HAPPY OCTOBER, FRIENDS!
No matter what the temperature says it is outside, it’s FALL. There is no denying it – spooky season is here, the leaves WILL be falling and summer is officially GONE.
With spooky season, out comes all the Halloween decor our pumpkin coated little hearts can handle – some fun and cute and some, well, a little more on the creepy side. We can’t lie, we love it all!
Activities might include hay rides, pumpkin carving and trips to the haunted houses. But have you ever wondered if you live in an *actual* haunted house?
Furthermore, have you ever wondered if a realtor is required to disclose to you if a home you’re looking to purchase IS haunted? Or at least if it’s ever been the site of a murder, suicide or other paranormal seeming activity? (We really took things for a turn there, didn’t we?)
So, here’s the deal. In Missouri, “haunted” properties fall within the category of stigmatized properties. This means that if the real estate isn’t defective in any physical manner, but due to psychological or emotional factors, it maaaaaay have a reduced value, but it certainly doesn’t have to. Stigmatized properties might include the site of a murder, suicide, alleged haunted or other parapsychological phenomenon (we’ve all seen Poltergeist, right?).
Technically speaking, though, Missouri sellers, brokers and real estate agents have no legal obligation to disclose this information if a home was the site of a felony or other previously mentioned stigmatized events. If something has happened in the home that can affect the physical integrity, it must be reported, but if the previous owners haven’t had a full night of sleep in years because they say a mid-century ghost child insists on rolling a ball down their hallway at odd hours laughing every night, well – that can stay their little secret.
However, it’s of course in the best interest to disclose anything important about the home, as if a buyer does find out before the closing of a property, such information might cause them to back out of the deal. In fact, one such famous case happened in New York where a court let a buyer out of their contract due to undisclosed yet well documented previous alleged “paranormal” activity.
So, we might advise disclosing any known information beforehand. If you’re a buyer who is curious about a home you are buying, particularly one with sketchy vibes, you can always google the address. In this digital age, any major events are likely to have been documented in one form or another. You can also ask around the neighborhood, or I’m sure we can help you hire some local Ghostbusters.
Ready for some house “haunting” of your own? Give us a call!
Melissa: 816-820-2463
Jake: 816-868-4692
Robin: 816-210-7945
