Would you bid on auction property you haven't been inside?

[Hen Ley]

I'm interested in bidding on a property scheduled to be auctioned on the courthouse steps.  The property is is tenant occupied-  I've knocked on the door and briefly spoke to the tenant (which in itself feels like overstepping), but I have not been inside the property.  Has anyone bid on a property they haven't see the inside of prior to bidding?  Any suggestions moving forward?

[Nancy Roth]

I have had some success buying investment property via live auction without having seen the interior. How well you know the neighborhood? Have you looked at recent sales there? Have you done much house renovation or repair? Do you have contractors you can call? 

Suggest you get a ledger and lease from the auctioneer showing rent and record of payment. If it's not cash flowing and you'll have to evict the tenant, you are buying a headache. Would you be ready for that, even if the hammer price is right? Also don't forget the buyer premium!

@Ned Carey said it best: there's a lot of risk buying property that way, and you can only hedge it by setting your maximum bid low and be willing to walk away if the bid price goes above it.