How to Get Repair Estimates of an Out of State Absentee Property?

[Sierra Murphy]

If I have an out of state absentee willing to sell me their property, how would I estimate the repair value of the property? Are they going to mail me keys so I get into the house? How do people typically get into the house? Also, how would I make an offer on the house before getting a chance to look at it. These are just questions that float in my brain as I consider wholesaling.