Marketing and Selling Haunted and Stigmatized Properties
There are six main categories for stigmatized properties. Each have unique and challenging obstacles to consider when putting these properties on the market. It usually takes a bit of research on my part before deciding the best way to market a property with one of the following stigmas. It is always an adventure and each have unique and interesting hurdles. Sometimes the stigma is not what you think. Often times things that seem creepy offer great reward and the things you think would be cool end up a nightmare. The biggest issue that separates these are disclosure.
Six main stigma types;
One stigma often seen is the Criminal stigma. This is often the case when the property has been the sight of ongoing or high crime problems. Things like a drug house, gang headquarters, brothel or a know crack house. The fear of the potential buyer is that the outside public may not be aware of the change in ownership and return for various reasons. Most jurisdictions require full disclosure when it comes to this issue.
This next one is kind of similar to the above and may be one you don’t really consider a stigma but it is Debt stigma. This would be if the previous owner had made bad on some debts and now the debt collector continues to visit. Imagine the wrecker always parked in the driveway. How about visits from local law enforcement trying to serve past occupants and nasty notes on the door. The worst is the aggressive debt collector.
Often times a properties stigma is typed as a Minimal stigma because it is only known to a small group. These are usually handled on a case by case manner as to if the issue needs to be disclosed or not. An example of this would be if the locals have always known an area to be a bad neighborhood even though there is no statistics or cases to support it.
When I was growing up there was a house on the hill that was “said” to be haunted. This is a good example of Phenomena stigma. This is more the case when it is a property that the locals have knowledge of sightings or a haunting. Not all jurisdictions require disclosure for this sort of stigma.
It totally depends on the state you live in if a seller is required to reveal if a murder or suicide happened on the property. Some states have a period of time that has to pass before the Seller is released of this obligation. Some states have a rule of if you don’t ask we are not required to tell and then other say I’m not saying a word. This is the Murder/Suicide stigma.
The grand daddy of them all is the Public stigma. These always have to be disclosed no matter what state or jurisdiction you are in. A public stigma is when a wide population and any reasonable person should or would be expected to know. This would include properties like the actual Amityville Horror House or a property that used in a movie or TV. Sometimes the stigma is not because something horrible happened. Consider purchasing a property that everyone wants to get their picture made in the front of.
For the buyer who is unfazed by the history of a property there are some great deals to be had. Some folks even seek to find these types of homes for profit or for their own interesting reasons. I personally enjoy matching these two together. Contact us if you have a property you would like to possibly sale and believe it may be stigmatized. We have clients looking for these types of properties. Contact us if you have a need and would like to be added to our email blast for properties of this nature.
Yes! We list Stigmatized and Hunted Houses.
