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Would you list a Haunted House?

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Re/Max 10 New Lenox Illinois http://dtaylor.remax.com

In my teenage and early adult years my Aunt and Uncle would ask me to house-sit at their home while on vacation.

 

Every night after making sure all the doors, event storm doors were locked and I would slide into the guest bedroom bed of their Cape-Cod home at that time with an unfinished attic and basement, as I settled in to rest I would hear the front doors unlock, open, closed, and hear footsteps make their way to the side of the bed where I was sleeping in.

 

I would keep my eyes close as I knew whoever not living would stand over me for a moment, determined I was ok, and leave out the room, through the hallway, back through the living room, and out the front doors.  How I knew my visitor was not from the landing of the living?  I heard no keys turn locks, and no break-in noise.  Just a peaceful enter and exit as someone who belonged there would do.  I kept my eyes closed because I did not want to see who was visiting me.  I felt if I saw them I would fear them, and I was feeling no fear with my eyes closed.

 

I never felt fear during these nightly occurrences. I just felt whoever it was visiting me, they meant me no harm. It really felt like I had a Guardian Angel watching over me, giving me the comfort and protection they felt I needed.  I also felt they were revealing to me a special gift imparted on to me.

 

One day when all my Aunts and Uncles were gathered together I shared my experience with them. None of them acted surprised.  Some months later I figured out why when my Uncle my Aunt's Brother told me how he met my friend.  I asked what friend you are referring to?  He said you know the one you told me about who visited you nightly.

 

My Uncle my Aunt’s Brother was one of the few men left standing when the planes flew over and shot down all the men standing on the runway at Pearl Harbor. He witnesses everyone dying around him, and not a bullet touched him.  He was also called by his siblings as the one born with the vail over his eyes.  From his youth he would tell them about all the dead people he would see.

 

Upon his retirement, my Aunt with her Husband’s cooperation had convinced my Uncles my Aunt's Brother to finish the attic as related living quarters, and make it his home up there. He loved to create model airplanes and fly them.  One day while making one of his creations, the ghost that visited me visited him.  Unlike me, my uncle acknowledged him looking directly at him with the question how may I help you?  He said he frightened the Ghost who fled quickly from the home.  Upon describing him, my Aunt and Uncle her husband determined it was the previous Owner who was returning to visit his old home they had purchased from him.

 

Further years down the road when both Uncle’s had passed-away, my Aunt asked me to sell the home. Like my respected Colleague below who shares their encounter with a haunted home, I believe in disclosing anything that I perceive could affect a Buyer’s peace and security in a home, plus anything they could find out from a Neighbor sharing their knowledge of the home with them.

 

In the case of this sale, I elected to not share my experience with the Buyer I procured myself for this home. All the time I was in the home with this Buyer which was more than a few I felt a peace, like an approval from the Ghost he was comfortable with the Buyer and would not haunt him.  I thought why create any unnecessary fear.  The Buyer after closing never called me to share he had any haunting experiences.

 

Realtors agree to honor a code of ethics directing us on how to conduct ourselves on properly disclosing any material defects we know about a home. From my experiences and I’ve had more than one encounter with Ghosts, hauntings fall into a peculiar realm of disclosure.  What may affect one individual may not affect another.  In the case of my Aunt and Uncle who owned the home, they never had encountered with the Ghost.

 

I have been showing a home and have an encounter with a Ghost, and my Buyer’s with me at the time in the same room with me not have the encounter I was having. This is how I know it is a gift and I am very cautious with determining when disclosure is really needed.

 

I liken it to when a Buyer ask me to inquire what are the utility bills of a home they’re considering. I share with them you must take in consideration lifestyle in how a home is used.  I ask them to please consider some Owners desire a warmer or cooler home, how many hours a day they occupy the dwelling, and you must think of how many people actually occupy the home, causing a significant difference in the utility bills.  Ultimately, how valuable and/or relatable to the Buyer is the disclosure of a perceived haunted home?  Do I do more harm than good?

 

I am grateful for my Respected Colleague below asking the question and triggering the memories of my ghostly encounters. Bottom-line, I am still here fully intact to write about them.

Original content by Scott Godzyk NH License 033394

What would you do if a Home Owner calls and states they want to sell their home because it has ghosts? That is what happened yesterday. The home owner recently bought the house, and they think it is haunted. They want out of this Manchester NH area home.

 

I have not been to the house yet, the appointment is pending. Selling REO home i have had homes where tragic events have taken place. I tried researching this address but nothing came up. I am not sure if a home can or cannot have spirits, but some strange things have happened in 30 years of real estate so i am not judging anything on this listing until I see it. 

 

With a owner occupied home, disclosures are different then selling bank owned. Here in NH the seller may disclose but then again does not have to. I am a big fan of disclose, disclose, disclose....

 

What are your thoughts?

 

I will be back with a part 2 somewhere along the way.

 

YOU deserve the BEST service when Buying or Selling a home

 
 

LEARN THIS ONE FACT: One should know that All Agents are not created equal and every buyer or seller should take the time to hire the BEST not just the biggest Agent or Company. 

 

In summary, the key to having a successful purchase or sale can increase simply choosing one of the BEST Agents. In NH that could be me.  

  

   

 

 

It does not take magic to turn your "For Sale" sign into a "Sold" sign. It takes a full time Local Agent who specializes in Listing homes like yours.

 

 About the Author: Scott Godzyk is the Owner/Broker of the Godzyk Real Estate Services in Manchester NH. Proud to be locally owned and operated with 30 years of experience, Scott is a leading Agent for Listing and Selling Homes in this area.

 

To CONTACT Scott Godzyk please call 603.661.2121 or EMAIL: Sctprop@aol.com .

 

We are Full Time Agents ready to serve all of your Real Estate needs with an infamous philosophy, which is simple: To provide more personal and professional service to guide my clients through each step of the buying or selling process. 

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Comments (2)

Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I think you are lucky to have had someone watching over you as a child and you handled it well 

Aug 15, 2016 09:15 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Dale I agree with Lise Howe it was pretty neat that you had a guardian angel watching over you!  I always felt like my Grandma who passed over before I wasa born was taking care of me. It was always a good feeling.

Aug 15, 2016 09:22 AM