I've been reading a lot lately about home buyers who intentionally seek out haunted homes to purchase. Oddly, there are apparently quite a few of them out there. Don't believe me? Check out Real Haunted House Listings
I'm not going to debate the validity of these homes - real, unreal or surreal, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to stage a home that is considered haunted. Would it take me less time than a "normal" house or would it take me twice as long? Would I need more breaks or fewer because of the company?
Joel Nash wrote an article about a year ago about Haunted Homes for Sale Apparently haunted homes aren't just in the United States, but all over the world. Interested in staging Spain's most famous haunted house? 5 Real Street, in the village of Bélmez de la Moraleda allegedly "sports a host of faces and body outlines that have appeared on the concrete floors." Still interested? Then you need to know that "when a trench was dug a 13th century graveyard was uncovered containing bones, although the skulls were missing."
Want to read about another one? Check out this haunted house for sale or this one. They're everywhere, I tell you!
I don't know about you, but I don't think I would last a day in such a wildly popular home - staging aside, I just don't think my nerves could handle it! I'm almost paranoid about being in a strange house alone after dark, could you even imagine staging a house inhabited by dead spirits?
I staged a house last year that my kids absolutely, positively thought was occupied by a ghost. (Interestingly, in the houses that that they have seen, they have only felt this way about this one) ... But, truly - who knows? I'm not sure I do.
Happy Haunting ... oops, I mean Staging!
photo (c) curbed.com
You know... I have a hard time selling a normal house...
By the way really great links.
Now I'm left wondering how much of a market there is for haunted houses in my area. Might be a nice niche for me, I bet not many agents give it much thought.
If its a very active house it might be tough to stage-things might get moved or disappear altogether!
*And remember it doesn't have to be 'old' to be haunted.
I think I would move a little bit faster if I was working in a haunted house. Plus, what if you staged a haunted house and the "ghost" moved all the furniture around? Who is responsible for moving it back then? : )
Maria - If selling "normal" houses is difficult, maybe selling haunted houses would be "screamingly" easy :)
Jennifer - Could you even imagine the incredible marketing you could do? What about a tag line? As an agent you could say "I make your house disappear - before you do" What fun you could have. I won't even get into the fact that you live an incredible state with a lot of history to work with. Remember, anything that has to do with haunted houses sells! Thanks for stopping by.
Kathy - The contract for staging a haunted listing would inevitably end up on "America's Funniest Something or Other". I can't even picture what an Attorney might say if you asked him to draw up the contract. What fun that would be (not to mention expensive...extra time for laughter!)
Maureen - LOL -I might be so inclined to charge a higher fee for a ghost-occupied home. Although I have had some clients who were obviously from Area 51, I just can't imagine a spirit like figure following me from room to room asking me what I would do next.
Want to read more? Check out the World's Most Haunted House
Oh - how about this for a tag line for home stagers: "Staging the paranormal for over 100 years".
I've done one!!! No, seriously, I have. I've actually done one. None of my stuff got moved because we sat down and told "it" that he/she would be fine. We were doing all this to find him someone really nice to come live with him and look after the house. There was a great story about the homeowner's daughter learning violin. the spirit seems not to have liked the practicing and kept moving the violin and its case. That and a number of others. Takes all sorts, eh?
Kathy - oh I love it! How about "It's not about the staging ... it's about the house" (o.k. not so funny, but a good tag line none-the-less).
Oh, here's another one: "So, you think your clients are difficult?"
Anyone else?
Oh Juliet - do tell more! How did you handle such a unique situation? Did you feel just a little bit weird talking to "it"? Way, way cool! Here's your tag line: "Recommended by Realtors, Home Sellers, Ghosts & Spirits"
Terry - I picture the Haunted Mansion from Disneyland (except without the long lines). Pictures that follow me around the room (like some of my living clients), spirit maids that clean up after me, bodiless heads singing to me and then some gray haired lady reminding me to "Be sure to come back" - I'm obviously optimistic that they're going to be friendly.
BTW - My ring tone is Addams Family!
Calie
Very interesting. I guess you get a phantom mortgage on this?
Trying to be funny.. he he...
I would LOVE to stage a haunted house! That would be so cool - as long as it's a friendly spirit, like Casper, and not some dark menancing shadow... I live in a pretty haunted area, so if I market myself just right, I could have a ghost of a chance of getting an other-worldly client.
BTW - my word is "belimbing". Would that be similiar to "de-limbing", as in ghastly amputations? How funny it comes up while talking of ghosts and ghouls!
Callie - do you think it would be better to hire a stager that specialized in vacants or occupieds? That is the question.
I'm sick of folding towels, I think I'd much rather spread cobwebs and slime around.
Callie,
Bless. Love my new tag line. Maybe I'll just use it for Halloween, but it's awesome!
Jj
OMG What an interesting topic! Frankly I wouldn't because evil spirits can follow you home and suck out positive energy from you. I am very superstitious when it comes to this kind of stuff. I have a story about my father being possessed by evil spirits last year when we had 2 funerals in a month. It's very weird, I didn't believe it at first either. But there were just things that science could not explain.
ohhh i am getting goose bumps now! That's enough on me talking about it.
Cheers,
Cindy
Calie, as soon as I felt there was an evil spirit anywhere in my vicinity - I would head for the hills! But I know who to call to do the staging...Betty
I love your post!!! How original and entertaining. Thank you for sharing.
Could feng shui principles ward of spirits? And if so, where would they go? Cindy has a point...what if they follow YOU home?!?! I need to keep all the positive energy I have!
Hey, do haunted houses have more spiders than the non-haunted variety?
Shailesh - Thanks for adding your humor. I appreciate you're stopping by!
Monica - LOL - ghostly amputations - what a picture that brings to mind!
Wow, Maureen - that's really sad when you'd rather spread slime than fold towels. You must be overworked!
Juliet - You're welcome my dear! Come back again soon ...
Cindy - I try so hard to stay away from anything that is less than positive and doesn't improve my life in some way or another. (I try to remember - garbage in/garbage out) I just can't imagine!
Betty - Mind if I join you?
Barbara - Thanks for commenting and stopping by!
Susan - I was wondering about fung shui and if it would work on removing the spirits of days gone by... interesting thought. Care to try?
Thank you, Yvonne, for your kind words. I appreciate you!!
Skaren Karen - How cool are you, "Mistress of the Manor" Love those legs! Can't wait to read your post.
Calie, it just occured to me that your post may have been ghost written...
LOL, Mike in Tucson
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