I showed a house today that was haunted. No kidding. The seller confirmed it, and this was after my buyer 
witnessed it.
So, what exactly do you put on a Sellers Disclosure form for this type of property?
We were looking at a very large, very old home for sale - built in the 1800s. On the first floor was a commercial space, and the second and third floors were turned into large apartments. I ended up standing on the landing on the first floor because I had to make a phone call, while my buyers and the seller and the listing agent went upstairs.
All of the sudden, Mr. Buyer comes downstairs and says he "will wait outside." Ms. Buyer is upstairs telling the seller the house just needs too much work for them, and rather than wasting anyone's time they'd prefer to just end the showing. The seller is confirming to her that "Yes, it is too much work renovating this home", and that he just does not have the time or funds to continue and he understands their situation.
As Ms. Buyer is walking out the door, the Seller whispers to me, "this house is haunted - I've seen ghosts and the tenants confirm it." Ms.Buyer comes back in and says that is exactly the reason Mr.Buyer walked out --he saw something upstairs. Well, Mr.Seller was so thrilled that someone confirmed what he just told me out of earshot of the buyers. Apparently, he has seen a woman with a red cloak on numerous times, and whispered this in my ear so others couldn't hear it. Mr.Buyer confirmed that he did see two figures, a man and a woman -- not knowing what the seller just told me. He left quickly because he did not want to "talk" to them - as he has done this in the past and goes into a trance-like state, and did not want to freak anyone out (according to what he told us as to why he left suddenly - I have never witnessed this personally!)
Seller asks him to tell us exactly what he saw, because he wanted confirmation about seeing this woman in red that he whispered to me about. Buyer says he has seen a woman with victorian-like garb on. Well, a red cloak seems to fit the bill in my book! Both the seller and I look at each other - a bit freaked - but he was so relieved that someone just confirmed what he has seen on numerous occassions and what his tenants have been telling him.
So, now he is stuck trying to sell a haunted house. I told him and his agent that there are people who buy homes like this, and to search for them. If they truly feel the house is haunted, they might as well play it up and market it as such! This poor Listing Agent just looked so freaked about the whole thing - like he wished his Seller would just shut up about it! But the man knows what he saw, and it's apparently one of the reasons he wants to sell.
Someone will buy it. Would you?
I almost wish I had this listing, as I think it would be a cool home to market -- although I might scare the bejeebies out of myself! I hope the Listing Agent is so freaked out, that he would just refer the listing to me!
If you had a chance to list a haunted house - would you take the listing?
And if so, what would be put on the Sellers Disclosure?
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