My sister just called with an interesting question and I was curious to hear what your thoughts are...
Here are the facts:
My sister and her husband are looking to purchase their first home. They like others want the most bang for their buck.
She called and told me about a house they are going to look at tonight for the first time. Like usual, I asked for the stats and she told me that it's in a great neighborhood where homes usually sale from the upper $200s to the mid $300s. The house they are looking at is going for about $175.
She proceeded to tell me the reason the house is priced so much less than the others is because the house has a little bit of history. Apparently, about 2 yrs ago a family was murdered there. She said that the mom took the life of her 2 children in their rooms and went to the master and killer her husband and then killed herself.
She wanted to know if after they look at it and if it fits their needs, should they consider buying it with it's history? She also wanted to know if I think people would be freaked too much to come over for visits.
What do you think? Would you consider a home with this history even if the price is amazing? If they purchased it, how long would they have to live there before they try to sale again? I can't imagine this would be a good house to live in for only 2 years and try to sale again...
Would you be too freaked to visit her?
Monday, June 29, 2009
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20 comments:
honestly, I wouldn't even consider looking at the home. But I'm the type of person who is pretty intuitive and I just would think the home would not have "a good spirit" in it.
I wouldn't be too "freaked" to visit her, coming over occasionaly wouldn't faze me at all. HOWEVER I don't know if I'd purchase that home myself. Raising children and what not, I just don't think I'd do it, regardless of the "great deal" it is.
If your sister is religious, she may consider praying with her husband and see what kind of a feeling they get as a couple. Putting aside financial aspects (which is hard to do) how do they feel about the "spirit" of the home? Does it seem "too good to be true?"
The last thing your sister would want is to buy this home and regret it immediately. Is she going to be scared when she's home alone? Are little "creaks" in the night going to freak her out? Can she see herself raising her children here?
You can't put a price on peace of mind.
I grew up in a home where the previous owners had a "gruesome story." They father stabbed a child 32 times and left him to die in the closet. By some miracle, the boy survived. Anyway, I was also freaked by our house and we (subconsiously I think) left that specific closet empty.
We were fine, and never had any experiences that made me freak out. However, having three people brutally murdered and a suicide in a house is a whole hell of lot different than a stabbing. I'd proceed with caution...
I'd be fine visiting but I wouldn't buy it. No way Jose.
Don't buy a great house for a great price because someone was murdered there? Seriously? Seems silly to me. It's not like any kind of spirit (as in feeling) can linger there just because of what happened. If your sister is LDS and is concerned, they can always dedicate their home. We actually do that with every home we live in.
The people were disturbed (or rather person) NOT the house. There's nothing wrong with the house. It doesn't house any evil feelings, spirits, wishes, etc. The house is an inanimate object. I think she'd be a fool not to buy it.
Thank you Peaches - I was beginning to think I was the only one who isn't crazy. Just out of curiousity, what city is this house in (if it's in Utah)?
I wouldn't worry about spirits, ghosts or anything like that. I'd worry about the stigma/taboo of being the person that bought the house that a murder took place in. People will talk. Little kids will make up stories, etc.
I don't really believe the house would be "haunted" or whatever (like Peaches was saying) but for me personally I would always be thinking about what happened there and what rooms it happened in. And that would freak me out (even though my better judgment knows it's just a house). I wouldn't buy it... but that's totally just me. I wouldn't tell someone else not to if it's a great price and that didn't bother them.
I guess I watch Sylvia Brown too much!
Definitely pray about it (if they are LDS)
I'd totally visit. And although it is JUST a house, I personally wouldnt buy it because of what a lot of other commenters have said. I would always think about what happened in a specific room when I walked into it. But that's just me and I freak myself out CONSTANTLY. My mind totally gets carried away. Not to mention the fact that (like 3:23 said) kids will make up stories and people will talk and speculate about it..I wouldn't buy it.
LONG, SORRY. Our house has a history. We bought it! I was nervous about it. My husband wasn't. It was a GREAT deal. We couldn't see passing it up. It started out around $500,000 and we got it for $205,000. It had been for sale for five years.
We we went through it, the first things we said were "why is it so cheap and why has it been for sale for so long?" It is a huge house and each room is giant. (6 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 acres) The realtor then told us the story. At first I was fine, then started getting worried. Not because of what happened, but because I was worried that neighbors would be irritated we had helped the owner out by buying the house. He was "aquitted" of the murder, and actually lives near us.
I don't think people are hesistant to visit us, but when they find out where we live, they do realize that this is "that house". There are so many stories going around. I set them straight and we move on. We didn't tell our kids about it. When we moved in, the oldest was 9. The older ones have found out now, but the younger ones still don't know. We'll keep it that way until they are older.
I'm not one who believes that I'm going to see ghosts or have a bad feeling about the house, etc. Of course none of that has happened. I think if you believe in that, it will you'll see it (not because it is there, but because you are imagining it, or whatever).
Anyway, we've lived here for 9 years, with no regrets whatsoever. The house is perfect for our family and we know we'll never find a deal like this again.
i would say go for it! it's just a house, a house is an object, it's the home that they make it that counts. if they let that consume them it won't be a good home. if they dedicate their home (if LDS) then move on and make it a spiritual home.
oh and if the "spirits" of those linger on then make it a peaceful home for them to live in =)
There was a place I lived in on my mission. The apartment was the old converted over local school building and the church was getting a killer rate on it. It was a corner apartment, tons of windows, 3 bedrooms, huge bath. I mean, it was great (as far as missionary apartments go). Come to find that back in the early 1900's some crazy guy went into the classroom that was now our apartment and killed a bunch of kids then then himself. Our apartment manager showed us the saved newpaper article. It was a sad thing, yes - But the water ran, the room was great and it was pretty plush. And since I was in Tennessee and no one wanted to come over and chill with the missionaries anyway it made for quiet neighbors and no visitors. Perfect place to live in my book. I had no problems with it then and wouldn't have a problem with it now. The house has a sad history and I'm sure it longs to have a happy one. You can't hold what happened against the house. Make it a loving home. :)
D
I'd just make sure it was thoroughly cleaned and then move right on in!
Well, unless I got a really weird vibe. ;)
I don't know about living there, but what's the problem with having people over? It's not like she's going to say "Hey, would you like to come over for dinner on Thursday night? Oh, and by the way, a woman killed her whole family and herself in our living room. Could you bring a salad?"
I'm not superstitious at all and would have no problem buying the house for a great deal. Like others have said I would make sure it is cleaned well before moving in but I'd do that at any house (even when we built our house I cleaned it before moving in).
how did they feel about the house before they heard the story. what if they never knew? then what would the decision be?
Don't be silly. They should jump on the good deal. If they feel anything funky, its probably their own minds playing tricks on them because of the story.
There is a house in our neighborhood where a suicide took place. When it was for sale, just after the event, people called it the suicide house. Now a new family lives there and we just call it the Smith's house (not their real name). Although people remember what happened there occasionally, having the new family there has made all the difference.
I wouldn't make a habit of telling people what happened there, and if they had a problem with it if they found out, they can choose to not visit and that's THEIR problem, not your sister's.
If they are religious, pray. If LDS, you can have a blessing on a house- I'd highly recommend that. If they are comfortable with it, why not? Never gonna come across a deal that good again!
I think they should look at the house and then worry about it, if they like it. Baby steps :)
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