Buying anything sight unseen carries considerable risk, a principle that particularly applies to . While common for minor purchases, buying a home without first inspecting it can be a high-stakes decision.

But a couple did exactly that when they snapped up in 1997. The two had lived next door for almost a decade, and when they found out their neighbor was selling, they were interested in taking over the estate. However, the neighbor wouldn’t let them in to see the place. Instead, they relied on their three young daughters’ stories from their visits to the home and decided to go ahead and buy the house.

Originally a classic 1960s ranch-style home, the owners worked with the architect (who’s designed private estates for Ralph Lauren and luxury resorts) to turn it into an Arts & Crafts–

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