Do you think your home might be haunted? Does it feel unusually cold at night? You may have a malevolent spirit lurking about.
It could be a Poltergeist, Lost Soul, Kobold, Bhoot, Churel, or Bogle living with you. People may avoid your house due to the rumours surrounding it being a creepy place.
Some homeowners may find the presence of a resident ghost quite welcoming. Having a haunted house can be seen as an advantage rather than a downside.
It adds a sense of intrigue, fascination and a story to the house. When selling a house with a long past, a ghost may be included in the package.
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Understanding the Market for Haunted Houses
Believe it or not, there’s a market for everything – including haunted houses. Some buyers are actually keen on properties with a spooky reputation. However, it’s essential to understand that this is a niche market, and you’ll need to adjust your price expectations.
How to sell a haunted house?
Property with a spooky past can be a real challenge when it comes to selling. According to research done by Move with Us, a network of independent estate agents, it can result in a 20% drop in the price and be twice as difficult to sell.
83% of estate agents surveyed reported that a home with a noticeable past can lose 11-20% of its value.
This includes properties built on top of graveyards, former crime scenes, or, as mentioned, homes rumoured to be haunted.
Selling a home with a spooky history can be a daunting task for homeowners. To make matters worse, it can be twice as hard to find a buyer, and the property’s price can drop by as much as 20%.
Do you have to disclose to a buyer that your house is haunted?
Yes you are expected to declare to any potential buyers that your house has ghosts. Here’s why:
- Disclosure: In the UK, you’re required to disclose any information that might affect a buyer’s decision. This includes paranormal activity if you genuinely believe the house is haunted.
- Property Misdescriptions Act: While this Act was repealed in 2013, it’s still best practice to be honest about your property’s… quirks.
- Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations: These regulations require you to disclose any information that could affect a buyer’s transactional decision.
Will I get less money for my haunted house?
Let’s face it, a haunted house might not fetch the same price as its ghost-free neighbours. Some estate agents suggest that a spooky reputation can knock 10-20% off a property’s value. However, for that 1 in a million buyer, it could actually increase the value. It’s all about finding the right market.
How can I make my haunted house more appealing to buyers?
If you’re looking to offload your home, but it’s haunted and you’re concerned this could put potential buyers off, then here are a few tricks to help you out.
These tips can help you sell your haunted house with ease. Best of luck!
- Embrace the Haunting: If you can’t exorcise them, advertise them! Some buyers are actively seeking haunted properties for various reasons – from thrill-seeking to paranormal research.
- Historical Angle: Often, haunted houses have rich histories. Highlight the property’s historical significance to attract history buffs.
- Seasonal Timing: Consider listing your property around Halloween when interest in all things spooky peaks.
- Paranormal Tourism: If your house is genuinely famous for its hauntings, you could market it as a potential business opportunity for paranormal tourism.
Practical Tips for Selling a Haunted House
- Get a Proper Inspection: Ensure all those creaks and groans are actually ghostly and not just old pipes or loose floorboards.
- Cleanse the Space: Consider hiring a medium or cleansing expert to appease any restless spirits. Even if you’re sceptical, it might make potential buyers feel more comfortable.
- Document the Hauntings: Keep a record of any paranormal activities. This can serve as a unique selling point for the right buyer.
- Stage it Right: When showing the property, strike a balance between acknowledging its spooky reputation and making it feel like a liveable home.
- Be Prepared for Sceptics: Not everyone believes in ghosts. Be ready to highlight other positive aspects of the property.
- Consider a Quick Sale Company: If the traditional market is proving difficult, companies like Property Saviour specialise in buying problematic properties quickly for cash.
1. Check if your home is haunted first
Is something strange going on in your neighbourhood? Before you go calling anyone, like the Ghostbusters, it’s a good idea to figure out if your house is haunted.
Check for squeaking floorboards or doors, drafts of air coming from windows or doors, and any strange noises coming from your pipes.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, too, as sleep deprivation can cause delirium and hallucinations. Consider any logical explanations for any activity that could be interpreted as paranormal.
We’re not trying to doubt that your house is haunted – simply suggesting that you eliminate all rational possibilities first. If you’re certain that your house is haunted, then you can go ahead and call the Ghostbusters.
UK Anglican dioceses have specialist teams of exorcists to deal with unruly ghouls. Doing your research and exploring the world of exorcism can be a daunting task.
2. Just let the buyers know upfront
Why not just not mention the fact that your house is haunted? Most people don’t believe in ghosts anyway, right? So why say anything?
There are sceptics out there who think that ghosts are just figments of the imagination and that they don’t exist. So again, why mention the fact that the house is haunted?
Looking into the legal obligations when it comes to selling a haunted house, it appears that there is no direct law stating that paranormal or haunted presences must be mentioned. However, you cannot legally mislead or give false statements regarding the sale of your property.
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (which replaced the Property Misdescription Act 1991) states that there is a general duty to avoid making false or misleading statements.
This means that if a buyer enquires about whether there has been any paranormal activity or asks if you believe the house is haunted, you would be obligated to say yes if you believe that it is.
If you are aware of the house being haunted, and you give the buyer a misleading answer, and they buy it, then you have knowingly misrepresented your property – although it might be difficult to prove you knew it was haunted in the first place.
It is worth mentioning that the NAEA requires estate agents to declare ‘anything that has occurred at the property that would affect the transactional decision of the average buyer’.
This does not directly mention ghosts, but they do need to disclose any suicides or murders that have taken place in the house at some point in history.
Not mentioning a house is haunted has not yet landed anyone in the UK in legal issues to date. However, in the USA, this is viewed very differently.
In a famous case of Stambovsky v Ackley in 1991, it was established that the owner had not mentioned the house was haunted, and so the sale was rescinded – even though the house was on a ghost tour of the neighbourhood and its poltergeists were well-known.
3. We need to make the property look less spooky.
It is essential to keep your property neat, regardless of whether it is haunted or not, as this could put off potential buyers.
Make sure each room is free from clutter, as this will make it seem larger, and it will be easier for buyers to visualise living in your home. It is advisable to pack away any unusual items such as shrunken heads, bottled specimens, stuffed animals, and China dolls.
The stereotype of a haunted house is that it is dark and eerie. To avoid this, make your house as bright and airy as possible by opening the curtains and removing any items that are obstructing the light, such as vases or photo frames.
It is important to fix any potential signs of paranormal activity, such as creaky floorboards, dripping taps, and drafts, and make sure the property is sufficiently heated.
4. Sell to a quick house buying company
Do you want to sell your house but are worried that its haunting may scare off potential buyers? If so, look to a ‘sell your house fast‘ company such as ours. We can purchase your haunted home for cash in as little as 10 days, regardless of how many ghosts reside there.
We will buy any house, in any condition, at a time scale that best suits you.
The benefit of a company like Property Saviour is we use our funds and don’t rely on mortgages or investors, meaning you can sell your house fast without fear of any property chain breaking down due to a ghost scaring off the buyer.
So, if you have a house anywhere in the UK that isn’t selling because of its haunting, contact Property Saviour. We will buy your house, ghosts and all, for cash fast.
Sell your haunted house to us!
If you’re looking for a quick cash offer for your haunted home, we’ve got you covered. Apply online or request a call back from our friendly customer care team. Prefer to call us? We’ll guide you through our “we buy any house” process.
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
