Why does the mention of haunted houses create such an immediate response in people. Do you believe in Haunted Houses? October is a perfect time to open this topic. Let’s uncover some of the common dynamics of a “spirited home”.
As a real estate agent, feng shui and space clearing professional, I have been in hundreds of homes and buildings. Many homeowners and real estate professionals have called me in specifically to address what they feel is a heavy, stuck, or scary energy in the home.
When I teach real estate agents about feng shui, I do not have to mention “haunted houses”. In every class, someone will bring up the subject. Most real estate agents can identify and “feel” when a house is feeling uncomfortable and “heavy”. I have been called in countless times to “unblock” or cleanse a home so that it may be realigned and ready for the new residents or to prepare it to sell without delays.
Is your home haunted?
Wikipedia describes a haunted house as “A haunted house is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirit of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property”. These spirits are often stuck due to traumatic events such as suicide or murder, or unresolved issues.
I do not endorse “Ghost Hunting” or “Haunted House Tours”. Unless the ghost investigator is prepared to resolve the restless and stuck spirit, I feel that it is not only disrespectful, it also agitates the spirit and can affect the people that are “touring” the home or grounds.
Spirits are often seen or felt by individuals in a home, not all of the residents. Children are often very open and sensitive to energy and see spirits. In two occasions, I had two children sharing one bedroom, and only one child saw the spirit. There are many ways to resolve this situation, and this would need to be in the hands of a professional, such as a conscious design space clearer. Pets are also very alert and in tune to any paranormal activity.
In a real estate transaction, what is a sellers obligation in disclosing suspected ghosts?
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/learn/buying-a-haunted-house/
Real estate law varies by state and city, so ultimately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to disclosing information about a home’s reputation as a hangout for spirits.
If you ever publicly claim that a house is haunted, you’re required to share the information with potential buyers, says Allen, the real estate investor. This is due to Stambovsky v. Ackley, a New York Supreme Court ruling commonly referred to as the Ghostbusters ruling. The ruling states that a homeowner who publicly advertises that their house is haunted by ghosts must disclose that information when selling it.
“The ethical thing to do — whether that case existed or not — is to tell buyers if you think something is wrong with the house,” says Allen.
What are the common signs that a house may be haunted:
Odd electrical activity: Lights going on and off, television, radio and other appliances.
Door bell ringing, knocking and no one at the door.
Noises when no one is there: knocks, footsteps, scratching.
Things moved: furniture/ chairs out of place, doors and cabinets opening, closing.
Disappearing objects: Items disappearing and then reappearing without explanation. They could be gone for days, weeks, but they were left in an obvious place and now gone.
Being watched: that very knowing feeling that someone is watching you.
Shadows: seeing a shape of shadow out of the corner of your eye. Sometimes while sleeping waking to see a shadow/blurry image next to you at bedside. Some have reported spirits sitting on the bed next to them.
Being touched: feeling someone touch your shoulder, hair, brush by you, or push you.
Unusual smells: unexplained scents – cooking smells, floral scents, perfumes
Animals acting odd – Dogs and cats are very aware of spirits. Dogs may bark or not go into a certain room.
Sounds: Voices – sounds of light conversation, muffled, whispering, crying can be heard. Music can also be heard without explanation.
Temperature changes – a cold area of the home is a sign of haunting.
Water issues: water can hold psychic and emotional memory. If a home has a lot of floods, issues with pipes, etc. suspect that something is energetically out of balance.
Cold or hot spots – cold spots are classic haunting symptoms, but any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a discernable cause could be evidence.
Seeing a spirit – Children will often be able to see spirits when an adult may not.
Physical symbol: Handprints, Footprints, unexplained writing on walls.
Flying objects – Not a UFO, but having doors slam shut, plates or objects fly across a room, pictures fall off a wall, etc. There was an old mansion in New Jersey that was known as being haunted by a small boy. The mansion was converted into a restaurant and soon abandoned, as the chefs and kitchen staff all quit when knives and plates began flying around the kitchen. Today, this is a veterinary clinic, and the young boy enjoys the animals, and except for one room that is ice cold, the house has been much more peaceful.
Physical attack – unexplained scratches or bite marks appearing on a resident. Getting pushed or shoved.
How did you do?
If you feel your home is haunted, or you are interested in learning more, watch for more articles on spirits and other energies that will influence our spaces and properties. Spirits are not the only dynamic that can influence a home. There are many energies that can be addressed when balancing a space: negative lot shapes, negative neighbors, poor feng shui, land disturbances such as vortexes and ley lines.
Renae Jensen is founder of Conscious Design Institute and Magazine. She is a trained Feng Shui and Space Clearing Professional.
Renae is an active certified real estate teacher and sales agent in New Jersey.
http://www.consciousdesignmagazine.com/