I bought a house without ever setting foot in it because I had no other choice – a crucial mistake that the pictures don’t show

A homeowner bought a house without setting foot in it, but later learned of a crucial mistake that isn’t visible in the pictures.

There are several aspects of the home buying process that photos cannot convey.

Home buyer Angelika Erickson shared what she learned about buying a home sight-unseen GOBankingRates.com.

She and her husband bought a house in Vancouver, Canada, without seeing it in person.

Erickson pointed out that working with a top real estate agent can make all the difference when purchasing a home.

But sometimes agents can make rooms in the house appear better than they seem.

“I would say that what appears on camera can seem more spacious than in person,” Erickson said.

“When the house is staged, it is staged to appear more spacious.

“Just one thing to keep in mind: assume the rooms are slightly smaller than what you see on the tour.

“Make sure you have a copy of the floor plan with measurements.”

Additionally, Erickson recommends asking your agent to outline boundaries for furniture if the home is not staged or furnished.

For example, if you want to estimate how a sofa set would fit in a living space, it’s helpful to ask the agent for help visualizing it.

There are also other defects that are not visible in photos.

That’s why Erickson suggests a home inspection.

“I think that’s even more important when you’re buying a house without seeing it,” Erickson said.

But inspections should be done as part of any home buying process.