ANNAPOLIS, DAVIDSONVILLE, EDGEWATER, ARNOLD AND SEVERNA PARK REAL ESTATE
Regardless of whether you believe in “hauntings” or not, a frightening past can affect how potential buyers react to a home for sale in the Annapolis area. Depending on timing, an agent may or may not be obligated to explain that a death or other dramatic event took place in the house—or that the current owners believe it to be haunted. However, even a supposedly haunted Annapolis area home for sale may actually attract a flock of buyers, given some fearless (and creative) marketing!
If the stories about the house are intriguing and widespread, there’s almost no choice but to turn that to the sale’s advantage. A listing headlined as “Annapolis Area’s Haunted House” couldn’t help but draw curiosity. There are also national possibilities through listing on sites for people who are specifically on the hunt for a haunted house for sale (their listing forms are a little, uh, different, featuring questions like “Do you feel cold spots?”; “Moving objects?”).
Haunted houses draw a diverse group, ranging from the dedicated to the mildly curious. Prospects may simply have a vague curiosity about ghosts, or family connections to the home—or might even anticipate hosting a location for one of the paranormal reality shows. Some buyers are bound to feel a spiritual connection to a home for sale, even when they know nothing of its past. Such a buyer was blogger Craig Schaible:
“We were walking out of the attic, and my wife said, ‘Any ghosts?’ And the [agent] said, ‘Well, yeah.’ We were like, ‘Cool, tell us about it.’”
It can be a positive. Consider the hotel industry, where an old, beautiful building connected to a few ghost stories is definitely an exciting draw for tourists. Why not for a full-time home? If the house is large, one marketing appeal could be as a possible haunted bed-and-breakfast—a true tourist destination. If it were fortunate enough to have architectural features that could be considered appropriately “creepy,’ film and advertising production crews would want to know about it. In other words, a haunted house doesn’t have to be a drawback. With an innovative and creative marketing approach, the right buyers could be walking through the creaky floorboards sooner than you’d think!
And in case you’re thinking of buying or selling a non-haunted house this winter, call me today to discuss the best plan for you!
DEBORAH LAGGINI, Long and Foster Real Estate, Annapolis, MD 21403
CELL 410.991.6560
EMAIL [email protected]
REALTOR, Annapolis, Davidsonville, Edgewater, and Surrounding Communities
REAL ESTATE, Waterfront, Luxury Homes, New Construction, Relocation