Evolving Buyer Expectations Put Pressure on Real Estate’s Old Showing Model

Written by:

Rudi Davis

Date:

21 Oct 2025

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A provocative vision of real estate’s future is emerging: homes being sold without a single buyer ever stepping foot inside. This isn’t just theoretical speculation, it’s backed by $2 billion in transaction volume through one platform alone, according to Anne Lakusta, President and Co-founder of iFinder Offers.

The Privacy Paradox in Modern Home Sales

“Who wants people entering their home? I mean, I don’t, you don’t, right? That’s not desirable while I still live there,” Lakusta says, highlighting what she sees as a fundamental contradiction in current real estate practices. “If you were completely comfortable with how real estate is being sold today, your front door would just be open when you’re for sale.”

Lakusta argues this mindset shift is already happening naturally as homeowners increasingly question the traditional open house model. “At some level, you would never do that. Do you lock your door when you’re at home? And the answer is yes, you do,” she points out.

The Technology-Enabled Alternative

Through iFinder’s platform, Lakusta says they’ve developed an alternative approach that prioritizes seller privacy while maintaining transaction integrity. The company has built a network of nearly 300 pre-qualified investors, each with different geographical preferences and price points.

“Technology is a wonderful gift,” Lakusta notes, explaining how their system matches properties with appropriate buyers without requiring physical showings. This approach has proven surprisingly effective, iFinder reports a 15% close rate on submitted properties, nearly double the 8% rate Lakusta says was typical for traditional iBuyers.

Beyond Distressed Properties

While some might assume no-entry sales are limited to distressed properties or wholesale deals, Lakusta says the reality is more nuanced. “We had an investor buy a home when he got married and he lives in it now,” she explains. “It is not only a vehicle for homes that need work, it is a vehicle for any kind of home that is interested in how much can I just get quick and easy.”

The platform has facilitated transactions ranging from “deserted motels”to “over 100 acres for a developer,” demonstrating the model’s flexibility. “Some of the properties are gorgeous,”Lakusta adds, challenging the assumption that no-entry sales necessarily mean discounted prices.

The Path Forward

While Lakusta acknowledges this approach represents a significant shift in how real estate transactions occur, she sees it as an inevitable evolution driven by changing consumer preferences and technological capabilities. The $2 billion in transaction volume through their platform suggests there’s substantial market appetite for alternatives to traditional showing-based sales.

“We’re trying to provide buyers what they want, which is a flow of deals that have not been all over the wholesale websites,” Lakusta explains. “And trying to provide sellers what they want, which is a quicker, easier, more certain closing.”