Buying A Haunted House

Buyer Beware: The Spiritually Impaired Home, AKA: The Local Haunted Mansion

We all know that moment in the horror movie where we think, “How stupid are these people?” When a house orders “GET OUT!” in that freaky whisper voice and it’s accompanied by even creepier music, you leave. You run. You don’t look back. You don’t even pack a bag. So how is it that every October there is some news report about a seemingly intelligent family that bought a nightmare on Elm Street and is now holding weekly séances begging the undead to find somewhere else to hang out? Maybe they ignored the warning. Or perhaps the blood dripping down the walls looked like faux paint. Or maybe their spiritually challenged cohabitants decided to lie low until after all parties had left the closing table. Who knows? But, you don’t have to find yourself in a horror film of your own making. Here are a few tips to avoid such a grave error.

§  READ THE SELLERS DISCLOSURE

You may have to read closely. And hope that it’s not written in disappearing ink. Hauntings are in fact a required disclosure in several states. Haunted homes or homes that have a reputation of being haunted are considered stigmatized properties and as such, the owner may have an obligation to warn any potential buyer. But not all states require disclosure of the paranormal (Texas is not one,) and even if the state does require it, if the sellers have kept mum about their unwelcome house guests, or they want to secretly pass on the trick or treat -- it may be hard to prove.

§  ASK THE NEIGHBORS

In the case of the weird and unusual, most neighbors are a bottomless pit of information. You don’t have to ask, “Have you ever had to call the Ghost Busters?” to get information. The best approach is one I recommend to all my buyers. Ask about the neighborhood, the home’s history, and the upkeep. If piercing screams have shattered a warm summer evening or bizarre happenings have interrupted their daily walk, the neighbors will be quick to share. They will also likely share anything else they may know about the current occupants living or dead and the condition of the property. All of which are helpful pieces of information when trying to negotiate a sale.

§  GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND

See what the internet has to say about your potential future address. Can you find news reports suggesting foul play or that a former inhabitant was an infamous self-proclaimed vampire? Was it featured on the news under the headline, “Local Haunts for Halloween?” Good information to know.

§  TRY DIEDINHOUSE.COM

A death on a property is not necessarily a mandatory disclosure in most states. In Texas, most deaths must either be related to the condition of the property or the result of a murder to be eligible for mandatory disclosure. But let’s face it, not all murder victims choose to hang around after they’ve gotten the axe and not all poltergeists evolved as a result of a heinous crime. Sometimes you just want to know if someone died in your future dream home. This site saves you the trouble of having to dig too deep. A shallow unearthing is all that’s required; for a small fee, this website will do the dirty work for you.

PAY ATTENTION

Seriously, when you are doing a walk through and you see shadows running along the stairs or notice a headless woman drifting down the hall, do you really need to do an energy audit to know there might be a problem? It may not be so dramatic. Flickering lights, extremes in temperatures or weird odors, may not signal a ghost but could be the hint of potential electrical problems or even more terrifying … toxic mold!

In the end, you need to trust your gut. If a house feels wrong, it is – for all kinds of reasons, many of which are grounded in the normal as well as the paranormal. Make sure you have a qualified Realtor who is familiar with the local laws and ordinances and be sure and do your homework. When it comes to haunted houses, things aren’t always transparent.