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Spooky Houses Just Don't Sell Well (even after years on Market)

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with NextHome Experience 17050

update:  This post was written 6 years ago. It's also interesting to note the property which inspired this post was on the market for more than 5 years and never sold.  

 Selling Spooky Real Estate in SeattleI should have taken it as a sign when the listing agent told me that the property I was calling about was "very interesting".

Instead I got excited and told him how much I loved to see interesting homes....he just chuckled. (and in hindsight I think his laugh actually sounded a little diabolic)

And now I know why.

The original plan was for me to go preview this home for a client, but at the last minute he called to say he was available to go with me....which was a VERY good thing.

This house was hands down the creepiest listing I'd ever seen!

 

Think of any scary movie...it starts with the closed gate at the road, all overgrown- the house completely hidden from the road. No driveway. Had to park in the road and walk through the gate just to see where we needed to go next. Walking carefully, not knowing what might be hiding in the thick vegitation, we finally found the house and keybox. I must have told my client 5 times on the way to the door how glad I was that he was with me. A little dog came out from across the street and I was convinced he was about to grow a second head or open his mouth and warn us to leave but after sniffing around he trotted off.

And the house?

Well, I won't "out" it here, but interesting doesn't even begin to describe it. Odd....bizarre... eerie..... or how about flat out spooky?

In fact, my client referred to the movie "The Ring" on more than one occasion. (are you getting the picture?) He was willing to walk through the house while I hovered indecisively; not sure whether to follow to make sure he didn't disappear (you know how often that happens in the movies right? The one who leaves the room never comes back?) or stay close to the exit in case he let out a sudden scream.Fortunately he did come back after deciding he'd seen enough. We locked up and ran walked back to the car.

It made for good conversation, but in the fact remains this is a home for sale. It's on the market for buyers to consider. Maybe the owners should un-spook it a little.

Can you imagine that staging conversation? "You may want to open up the creepy little room because it will conjur images of b-a-d things".

I wish the sellers and the agent well and hope someone can see this house in a different light and restore it to a happy place.

It may take a while though because spooky houses just don't sell very well!

 

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Thanks for reading!

 

 

 


 

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Colleen Fischesser REMAX

 Serving the beautiful Pacific Northwest Since 1990!

 

Colleen M. Fischesser, Managing Broker

RE/MAX Advantage, L.C.

Serving Seattle and the Chelan Valley

206-491-3819  (Cell/Text Seattle)

509-699-1611 (Cell/Text Chelan)

 

 www.ColleenFish.com

www.ChelanPropertyShop.com

www.NWPropertyShop.com 

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a personal blog based on my opinion and experience in the real estate industry. All content is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal, financial or tax advice. Laws, industry practice standards and procedures vary by state. Readers are advised to contact appropriate third parties for professional advice when needed. Any questions please let me know!

 

Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Colleen - Some homes don't need to look spooky to be spooky - Have you ever had a client leave a house in a hurry because they were spooked by it.

Oct 02, 2008 11:54 AM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains

Colleen:  I didn't realize the Munsters had their house up for sale.  LOL

Oct 02, 2008 12:15 PM
Anonymous
Somewhere in the midwest

I wish I could tell you about the house I had listed that was surely haunted. Lots or crazy and spooky things going on there, several documented on film by paranormal researchers. My lips are sealed because of the confidentiality rulings and loyalty to the seller. I am sooooo glad I was never alone in that house once it was dark outside.  My camera took the strangest pictures I have ever seen, so did some other visitors cameras capture the same spooky and eeerie things.

Oct 02, 2008 12:53 PM
#46
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes

Ohh -- well Halloween is coming -- perhaps this is the month to sell those haunted homes. All the best.

Oct 02, 2008 01:32 PM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369

Scariest house I showed, I think it was the set for the Chainsaw Massacre movie-moldy, dark, dirty cabin on 30 acres in the country, no power, no neighbors, no one to hear me scream!

Oct 02, 2008 01:53 PM
Katrina Madewell
Charles Rutenberg Rlty- More than 5,000 agents(813) 777-1196 - Tampa, FL
Tampa FL Homes for sale | Tampa Bay - (813) 777-1196

The halloween stories are coming!! :-D

Oct 02, 2008 02:08 PM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

spooky.jpg spooky house image by jadedfareie

 

MMOOOWWAAAHAAHAHAAHAAAAAAAA...welcome to my house dearie...

Be careful or you might find yourself in a Time Warp!

ROTFLMAO...wish I had video of that Colleen! LOL. Later in the rain~Deb

Oct 02, 2008 02:15 PM
Anonymous
Monica Hess

Reminds me of a house my folks looked at in western Ky.  The sellers had part of it closed off and would not show it because she was some sort of a voodoo priestess and had all her stuff in there.  It's probably still for sale.  Makes you wonder why people put these things on the market.  It's like they don't want to sell it...just scare the crap out of lookers.

Oct 02, 2008 02:47 PM
#51
Lee's Summit Real Estate:: :: Paul Korodaj
Lee's Summit, MO

Maybe the seller could rent it out for a big Realtor Halloween party. 

Oct 02, 2008 03:05 PM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA

Omg...I laughed at this...but have been in a few scary houses myself and its creepy...I often don't get very far before I run out the door....some homes just give you the heebie jeebies...

Oct 03, 2008 02:39 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

At least you didn't find any dead bodies or walls that suddenly gave way when you put your hand on them. I find some basements pretty spooky and don't often go into them unescorted. In one house, I found a tree growing through the basement floor.

elizabeth weintraub sacramento real estate agent in land park

Oct 03, 2008 03:16 AM
Winter Baserva
Seasons Realty Group of Atlanta Communities - Atlanta, GA
Realtor -Homes For Sale, Atlanta, GA

Funny story

Oct 03, 2008 04:18 AM
Sean Whaling
eCommission - Austin, TX
Founder, CEO

Colleen - that was a very funny story. Here's a short video you will appreciate. This listing is scary! http://www.ecommissionmail.com/clips/player0903.php?clip=clown

Sean

 

Oct 03, 2008 10:49 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I'll take that scary compared to the house I walked in with a buyer and all the door handles inside were skulls and there was a six foot python crossing in front of us on the living room floor when we walked in and out just as quickly!

Todd Clark, Helping Families Home - www.IFoundYourNewHome.com

Oct 07, 2008 05:09 PM
Christina Williams. REALTOR® TN property search & local insights
First Realty Company - Crossville, TN

Great story Colleen. So glad there wasn't a well out back. Would hate to hear the girl from the ring came crawling out!

 

Oct 07, 2008 10:32 PM
Jessica Bigger
Bigger Communications - Reston, VA
Freelance Real Estate Business Writer

Colleen - Hey with halloween around the corner the right buyer might just come out of the ground or maybe fly in on her broom stick LOL

Oct 11, 2008 07:41 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

Colleen, very interesting home I'm sure. Wonder if it was so overpriced it got that way over time.

Oct 11, 2008 11:43 AM
Donna Taylor
Meybohm Realtors, Downtown Aiken - Aiken, SC
Meybohm Realtors Aiken SC

Well, you certainly have it on the market at the right time!  It's the spooky ones in May that are truly scary! Good luck selling it .  Thanks - you made me laugh.

Oct 19, 2008 09:00 PM
Donna Taylor
Meybohm Realtors, Downtown Aiken - Aiken, SC
Meybohm Realtors Aiken SC

Holy Cow!!!! I just came back from one of these listing appts.  I need to pomote it as a genuine spook house.  All ghosts and goblins are welcome! What a creepy feeling.  One side of me says everyone deserves to be represented, my other side says run baby run!

Oct 20, 2008 06:34 AM
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Feb 07, 2010 07:07 PM
#63