Recently, we discussed the case of Stambovsky v. Ackley, and we think it would be prudent to discuss disclosure laws and inspection in the context of the supernatural. Maybe you’re a thrill seeker, in which case you should consider Los Feliz’s Manson home or property in Salem, MA (where the real witch hunts occurred). For the rest of us normal folk, the notion of a poltergeist communicating with our children through television sets and dead relatives returning to life would be a major “con” when buying a house. Do we, at the Chernov Team, believe there are haunted houses? No. However, a house is only as valuable as someone else perceives it to be – avoid buying houses that might be haunted.
The first step to avoiding a spooky house is to know the disclosure laws of your state. In California, a seller is obligated to disclose any deaths that happened on the property within the last three years. Next, since we live in the era of Google, research the property! Buying a house near an Indian burial ground is a recipe for disaster. If you are feeling particularly morbid, you should also check DiedInHouse.Com (it’s a paid site).
Next, though not necessarily a clue that a house is haunted, check the house’s history of repairs, purchases, and sales. It can be particularly telling that a house has some issues if it has been bought and sold multiple times over the past few years (why do people want to get out of there so quickly?). Don’t be afraid to ask pointed questions (it’s a lot harder to justify an omission when the question is specific – think about how you’d ask questions of a child who doesn’t want to tell the truth, but also doesn’t want to lie).
Finally, if you want true peace of mind, call in a medium to clear the house.
At the Chernov Team we understand that knowledge is power, and knowledge of how to avoid houses that will eventually be on some terrible tv show about haunted houses is powerful knowledge indeed. At the Chernov Team we know that whoever comes to the table most prepared leaves with the most, and the Chernov Team always leaves the table with the most.