I get it. No one wants to live with ghosts (well, most of us don’t want too). 

Generally speaking, poltergeists are a big turn off, and generally thought to be a heck of a lot harder to get rid of than, say, a family of bats. Although no one wants to deal with those either.

But how can you tell if a place is haunted or not? I mean, besides the obvious (e.g. interacting with Casper the ghost), what makes us feel like a home is haunted? 

The truth is, we’re biologically wired to identify specific scenarios as ‘creepy,’ and there’s a great article on this from the Oxford Scientist that does a deep dive into what makes something creepy. Knowing what ups the creep factor can help you hone in on a haunting.

In a nutshell, what causes that eerie feeling can be distilled down to two elements:

• Objects or people not behaving as expected: E.g. a rocking chair rocking in the absence of someone or some force, rocking it.

• A human-like being that falls within the uncanny valley: It’s too close to being human to be deemed ‘cute,’ and yet not quite human enough to feel familiar. E.g. Seeing human-like figures that aren’t quite human.

When you apply the creepy-factor to homes, some clear trends in haunted homes appear:

• Hearing sounds in the absence of an obvious maker of those sounds: Footsteps on a floor where no one is known to be. Sounds that mimic voices, breathing or laughter, emanating from an unknown source.

• Lights and electronics behaving in an unexpected way: Toys turning on when there are no batteries inside. Lights flickering. Radios turning on and off, etc. Televisions changing channels.

• Ghost-like figures: Ranging from seeing human-like shapes or shadows to full-on appearance of people in the home who apparate and disapparate.

What Can Make a House Look Haunted

Sometimes, you don’t have to see or hear something creepy in order to be creeped out by a home. While some of these instances have no clear reason, you can very quickly make a home feel haunted by simply letting it fall into a state of disrepair. Anyone who has ever decorated their place for Halloween can attest that the following are required to create a haunted house vibe:

• Cobwebs

• Old and rotting wood

• Darkened/shuttered windows

• Chipped paint

• Critters taking up residence in the home (mice, rats, raccoons, bats)

• Electrical not behaving as expected (malfunctioning electrical system/electronics)

• Drafty windows and doors

• Leaky faucets

• Water spots or water damage on ceilings

• Damp, dark and musty basement

• Old damaged toys lying around

• Chalk outlines of human body(ies) <-ok, that’s overkill. But wouldn’t that be creepy

Some people may be reading this and thinking “What a great opportunity for the handyman,” but most of us will be fully turned off from entering, much less living in, a home with the features listed above. 

So, if any of this sounds like your house - don’t do that. It’s time to do some clean up and fixes!

Buying or Selling a Haunted Home

So, what do you do if you’ve accidentally purchased a haunted home? And how can you easily (and legally), offload it to someone who wants to buy a house that is haunted.

You may be surprised by just how easy it is.

Selling a Haunted House

Ok, so first things first: I’m a realtor and not a lawyer, so this is not intended to be advice. You need a lawyer who is up to date on current laws for that.

That being said, here is what I was able to find on the internet in relation to Ontario laws on selling a stigmatised property.

Is a Haunted House a Stigmatised Property?

Yup. It totally can be. More formally, A stigmatised property is one that has its value (currently or potentially later) affected by a history of murder, suicide or haunting. 

Interestingly, according to Daniel & Partners LLP, a seller (vendor) is not required to disclose whether something nefarious or creepy, like a murder, suicide or haunting has occurred at a home. However, real estate agents are under obligation by RECO to disclose to potential buyers and/or their agents: any ‘material facts that affect the market value of the property that they are aware of, including whether the property is stigmatised.’ 

Could this be a reason to only purchase homes that are listed through realtors and not for-sale-by-owner? 

You decide :)