Page 3 | To ask if a house is haunted before I buy it

TemporaryName123 · 18/04/2023 13:45

Literally lolled!

Bamboux · 18/04/2023 13:45

WhatHoMarjorie · 18/04/2023 13:28

why would you care?

Show quote history

I'm only guessing, but I imagine they might suspect the buyer would be unreliable, flaky and untrustworthy.

And might pull out at the last minute because of a 'feeling'.

MatildaTheCat · 18/04/2023 13:45

Although I’ve already given an answer it’s also fair to say I couldn’t live in a house with a terrible history. There are two houses local to us that have had dreadful murders committed in within a few years. I couldn’t live there.

So although I don’t believe in ghosts I guess I do believe in bad vibes or some sort of residual sensations from the past. Of course I don’t actually know who has lived or died in my own house in the past. So that’s fine because I don’t know.

Beautiful3 · 18/04/2023 13:45

I grew up in an 1800 house, that has activity in one room. We all avoided it as much as possible. You can feel it. I couldn't wait to leave and wouldn't be sad, whenever it's sold. You can have a house blessed and sage it regularly. Saying prayers absolutely works too. I think that when you view properties, you'll know if the vibes are good or bad and cold. I'd never pay a home, if it felt off.

Sceptre86 · 18/04/2023 13:46

Why would you expect an honest answer? If they want the house to sell and can tell that would put you off they will lie.

MavisMcMinty · 18/04/2023 13:47

There’s a pub in Rackenford (Devon) reputed to be haunted. Dogs apparently freak out in one particular spot, I’m tempted to take my two along, out of curiosity.

Seas164 · 18/04/2023 13:48

The agent won't know. Any vendor will either believe in ghosts, or not, and that will determine the answer you get. A property could be haunted in your opinion, but if the previous occupiers don't believe in ghosts, or desperately want to sell then they won't give you the information you're looking for.

I'd say the only option was to stuff a few garlic cloves down your socks and carry a silver bullet for the viewings. Or is that vampires. Or werewolves.

losingmymarblesagain · 18/04/2023 13:49

I'm a bit concerned you might be my sister. Are you still scared of Ghostwatch?

I think it's a good idea but I can't imagine the vendors will want to admit being built on a hellmouth.

Bamboux · 18/04/2023 13:50

pineapple7peach · 18/04/2023 13:37

I also read somewhere that they're supposed to declare anything that could be a nuisance for the buyer, including paranormal activity. But I don't want to embarrass myself by asking these sorts of questions!

Show quote history

You think there is a legal requirement to declare 'paranormal activity?!!

SpeckledlyHen · 18/04/2023 13:51

As @MavisMcMinty posted my old house was 500 years old. It was grade 11 listed and recorded as the oldest house in the parish. I did lots of research and the local blacksmith once lived there with his wife and 12 children. They would have all slept in what was my bedroom. I should suspect lots of people died in that house but I never had any feelings of paranormal activity. My current house is 200 years old ish and again, I’ve never felt anything untoward.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 18/04/2023 13:51

I wouldn't mind being asked, but I doubt there's many people that would tell the truth in case they lose a sale over it.

My house is Georgian and there's very little of note so I wouldn't say it's haunted if you asked. There's definitely a man who hangs around the dining room occasionally though. I can feel his presence and smell him. Seems harmless though, unlike other issues I've had in much more modern houses.

baddecisions11 · 18/04/2023 13:54

I used to work for an estate agents and if a buyer asked this I'm pretty sure the whole office would've laughed their asses off

FishChipsMushyPeas · 18/04/2023 13:56

Totally true - I think the house I live in may be haunted, the old chap that had the house before me died in his sleep in the bedroom and there are noises at times that sound like footsteps (pipes?) and sometimes things are moved in the room. The dogs sometimes stop dead and stare at the top of the stairs (stairs are in the living room). I leave the window open on the snip in case he wants to leave but hes welcome here if he wants to stay. It was his home first after all :)

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 18/04/2023 13:56

Bamboux · 18/04/2023 13:45

I'm only guessing, but I imagine they might suspect the buyer would be unreliable, flaky and untrustworthy.

And might pull out at the last minute because of a 'feeling'.

Show quote history

Most definitely. The possibility of the buyer pulling out, would be enough to put me off selling to them.

ifthe · 18/04/2023 13:57

I'd ask about the history of the property. I dont believe in ghosts, but there is some history around my house the would give some people the willies. If you ask about this history, you might hear about it has a priest hole, so and so was murdered, it was a prison, I dont know but the kind of things that might start to play on your mind.

Twiglets1 · 18/04/2023 13:58

pineapple7peach · 18/04/2023 13:13

As the title says. Irrational childhood fear which I never grew out of. I don't know if I even believe in the paranormal but my worst nightmare is buying a house I'm too frightened to live in.

Would I be an embarrassment if I asked the estate agent/seller this question?

You must be joking, surely no one is that gullible?
If I was selling a property and someone asked if it was haunted I would say “that depends if you want it to be or not.”

Original poster

pineapple7peach · 18/04/2023 13:58

ifthe · 18/04/2023 13:57

I'd ask about the history of the property. I dont believe in ghosts, but there is some history around my house the would give some people the willies. If you ask about this history, you might hear about it has a priest hole, so and so was murdered, it was a prison, I dont know but the kind of things that might start to play on your mind.

This is a great idea, thank you!

OP posts:

Anothernamename · 18/04/2023 13:59

As an estate agent people have asked me many times if I know whether people have passed away in a property and I do have to disclose the true answer if I know.

For example, a few years ago I was selling a house where the gentleman who lived there had hung himself in the dining room and the people who offered had been told this information from the neighbour. The purchasers then called me to ask if it was true and I was honest with them, they then pulled out of the sale. I had to disclose this because these factors can hugely influence a persons buying decision.

The problem with asking if it’s haunted is that this is subjective and can’t really be answered in a way that would give you the reassurance you need, plus, most vendors won’t tell their agent their house is haunted and we would probably never know! Perhaps try and lean in to the way you feel in yourself when you are in the property and go with that feeling.

Having said that actually, only a month ago I was marketing a house where the vendors told me they had a spirit living in it for years and they had to pay someone to do an exorcism! So if you had asked me that question when viewing that house, I probably would’ve told you.

riotlady · 18/04/2023 13:59

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 18/04/2023 13:51

I wouldn't mind being asked, but I doubt there's many people that would tell the truth in case they lose a sale over it.

My house is Georgian and there's very little of note so I wouldn't say it's haunted if you asked. There's definitely a man who hangs around the dining room occasionally though. I can feel his presence and smell him. Seems harmless though, unlike other issues I've had in much more modern houses.

??? "oh it's not haunted at all, except for Percy but he's no bother"

StopStartStop · 18/04/2023 14:01

Catspyjamas17 · 18/04/2023 13:43

Another story. I'm intrigued @StopStartStop

My dd was 10, due to go to high school. We had a lot of poltergeist activity at that time, and she did a lot of sleepwalking.

The television would switch itself on in the middle of the night, at full volume. Not good in a terraced house. I unplugged it. Still happened. I took away the ariel. Still happened. I put it in the back yard. Quiet as a mouse. Haven't had a television since... that's coming up for forty years.

Original poster

pineapple7peach · 18/04/2023 14:01

Anothernamename · 18/04/2023 13:59

As an estate agent people have asked me many times if I know whether people have passed away in a property and I do have to disclose the true answer if I know.

For example, a few years ago I was selling a house where the gentleman who lived there had hung himself in the dining room and the people who offered had been told this information from the neighbour. The purchasers then called me to ask if it was true and I was honest with them, they then pulled out of the sale. I had to disclose this because these factors can hugely influence a persons buying decision.

The problem with asking if it’s haunted is that this is subjective and can’t really be answered in a way that would give you the reassurance you need, plus, most vendors won’t tell their agent their house is haunted and we would probably never know! Perhaps try and lean in to the way you feel in yourself when you are in the property and go with that feeling.

Having said that actually, only a month ago I was marketing a house where the vendors told me they had a spirit living in it for years and they had to pay someone to do an exorcism! So if you had asked me that question when viewing that house, I probably would’ve told you.

I appreciate your thorough response, thank you

OP posts:

StopStartStop · 18/04/2023 14:02

The creepiest thing that happened in that house was one night when I was praying, I heard a voice say clearly 'You know you're praying to an empty sky?'

YesitsBess · 18/04/2023 14:03

Bamboux · 18/04/2023 13:50

You think there is a legal requirement to declare 'paranormal activity?!!

Show quote history

Imagine if it came up on the survey?

Knotweed? Nope
Flood risk? Low
Flying crockery and/or apparitions? Not observed.

thelinkisdead · 18/04/2023 14:03

Not haunted was number one on our list when buying a house 😂

When our buyers were looking around ours, I told them I didn’t know much about the loft except that it doesn’t have a ghost. The man replied that he was disappointed as he’d quite like to buy a haunted house 🤣

PuttingDownRoots · 18/04/2023 14:04

My housemates think our house is haunted.

Lived here 200 years and never noticed anything myself.