Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
General Landlording & Rental Properties
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated over 5 years ago, 04/16/2019

User Stats

475
Posts
211
Votes
Dennis Tierney
  • Investor
  • Omaha, NE
211
Votes |
475
Posts

Do you disclose a haunting?

Dennis Tierney
  • Investor
  • Omaha, NE
Posted

I had a friend ask last evening if she needs to disclose to prospective tenants that their half of a duplex may be haunted. Not having any experience with this I thought I'd ask BP. She bought it as a rehab and in the process her workmen have noted unexplained door slammings, foot steps from upstairs when no one else is there and someone tapping them on the shoulder when no one else is there and unexplained noises from the baement when no one else is there. It apparnetly is only one one side of the duplex and the other half is already rented without incident. She had one prospect look at the main floor and liked it then went upstairs and quickly came down and ran out of the house saying it wasn't for her. What do you think?

User Stats

475
Posts
211
Votes
Dennis Tierney
  • Investor
  • Omaha, NE
211
Votes |
475
Posts
Dennis Tierney
  • Investor
  • Omaha, NE
Replied

My daughter in law passed along this article so I sent it to the friend;
http://www.gaiamtv.com/article/getting-rid-unwanted-spirits

User Stats

1,225
Posts
561
Votes
Scott Weaner
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Yardley, PA
561
Votes |
1,225
Posts
Scott Weaner
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Yardley, PA
Replied

I bet you could market this as a feature! Someone would pay extra, I am sure.

CLOSED Title logo
CLOSED Title
|
Sponsored
CLOSED Title is the Investor Friendly Title Company CLOSED Title, founded by real estate investors. Double closings, assignments, we do it all.

User Stats

122
Posts
62
Votes
Jonathan Key
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Longview, TX
62
Votes |
122
Posts
Jonathan Key
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Longview, TX
Replied

I would serve a 5 day notice on the ghost then file for an eviction. After that you have fulfilled your legal obligation.

User Stats

4,365
Posts
1,248
Votes
Manolo D.#3 Contractors Contributor
  • Contractor
  • Los Angeles, CA
1,248
Votes |
4,365
Posts
Manolo D.#3 Contractors Contributor
  • Contractor
  • Los Angeles, CA
Replied

You might not need a disclosure on this, but you will need a ghost insurance in place. The only insurance company that issues this is Ghostbusters Surety.

User Stats

272
Posts
50
Votes
Tristan Cortez
  • Rental Property Investor
  • San Antonio, TX
50
Votes |
272
Posts
Tristan Cortez
  • Rental Property Investor
  • San Antonio, TX
Replied

+1 for getting it blessed by a Priest

User Stats

165
Posts
71
Votes
Tim Ball
  • Flipper/Rehabber
  • Carrollton, TX
71
Votes |
165
Posts
Tim Ball
  • Flipper/Rehabber
  • Carrollton, TX
Replied

Disclosure: "Property may cause tenants to do back bends and crawl up and down stairs, 360 degree head spins, and throw up pea soup. Great schools."

User Stats

73
Posts
22
Votes
Grant Patmon
  • Investor
  • Columbus, OH
22
Votes |
73
Posts
Grant Patmon
  • Investor
  • Columbus, OH
Replied

It sounds like she might be a motivated seller…Someone should jump on the opportunity . HAHAHAGood luck :)

User Stats

1,545
Posts
1,286
Votes
Steve B.
  • Engineer
  • Portland, OR
1,286
Votes |
1,545
Posts
Steve B.
  • Engineer
  • Portland, OR
Replied

Dennis you are receiving a lot of inaccurate info . Yes you absolutely have to disclose hauntings. The legislature passed the "paranormal and spectral mitigation act" I'm 1986 which specifically encumbered home sellers with the legal duty to disclose and sometimes remove ghosts, demons, and other noncorporal entities. This has since been extended to aliens, UFO abductions, and bigfoots.

I recommend one of the following actions:

1. call a spectral mitigation certified technician to adress the issue prior to sake

2. give me your credit card info and I will remove the spirits through advance rituals and arcane spiritual extraction ceremonys

please be swift!

User Stats

123
Posts
13
Votes
Thomas Quinn
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Uxbridge, MA
13
Votes |
123
Posts
Thomas Quinn
  • Residential Real Estate Agent
  • Uxbridge, MA
Replied

I say turn it into a short term rental just think you can rent it to paranormal investigating teams or crazy people that want to spend the week in a haunted house at above market value

User Stats

1,451
Posts
461
Votes
Sam Leon
  • Investor
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
461
Votes |
1,451
Posts
Sam Leon
  • Investor
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
Replied

RedRum?

User Stats

1,456
Posts
950
Votes
Patrick L.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Saint Petersburg, FL
950
Votes |
1,456
Posts
Patrick L.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Saint Petersburg, FL
Replied

If it's not a real thing then how could you disclose it?  

User Stats

13,450
Posts
8,349
Votes
Steve Babiak
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
8,349
Votes |
13,450
Posts
Steve Babiak
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
Replied

At Halloween, you could charge admission :)

Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rarRiqWH8v4

BiggerPockets logo
Join Our Private Community for Passive Investors
|
BiggerPockets
Get first-hand insights and real sponsor reviews from other investors

User Stats

19
Posts
6
Votes
Blake Shaw
  • Developer
  • Atlanta, GA
6
Votes |
19
Posts
Blake Shaw
  • Developer
  • Atlanta, GA
Replied

I just saw a house in Madison, GA, which is a very old town and one of the few Sherman didn't burn, and the listing sign had a rider that read "NOT HAUNTED".  I don't know if it was meant more as a joke or not, but the property did back up to a cemetery so maybe it was necessary!

User Stats

14
Posts
18
Votes
Cal R.
  • Little Elm, TX
18
Votes |
14
Posts
Cal R.
  • Little Elm, TX
Replied

There is actually a court case called "Stambovsky v. Ackley" on this issue. If you think you were surprised to see the question asked here, imagine how the judge felt!

****Spoiler Alert**** The seller in the case was required to disclose the haunting

User Stats

431
Posts
170
Votes
Kurt Kwart
  • Specialist
  • Atlantic City, NJ
170
Votes |
431
Posts
Kurt Kwart
  • Specialist
  • Atlantic City, NJ
Replied

User Stats

431
Posts
170
Votes
Kurt Kwart
  • Specialist
  • Atlantic City, NJ
170
Votes |
431
Posts
Kurt Kwart
  • Specialist
  • Atlantic City, NJ
Replied

It looks like the realtor from this video is running with the idea!!

https://twitter.com/theghostrealtor

http://www.ghostfreehome.com/

Account Closed
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Cedar Park, TX
8
Votes |
28
Posts
Account Closed
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Cedar Park, TX
Replied

I never heard that one before, a ghost that occupies one side of a duplex, that's funny! At least they respect and don't disturb the other tenants. Maybe disclose it has some odd sounds and noises, but I wouldn't say I think it's haunted. Was it disclosed  when she bought the rehab?

User Stats

187
Posts
17
Votes
Kathleen Salinas
  • Professional
  • Lexington, TN
17
Votes |
187
Posts
Kathleen Salinas
  • Professional
  • Lexington, TN
Replied

I'm wondering how someone who sued you for not disclosing a haunting would be able to prove it was haunted?  Just saying....

User Stats

169
Posts
52
Votes
Eva Salas
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Silicon Valley, CA
52
Votes |
169
Posts
Eva Salas
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Silicon Valley, CA
Replied

Buy a bale of sage! 

Account Closed
  • Investor
  • Central Valley, CA
3,729
Votes |
6,037
Posts
Account Closed
  • Investor
  • Central Valley, CA
Replied
Originally posted by @Steve B.:

Dennis you are receiving a lot of inaccurate info . Yes you absolutely have to disclose hauntings. The legislature passed the "paranormal and spectral mitigation act" I'm 1986 which specifically encumbered home sellers with the legal duty to disclose and sometimes remove ghosts, demons, and other noncorporal entities. This has since been extended to aliens, UFO abductions, and bigfoots.

I recommend one of the following actions:

1. call a spectral mitigation certified technician to adress the issue prior to sake

2. give me your credit card info and I will remove the spirits through advance rituals and arcane spiritual extraction ceremonys

please be swift!

Looks like the days of under the radar activity for aliens are over.

User Stats

342
Posts
123
Votes
Michael J.
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Louisville, KY
123
Votes |
342
Posts
Michael J.
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Louisville, KY
Replied

This is a very serious issue. This is what I would do.

1. Say nothing to the new tenants.

2. Install a remote controlled speaker in the attic.

3. The first time the tenant pays late or breaks the lease play spooky ghost sounds out of the speaker.

4. Tell the tenants that the previous owner was the landlord of the duplex and haunts tenants that misbehave.

5. Collect rent on time for years to come.

:)

User Stats

35
Posts
7
Votes
Zana Blue
  • Investor
  • Saint Augustine, FL
7
Votes |
35
Posts
Zana Blue
  • Investor
  • Saint Augustine, FL
Replied

All l I know is haunted houses can spread like wildfire. We didn't have hardly any a few years ago and now EVERY building in downtown St. Augustine is haunted ! We have pirate led ghost tours...old west sheriff led ghost tours...pub crawl ghost tours ( apparently all the bars are haunted ) ...a ghost boat tour...trolley ghost tours...ride in a hearse ghost tours...they fully disclose the haunted buildings ( this includes a B&B that was once a funeral home)  and nevertheless the tours and B&B and bars are always full so disclosure is the way to go !

1-800 Accountant logo
1-800 Accountant
|
Sponsored
Unlock Year-End Real Estate Tax Savings: Buy your accounting services now and deduct them on your 2024 taxes. Flat rate, never hourly.

User Stats

285
Posts
166
Votes
Martin Scherer
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Liberty Hill, TX
166
Votes |
285
Posts
Martin Scherer
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Liberty Hill, TX
Replied
Originally posted by @Sam Leon:

RedRum?

 Beat me too it!  "Redrum, redrum"

User Stats

3
Posts
0
Votes
Guinevere White
  • Santa Fe, NM
0
Votes |
3
Posts
Guinevere White
  • Santa Fe, NM
Replied

In New Mexico, hauntings are disclosable/material.

User Stats

183
Posts
86
Votes
Charlie Hampton
  • Contractor
  • Franklinville, NJ
86
Votes |
183
Posts
Charlie Hampton
  • Contractor
  • Franklinville, NJ
Replied

Villisca Axe Murder House:

Overnights...............$428....for 1 to 6 people, $74.90 each additional person. $200 non refundable deposit to be paid when you book a date, this deposit goes towards full amount due.

Overnight booking is now open for 2015. DAY TOURS START MARCH 28TH AND RUN THROUGH NOV 2ND... 1PM TO 4 PM Overnights are 7nights a week all year. GPS ADDRESS IS 508 e 2nd st. Villisca Iowa NEW RULES ADDED TO OVERNIGHTS PLEASE READ!

Unbeatable cashflow! Embrace it!