Did You Buy A Haunted House?

By Jenni Boucher

If you’re on the search for your dream home, there are many important factors to consider when evaluating properties. Most buyers look at the overall condition of the home, character/appeal, the school district and when the last renovation was done. Wouldn't you also want to know if the house is haunted?

The state of Florida does not require sellers or their agents to disclose to potential buyers whether or not a house is haunted, even though 31 other states do. That being said, Florida does require sellers to disclose anything that could materially affect the value of the property, such as a death on the premises. Let’s face it: the presence of spirits isn't something that a home inspector is going to find out for you while inspecting the property.

The good news for sellers of haunted or rumored-to-be-haunted properties is that for a growing segment of buyers, it can actually increase the value of the home! These buyers feel that the spiritual presence adds to the character of the home. According to the National Association of Realtors, in some areas with a large number of reported haunted houses, like southern California, real estate firms are now creating teams of agents that specialize in haunted or otherwise stigmatized properties.

If you believe in the paranormal and the presence of activity would make or break the sale of a particular property to you, go ahead and ask the seller if they have noticed anything unusual. When asked point-blank, most sellers will divulge the history of their home. If not, it’s time to do some research yourself.

Google provides a wealth of information about haunted houses in any particular area, especially famous ones. If you find anything interesting, visit the local library to review old newspapers and see what turns up. You can also ask neighbors if they have noticed anything unusual about the home or if there are any local legends about the property.

There are things you can look out for while touring the home that could possibly indicate the presence of spiritual activity. Cold or hot spots, flashes of light, unexplained shadows, the feeling of being watched and/or touched and orbs of light in photographs are all potential signs of activity.

If you have already bought your dream home and suspect that you’re not alone, there are things you can do to bring peace of mind to you and your family – and possibly help the spirits move on.

Start with a deep cleaning of the home. This is a good first step to cleansing the space of negative energy. Wipe down walls, clean the floors, clean all linens – clean everything! Let the energies in your home know that only positive energy is allowed in your space and negative energies aren’t welcome.

There are precedents of homes being sold without disclosure of spiritual activity where the buyer has been able to get a refund of the purchase price through court proceedings. One of the most well known cases was in 1990 when Jeffrey Stambovsky purchased a turn-of-the-century Victorian home in Nyack, NY. The seller did not disclose any paranormal activity to Stambovsky, although it was brought up later in court that she had previously sold her story to Reader’s Digest and the local press (1977 & 1982). The lower court that first heard the case ruled that the seller and agent were not required to disclose spiritual activity in the home. A NY appellate court later ruled that the house was indeed haunted and granted Stambovsky a refund of his $650,000 purchase price. Don’t feel too bad for the seller, once word got out a whole new group of buyers become interested in, and ultimately purchased the property.

No matter what side of the real estate transaction you are on, it is important to be open and forthcoming about paranormal activity at a property. The buyer may not believe in spirits, or may be more intrigued by their presence. It is important to establish dialogue early; otherwise the buyer might be left wondering “Did I buy a haunted house?”