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Just heard a short piece on NPR; some guy has created a website for people to look up houses and see if there's a public record of a death having occurred onsite.
Seems a renter of his accused the person of renting out a haunted place, and the person was surprised to find there is no disclosure required in his area of previous deaths on the property.
The house we live in now I know one of the previous owners died. Not sure if it was in the house.
Another house we own I know lots of people died in. My grandma, grandpa, great grandpa, and great grandma. That's it AFAIK.
The house we are thinking of buying is part of an estate sale because the wife died. Not sure if it was in the house. The husband died many years ago. Again not sure on location.
People die. All different locations. I don't think disclosures of deaths are required around here either. If disclosures become required for a home what about other locations. The mall, grocery store, Target, etc.? Are people going to avoid places where others have died just in case it's haunted. Sounds stupid.
With that said I want to also say violent crime deaths would fall in a different category for me. Murders or people held hostage who died would be criminal and maybe those should be disclosed. No logical reason comes to my mind just how I feel. Other than making sure the crime scene has been properly cleaned etc.
One of my previous homes was an estate sale. I asked the realtor if she knew if there had been a death in the house and she told me she didnt know. By her reaction I could tell she did. We did buy the house. Shortly after moving in the neighbor did tell me the woman died in the house. She even knew what bedroom. It started to creep me out some. I specifically chose that bedroom where the death occurred to be our office. It didnt take me long to get over it though as the previous owner was deeply loved by so many people. Neighbors kept giving us keys to our house (we had already changed the locks anyway) but the woman had an open door policy with everyone. She was also the president of a garden club at one time. I could plant anything in that yard and it would just bloom. Im not religious by any means but I couldnt help but feel that maybe her spirit lingered on and made us feel welcome.
A murder would make me feel different. I read an article not too long ago that a couple bought a house and got a good deal. The day of closing they were informed of the home's past. They thought it over and decided they would go ahead with it. They lived in the house for 3 yrs and then the suspected killer went to trial. It became a national media frenzy. The couple had very little knowledge of the whole story and then regretted the purchase. Gawkers planted themselves outside, the media would show up taking photos of the house etc. Now they are upset because the property is stigmatized. So I guess if you are going to buy a house where a murder took place, make sure the trial is done and over with.
I don't see the big deal. People die. I was with my Mema when she died - in her bed in the home she and my mom shared. Mom still lives there and we usually stay in Mema's room.
I wouldn't care one bit if someone died in my house - even violently. It doesn't affect the house at all.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I don't care, although I did have to draw the line when we looked at one house years ago in Oakland, CA where the walls around the fireplace were covered in soot, and a check with the police department revealed that a woman had murdered her husband and tried to burn up his body.
I don't care, although I did have to draw the line when we looked at one house years ago in Oakland, CA where the walls around the fireplace were covered in soot, and a check with the police department revealed that a woman had murdered her husband and tried to burn up his body.
Oh my goodness! I know I could not buy that house!! As far as someone just dying in the home--I would think that is fairly common. I think I might feel differently about a murder or a suicide but if you are buying an older home that has had numerous previous owners I'm sure there is a chance a death has occured in the home.
Not a problem for me, especially if I got a good deal on it. While I do believe in negative residual hauntings, a death happening in the home wouldn't stop me from buying it.
Now ... something like the gruesome turn of events in the Pettit case in Connecticut or that awful Castro man who kept all those women locked in his basement ... yes I know those homes have been destroyed/demolished, but had they not, I'm pretty sure I'd have to draw the line at living in one of those places, even if they were fully gutted and rebuilt.
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