The Haunted House Listing: A Ghost Story

By Sean Cawley

I’ve been asked on several occasions if I would ever list a haunted house.

And what better time could there be to think about that question than on Halloween? Haunted homes conjure up many images in my mind, from ghosts, ghouls and goblins to the movie Beetlejuice or even that Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland.

So, would I list a haunted house?   Yes!

Now before you call the ghostbusters on me, some explanation: I wouldn’t just agree to list the home. I’d speak with the sellers first – as any good real estate agent should – and then schedule an appointment with the ghost-in-residence before putting together the listing agreement. I haven’t scheduled many appointments with ghosts but here’s how I imagine this conversation would go:

CASPER (because in my mind all ghosts are named Casper): BOO!

SEAN: Woah! You scared me!

CASPER: Sorry. I can’t exactly shake your hand. It’s the only greeting I know.

SEAN: Understandable. So, Mr. Casper, we’re thinking about listing the home you currently haunt here on Transylvania Way. How do you feel about this?

CASPER: I’m not so sure. I like the current homeowners. We get along great, even if their Halloween decorations scare me more than I scare them this time of year.

SEAN: I’ll talk to the owners about cooling it with the motion-detector zombies and mini-robotic spiders. But back to business: The current homeowners have outgrown this home and need to move.

CASPER: Really? This is all so sudden! Is it something I did?

SEAN: Of course not. They’re just looking for something bigger and maybe a little less creepy. The late-night creaks, the foul smells and the rushes of cold air even when the windows are closed … you can’t take it personally, Casper.

CASPER: I see. Well, if they don’t want me, then I don’t want them. Plus, I am getting a little bored of haunting the same people every day. I could use a change. Change is good, right?

SEAN: Right. So you’re OK with this? No surprise haunts before they move or unexplained things moving around in the home after I stage it?

CASPER: You have my word. Let’s shake on it … err, never mind.

Are you thinking of selling your home? As scary as it might seem to make such a big change, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate agents are here to guide you through the entire process. Happy Halloween!

SEAN CAWLEY is an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties. Visit his website at www.seancawley.com.