Whispers.... unknown footsteps late at night..... lights flickering.... unexplained shadows... things moving on their own. If you are a horror fan like I am then this sounds like a great new movie to explore; however, you may not want to find yourself living in a true nightmare house. Did you know there are some things that you can do to help assess whether or not the home you are wanting to purchase may be haunted? These are some fun tips to help you determine if you are getting more than you bargained for! On a fair note though none of these are guarantees!
First, know your state's disclosure requirements. A haunted house can fall under the category of stigmatized property. A stigmatized property is a home that may be displeasing to buyers for reasons other than its physical condition. In many states, such as South Carolina, you don't have to disclose facts such as murders, suicides, deaths, crime, or paranormal activity.
Since some states do not require this information to be disclosed, good old-fashioned research is recommended. You can google the property address, go to the library and see if there are any records found in old newspaper articles. You can also research the land. If you have watched as many paranormal shows as I have, you will know that sometimes the building itself is not haunted, but the land is another story.
Talk to the neighbors and see if there are any rumors about the house you are wanting to purchase. Rumors are hearsay so you won't know if they are true or not, but it doesn't hurt to get to know your potential neighbors nor to find out some interesting tidbits on the house you are buying. Lastly, you can call in a paranormal team. You can get a cleansing of the house complete or if you are religious have your priest or pastor bless the home. Is your motto I ain't afraid of no ghosts like the ghostbusters or are you afraid of ghosts? For me a haunted house is a bit intriguing, as long as it is a friendly ghost!