Death by Natural Causes

Trunda - I agree - to each his own!!!  Thank you for your comment. It does boggle my mind a bit though - all the questions regarding the death. If one knows they won't buy a home that someone died in ... what difference does it make who it was or how they died. 

 Lynda - a murder or death caused by some type of crime - that makes sense. Thank you for your comment. I believe that would involve a disclosure regarding the crime as well.  No, I cannot imagine that the carpet was not removed!  My mind tends to spin a little on these issues. How many people bought homes that people did die in and they did not know about it. We don't know what we don't know - right?

Jerri - Thanks for your comment. Ghosts - spirits - it's all good. I like your point about being sensitive. I believe I am. I am simply curious why people want more information about a death if they already know they won't buy the house. I guess it's the part of human nature that causes us to "rubber-neck" at accidents.

Linsey - If I had a choice - die in my own home or the home of a loved one versus dying someone else - I would definitely choose dying in my own home. I have represented buyers who had no issues knowing someone died in the home - they did not care how - and never asked how they died. We are all different that way. I did not feel the same way about death 20 years ago. My understanding of life is greater now ... it helps with the entire death issue. Thanks for your comment.

Lucille - Thanks for your comment. As a Realtor I may want to know too however I do not believe I would ask personal questions. If the seller wanted to tell me - I would listen. My sense is that if a seller wanted to disclose the details - they would opt to cover that on the disclosure.  I know people who have experienced "spirits" in their homes as well. I do not believe it was ever a disclosure issue. The people I know talk to the spirits - clearly they don't have an issue with them. If I had a spirit I would talk to it too!

Larry - Good Point - and you are right - in California AIDS is a separate issue. I am not sure a buyer has a right to know the "details" of the death. They absolutely have a right to know if someone died in the home within three years. It is a matter of public record. People can look up the cause of death if it is really that important to them. Thanks for your comment.

Justin - Thank You. Imagine how many homes would be "thrown away" if we did that.  I just had another thought - how many people have been in a hospital bed that someone died in? Would it ever even occur to someone going into the hospital to say - I don't want to stay here if someone died here. I know its' not the same as living in a home... but the thought just did come to me so I put it out there!

LaNita - Thank you for your comment. Clearly for some it does make a difference - meaning death of an elderly woman would not be an issue but a murdered child would be out of the question.  As difficult as it may be to imagine anyone not wanting to know - I personally have represented two buyers who could not care less. It simply did not matter to them.

Robert - Thank you Robert.  I recently read a book that discussed how we see (judge) something as bad, good, right, wrong, etc. based upon our beliefs about it ... and that most of our beliefs originate from our parents. I have not always felt about death the way I do now. I do understand people have issues. Reading some of the comments has helped me to understand that some people have a place where they will draw the line and others simply will not make a decision to buy a home that they know someone died in ... no matter what. It appears the answer is it does make a difference for some people.   

Thesa - You bring up a good point - if the issue of death is already uncomfortable for a person - then the questions an individual asks a death may simply reflect their uneasiness about asking and yet still wanting to know.  Thank you for your comment.

Chad - I guess it is better the person found out before escrow closed - discovering a failure to disclose after the close of escrow - especially regarding a death in the home - could lead to some serious issues. You are right - neighbors will tell everything. I can appreciate anyone not being comfortable buying a home in which they knew someone died. It simply would not be an issue for me - especially knowing it was an elderly woman nearly 99 years young.  Thanks Chad for your comment.

Elizabeth - there is clearly and understandably something different about the taking of a life in a home versus one simply dying in their home. I'm sensing the issue is mostly around death itself. I have so appreciated hearing the perspective of others. It helps broaden my understanding.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Hi Debbie - thank you for your comment.  I held the home open this weekend at 80% or better of the people who came through had an issue with the fact that an elderly woman - nearly 99 years young - died a peacefully of natural causes in the home. I tell people - it is what it is - and then ask them - where would you go to die or where are we supposed to die?  Hopefully these discussions with others will stimulate their thinking and come to realize that death is a natural thing - we are all going to die. Thanks again for your comment.

Hi Brian - thanks for your comment. In California - the seller is required to disclose a death in the property within the past three years. We are not however required to disclose the cause of death.