Would rumours of a haunted property be a deterrent?

[fruitqueen]

I just came back from a viewing of a lovely property and decided to take a walk in the vicinity to have a feel of the neighbourhood. Along the way, I started bantering with a couple of people and when I queried on the property I was viewing, they gave me a quizzical look and asked whether I felt strange in there. I replied "no, why?" and they said there was a reputation of the property being haunted . I was rather taken aback but thanked them for letting me know. On hindsight, I did feel a little chilly in there but other than that, I didn't feel there was anything strange at all.

Now, I am not one who is superstitious or would believe that things would go bump in the night, but I couldn't help but feel rather awkward when the agent called and asked what I thought. I am having second thoughts to it now but am I being silly?

[NinjaBunny]

Depends on the ghost.

I lived with the ghost of a caretaker. Only saw him twice and he never bothered me. Bothered my cat though.

Can you do any research on the property?

[AngryFeet]

No because I don't believe in ghosts

[expatinscotland]

No. How I felt in it would put me off.

[ISeeYouShiverWithAntici]

Wouldn't bother me at all. I don't believe in all that.

I've been in loads of places that people claim are simply teeming with ghosts and whatnot. I've never seen a thing and I've never come across anything that couldn't be explained.

The with hindsight thing is nothing more than someone having put the idea in your head.

[CuriosityCola]

It would be a massive deterrent for me wouldn'tsetfootinit
I am a big scaredy cat though.

[DreamingAlice]

I don't think I would necessarily be put off by a rumour of a house being haunted if I really liked it but I would want to perhaps know a bit more if there was any history to the place. For example a friend of mine was recently sent details of a place by her estate agent and when she looked it/asked a few questions it turns out it was the scene of a horrific triple murder (by a father who killed his family then shot himself)- which would put me off!!!

[BrownSauceSandwich]

Not sure... I'd have to consult my spirit guide.

[specialsubject]

love it...

total cobblers but use it to get a reduction!

[KarenBrockman]

Ask for a discount, it is the living that hurt us not the dead.

[expatinscotland]

I wouldn't want to live in a place that is a destination for gore tourists, OR one that had drug dealers in it last.

[LizLemonOut]

If you don't believe in ghosts then... there's obviously no problem, is there?

[morethanpotatoprints]

I'd be there in a shot.
There's a run down property round the corner from us for sale.
Huge thing, it looks like the scary house from Scooby doo. If I could afford it I'd buy it and turn it into a spooky hotel.
I say go for it. Can you give us a link?

[Trills]

Not for me.

I'd hope that I'd get it cheaper or with less competition though

[sleepyhead]

No, because I'm about as psychic as a banana so there could be fifty ghosts mooning in front of my face Right Now and I'd be completely oblivious.

[expatinscotland]

Lol at asking for a discount because of rumours about things that don't exist.

[lljkk]

Would put me off (big Chicken)

[MarthasHarbour]

Go back and have another look at it, have a good mooch around and see how you feel. As expat said it is all about how a house 'feels' to you. I viewed one a few years ago with the IL's and DH. Me and MIL couldnt wait to get out of the place and couldnt explain why - neither of us are woo - DH and FIL thought it was fine

there-was no way i was setting foot in there again!

[BuzzardBird]

Yes, what expat said, use it as a tool for discount. You must post on here though if you move in and there are any spooky events...we love a spooky story.

[TheReluctantCountess]

It would make me want it more! When I was a teenager we lived in a haunted house.

[fruitqueen]

I tend to agree with DreamingAlice- if its a haunting that was due to someone who had died from natural causes, I wont be so worried ; but if its to do with a horrible tragedy etc, I would have second thoughts about living there. Perhaps I should investigate further into the matter but I doubt that the estate agent would tell me anything much! After all, they are eager to conclude a sale ASAP.

[DreamingAlice]

I could be wrong about this but I think the Office of Fair Trading has guidelines that say that an estate agent should disclose if there has been a murder or suicide at a property, particularly if you ask. I doubt somehow reputed haunting is covered though. . Let us know if you do ask, I would love to hear their reaction!!

[specialsubject]

no house is haunted and there are no such things as ghosts. End of.

if there has been a relatively recent murder or suicide that has become common knowledge, then the issue is gawkers/ghouls of the human variety and people with nothing else to think about. If you can put up with people boring you on the subject, then there's no problem.

drug dealers may also be a problem if the word hasn't got round that they've moved on.

[Pinkje]

Just read your other thread; so is this the 'house with character'? Character indeed!

[Martorana]

"
"I lived with the ghost of a caretaker. Only saw him twice and he never bothered me."

I've had caretakers like that. also plumbers, electricians and heating engineers

[expatinscotland]

'could be wrong about this but I think the Office of Fair Trading has guidelines that say that an estate agent should disclose if there has been a murder or suicide at a property, particularly if you ask.'

No, there are no disclosure laws.