How to Avoid Buying a ‘Haunted House’

Spooky season is upon us, and with the Fed lowering interest rates, the ‘spirit’ may move you to see what’s on your local real estate market. But how do you know if the home you’ve got your eye on is haunted or not? Look out for the items below if you want to stay clear of a ‘haunted’ home.

Banging Pipes

Touring a home and hearing banging pipes? Don’t jump to ghostly conclusions just yet – you may be hearing evidence of water flow issues, loose pipes, waterlogged air chambers within the plumbing, excessively high water pressure, or even worn out washers in faucets and valves. If you hear banging noises from the pipes, you might want to stay away from this potentially ‘haunted home.’

Flickering Lights

Flickering lights are a sure sign of ghosts, right? Hold on just a minute – it could be an indication of voltage fluctuations, wiring issues, overloaded circuits, or even a bad circuit breaker. Electrical issues (as well as ghostly specters) can make your hair stand on end – avoid homes with any indication of potential electrical problems.

Foul Odors

Touring a home and smelling a foul odor? While it could be a phantom, it’s very likely a foul mess. Smells can stem from drain issues, mold & mildew (yikes!), a very dirty and overloaded HVAC system, sewage problems (oh the horror!), or even dead animals in the walls or under the house. Foul smells can indicate a big issue that may be invisible to the naked eye – trust your nose on this and stay away.

Cool Drafts

Is that cool draft in the hallway a friendly spirit, or is it something else? Drafts can indicate issues that may cause your wallet to scream. Poor insulation, gaps around windows and doors, cracks in walls or foundations, poorly insulated ducts, an improperly sealed fireplace, general age, or even gaps in the roof or eaves can cause drafts in a home. Sure, it could be fun to have a friendly neighborhood ghost, but it’s more than likely an issue within the home.

Creaking & Groaning

Does the property exhibit groaning, creaking, bumps in the night? Definitely a ghost, right? Probably not. While not as heart racing, it’s likely settling, temperature and humidity changes causing wood to expand or contract, loose or improperly installed floor joists, expanding and contracting pipes, or even insects/pests. Some groaning and creaking can be attributed to the age of the property, while other cases are not so easy to pinpoint and may take a bite out of your bank account. If you’re touring a home and hear groaning and creaking, you may want to turn and run.

Ultimate Tips for Avoiding Haunted Houses

If you’re dead set on hunting for houses, just remember:

• Avoid homes built on top of cemeteries with the headstones removed
• Don’t utter “Beetlejuice” three times when touring a potential new home
• Only consider homes with ghosts named “Casper”
• Avoid homes that have been visited by Ed and Lorraine Warren
• Shy away from homes with coffins in the basement
• Absolutely avoid properties haunted by the ghosts of poorly executed DIY projects

With interest rates decreasing, homes could disappear faster than a vampire at dawn. You can find all active properties on the local real estate market on my website below. If you have questions about the local market or want information on what’s happening in real estate across the U.S., don’t hesitate to reach out. The seasons are changing – here’s to a happy and fulfilling Autumn!