Rules on Selling a Haunted House

Is it haunted or is it not? Who really knows? Since Halloween is only days away I felt it only fitting that my real estate post today talked about the haunted cribs in our town and what to do if you have a haunted house of your own to sell!  According to The Shadowlands, a site that reports on haunted houses and areas all around the United States, we have a haunted spot right here in town.  Reportedly The Roudenbush Community Center has a grey colored ghost nicknamed "Jenny" who roams the halls. No one seems to know who this "Jenny" is but there are custodial staff and other employees who have come upon her.  The community center building used to be the high school, so it's no coincidence the Westford Academy mascot is known as the grey ghost.CLICK HERE for more haunted Halloween spots to visit!

Now to the point of today's article, what happens if you have a haunted house that you want to sell?  Do you have to disclose that it's haunted to the buyers? I can tell you that every bone in my Realtor body says YES it should be disclosed.  However, I can also share with you Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93, section 114 that discusses Real Estate disclosure for alleged haunted homes, murder and suicide:

The fact or suspicion that real property may be or is psychologically impacted shall not be deemed to be a material fact required to be disclosed in a real estate transaction. “Psychologically impacted” shall mean an impact being the result of facts or suspicions including, but not limited to, the following:

• (a) that an occupant of real property is now or has been suspected to be infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or any other disease which reasonable medical evidence suggests to be highly unlikely to be transmitted through the occupying of a dwelling;

• (b) that the real property was the site of a felony, suicide or homicide; and

• (c) that the real property has been the site of an alleged para psychological or supernatural phenomenon.

No cause of action shall arise or be maintained against a seller or lessor of real property or a real estate broker or salesman, by statute or at common law, for failure to disclose to a buyer or tenant that the real property is or was psychologically impacted.

The bottom line is this, you are not breaking the law if you don't disclose your ghosts, but what if the tables were turned?  How would you like to be all moved in to your new digs only to find out you have a permanent tenant that isn't even paying rent? Disclosure is a good thing.  Happy Halloween!