Many people know that there are many things you need to disclose when you sell a home in Minnesota like water damage, lead-based paint, and if there’s a well on the property. But what if there’s a past resident that you swear never left?

A “stigmatized property” is property that buyers or tenants may shun for reasons that are unrelated to its physical condition or features. These can include death of an occupant, murder, suicide,  and belief that a house is haunted. Controversy exists regarding the definitions of stigma and what sorts of stigma must be disclosed at sale. It is argued that the seller has a duty to disclose any such history of the property. This, in practice, falls into two categories: demonstrable (physical) and emotional. Local jurisdictions vary widely in their interpretation of these issues and occasionally contradict federal law.

In Minnesota, one is not required to disclose any natural death or death by suicide on a property. This law was enacted after sellers were being sued for stigma attached to the property (like the house being haunted), rather than due to physical defects with their property. You also do not need to disclose any paranormal activity in the home.

While not everyone agrees on whether spirits travel among us, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, 28% of surveyed Realtors said they’ve had to sell a home or help a buyer who believes that their current home is haunted.

So what do you do if you believe your home is haunted? Before you run out and find your nearest paranormal expert, check these things:

• Noises in the wall: Place traps or hire an exterminator. There’s a chance it could be rodents in the walls and ceilings. Even small critters can make deceivingly loud noises!

• Lights that just won’t stay on: First, check your bulbs. If those seem good it’s probably best to hire an electrician on this one.

• Cold spots and drafts: If your home has unexplained cold areas or the doors keep slamming shut, don’t immediately assume there’s a ghost in your house. Check windows, doors, and your chimney to ensure they are all properly sealed and see if the drafts vanish for good once the gaps are filled in.

• Visions of beings: Please make sure you are checking your carbon monoxide detectors! Carbon monoxide poisoning is serious and possibly fatal. After prolonged exposure, the toxic gas can lead to hallucinations that are even more dangerous than they appear.

If you’re really curious about your home, looking up the history of the home and learning about the people that lived there previously can give you some insight to the home. If you’re so inclined, there’s a website you can search to see if someone has died in the home.

If you’re ready to sell your home, haunted or not, give us a call today to get started!

If you love spooky things, check out the most haunted places in Minnesota!

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