and plan accordingly. It can still be a great deal though...