Home buyers are sensitive to paranormal activity, while others are unfazed. “Haunted is a grey area,” explains Jalila. “To one person something is haunted and to another person, it’s not.”
In other words, ghostly encounters are subjective, so if you’re the kind of person who believes in disembodied spirits, it’s a good idea to let your REALTOR® know before you begin house hunting.
And while REALTORS® are obligated to disclose “material latent defects” – serious, hidden issues with a property that could not have been reasonably perceived during a home inspection, which might render the home dangerous or unliveable – “haunted” doesn’t fall under this category.
It could, however, qualify as a psychological “stigma.”
A spooky feeling isn’t reason enough to advertise a home as haunted but if something truly sinister happened on the property, it might be deemed “stigmatized.”
According to The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), a stigma can be defined as “a non-physical, intangible attribute of a property that may elicit a psychological or emotional response on the part of a potential buyer.”
Stigmas that could affect a buyer’s decision-making process include:
if the property was used for ongoing crime;
if the property was owned by a notorious individual or criminal;
if the house was a former grow-up that has been remediated; and
if a murder occurred on the property.
Stigmas are difficult to define; there’s also no specific legislation that requires sellers to disclose stigmas to buyers.
If there was a murder in a house, Jalila says this will deter most buyers but stigma is often a matter of perspective; one person’s stigma is another person’s opportunity.
“It could be a great deal for some people,” she says, though she cautions against bargain-hunting for a stigmatized house. That sweet deal might come back to haunt you.
“There are definitely people who are looking for cheap homes, but do they necessarily want one that’s had in a murder in it? No, because it could affect the resale value,” she says.
It’s no coincidence that old, rickety homes cause more jitters than brand-new builds. Older homes tend to be less thermally isolated from the outdoors, which can cause popping, creaking and groaning sounds, especially as the wood adjusts to lower humidity levels and cooler temperatures.
If nothing amiss has occurred and the house simply feels ghostly, it might be a structural problem that’s spooking you. Things like strange noises or flickering lights might be due to an electrical problem, a noisy furnace, faulty wiring or old pipes – and not a disgruntled poltergeist.
“Get a certified home inspector in to make sure there aren’t any deficiencies with the property,” says Jalila.
If that eerie feeling still persists, don’t be afraid to “de-haunt” your house with candles, incense or burning sage.
“I always recommend that my clients sage and cleanse, especially if they’re buying a ‘divorce’ house or where something bad has happened,” Jalila explains. “You want to clear that energy.”
Rid yourself of bad vibes and evil spirits from the get-go. For the superstitious buyer, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.
