Special offer

Is Your House Haunted Mr. and Mrs. Seller...if so, I will have a hard time selling it!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with WHISPERING PINES REALTY 20398180

Now many people say that Ghosts and Spirits are all nonsense.  Well, That could be and maybe not, I do not have the expertise in this area to debate this forum.

But what I do know is that many houses 'feel' Haunted all year long.  Here are just a few examples that you may want to check for if you are selling your home.  Little things that may make a good buyer turn tail and run!

When you open a closet door, does a "GHOST' jump out at you?  I have seen buyers open a closet door only to have some kind of clothing...usually bedtime attire...come flying at them.  Those space saver hangers attached to the doors will cause items to do that.

When you look under the sink, do see dead bodies?  Ok, everyone may have a mouse here or there once in a while, but when you catch it in the trap, remove it.  Don't just leave it there and set a new trap.

Do you raise attack spiders.  Maybe not intentionally, but a buyer may feel that way when they walk into the basement that is supposed to be finished and is covered with spider webs 1/2 way down the stairs.

When you open a door do you get that eerie feeling?  You know the sound, (If I knew how to type it I would), it is that steady variable squeak of the hinges as you slowly open the closet or basement door, because a 'GHOST' jumped out at you from the last closet.

Is your home ready for a seance at all times?   Are the rooms so dark and dreay that you expect 'Madame see it all' to come out from behind a curtain at any moment.

When people drive by do they look at the outside of your home and wonder if anyone lives there anymore?   Do you have torn screens and cracked windows.   A missing railing or two.  An unmowed lawn with various junk, that should thrown away, still scattered around the yard.

These are just a few of the issues that can make it hard to sell your home.  Today's home buyers are looking for the best deal and if there are any little issues they are deducting thousands of dollars from their offer.

Much of this stuff will cost only time to fix.  Some, just by opening the shades on the windows will make the home feel warm and inviting.

But, if you feel these things do not deter a buyer, then maybe you should sell tickets for a few days while the season is still here.

Comments (10)

Jason Channell
Diadem Property Inspections - Serving Southeast Michigan - Troy, MI
The House Sleuth

I've seen those houses many times! They do provide an eerie feeling, no matter the time of year! And often times a bad smell, too.

Oct 30, 2010 03:27 AM
Vern Eaton
Askov, MN
Realtor 651-674-7449

Bill, Seelers need to look at this very carefully.  I have seen the dead bodies in many homes.  This is one of th ebiggest turn offs there is.

Suggested!

Oct 30, 2010 03:36 AM
Teresa Cooper
Home Solution Real Estate Services - North Charleston, SC
SC Lowcountry - Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley

Bill - loved it!  Here in historic Charleston South Carolina, truly "haunted homes" are everywhere, and usually sell for a premium, when / if they ever go on the market!  But the rest of us need to keep our humble homes haunt-free.  Thanks for the timely tips!

Oct 30, 2010 04:33 AM
Anonymous
Pat Ellis

Bill...What a clever way to ease into the touchy subject of getting a home into selling condition! I will use this regardless of the time of year....Best of all these are words not coming from my mouth but printed on paper and I endorse this message! Oh by the way it prompted me to look around my home!!!

Oct 30, 2010 04:43 AM
#4
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Bill, I opened a closet door just the other day and the back of the door had some kind of a veil...that swung out at me like an apparition...and nearly wet myself.

Oct 30, 2010 04:52 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Jason..That is th epoint I am making.

Vern...I have seen that multile times

Teresa...Some admoralities will bring a premium in some areas.

Pat...Thanks

Steve...Yea, Lady's Teddy's are very common!

Oct 30, 2010 05:41 AM
P C
Rental Solutions Oahu - Honolulu, HI

Great blog - we have all seen those houses. I will think of this blog now when I open a closet and stuff falls out or I see a trail of dead spiders.

Oct 30, 2010 05:43 AM
Roger Johnson
Hickory, NC

Great post, Bill on "Haunted Houses."  Maybe if the sellers remove their rose-colored glasses from time to time, they could see how scary their house looks to potential buyers.

Oct 30, 2010 05:58 AM
Randi Brammer
Randi Brammer, Acctg. - Hinckley, MN
Accountant & Tax Preparer

Great Analogy and just in time for the season.  The dead animals are the big one and hopefully it's only mice.

I also suggested this.  It is very important for the sellers to read!

Oct 30, 2010 06:27 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Andy, at least they were dead.

Roger, I just have to laugh at some people.

Randy..Thanks

Oct 30, 2010 11:30 AM