As real estate lawyers, we’ve heard plenty of stories regarding issues agents face when trying to sell homes. These stories range from the ordinary to the not-so-ordinary, but by far the strangest challenge we’ve ever heard is trying to sell a house that’s reputed to be haunted.

It’s hard to tell prospective buyers that they’ll share their home with Casper and his buddies. Skeptics probably won’t see this as a problem and there may even be some lookers who would jump at the chance to live in a spirit-filled house. However, there are always going to be potential buyers that cringe at the idea of moving into a place that feels like Amityville, so here are our best ghost-busting tips for real estate agents showing a spooky property!

Do Some Research

It stands to reason that older homes have probably had more families reside in them, which makes it more likely that a spooky guest is lingering behind. It’s also important to note that in the past, many people passed away at home instead of the hospital and opted to have the funeral services take place at their home. It’s no wonder many vintage houses have spiritual activity—the ghosts don’t want to leave the places they loved.

This is why it pays to do some initial research. The current owner may have information about the past residents of the house. If not, a quick title search will tell the story of all the former owners. If you still suspect your client’s house may be haunted after doing your due diligence, a psychic-medium can provide remedies for unwanted guests of the haunting kind.

Bring In A Psychic-Medium

Psychic-mediums can communicate with people beyond the grave. Homeowners often invite these paranormally-gifted folks into their residence to help find the cause of their haunting and expel it.

Mediums will inspect the house and attempt to initiate contact with any spirits residing there. By doing this, they hope to discover the reason the ghost has stayed behind. It could be the ghost of a relative acting as a guardian over the family, a spirit that’s angry with strangers who have invaded their home or any other unwelcome roommate.

Psychic-mediums claim that many times ghosts don’t actually realize they are dead, which is why remodeling an older home can invite the wrath of previous owners. It never hurts to have the psychic-medium bless the house and conduct a cleansing. They will often burn sage or spread salt, and offer prayers to guide the lost souls to the light.

Many haunted house owners say the medium’s guidance and ceremonies did the trick. If the cause of the haunting just so happened to be an overactive imagination, the ceremonies power of suggestion might have solved the problem. There are common characteristics associated with hauntings and sometimes these factors are found to have a practical—not paranormal—solution. So how do you know if it’s a haunting or a hoax?

Unexplainable Electric Problems

We have heard Realtors’ relay stories about homes with lights that seemingly operate by themselves. There are several different reasons why ghosts would want to play with the lights, the most commonly accepted being communication. Whether the haunting is a ghost trying to communicate with loved ones or a poltergeist trying to play tricks on residents, communication tends to be the common denominator.

However, there is always the chance that your client has a bit of an overactive imagination. Try setting up recording devices near the electrical disturbances to try and gather additional evidence, as there’s a chance the ghost may also try to communicate via electronic voice phenomenon (EVP). This information can greatly aid paranormal investigators and psychic-mediums.

Things That Go “Bump” In The Night

Other ways that spirits announce their residency is with strange noises. There aren’t many things more unnerving than hearing footsteps upstairs and knowing nobody’s up there.

Some people who live in haunted houses claim they hear bangs, thuds and doors slamming. When they investigate, nothing is disturbed and no one is present. These unsettling noises are favorite games for poltergeists and are another way that spirits want to communicate with the living.

Paranormal investigation teams often visit alleged haunted homes to find the causes of the noises. They often have a psychic-medium with them, who can deal with any lingering spirits.

Visible Ghosts

Of all the phenomena associated with hauntings, ghostly manifestations are the most intriguing. Some homeowners report that they have seen strange shadows moving throughout their house. While some just have the overwhelming feeling they’re being watched, others claim they have come face to face with materialized ghosts.

Some spiritual beings are benign; however, there are situations where homeowners feel that their phantom visitors were menacing. It may take a few psychic cleansings to rid a home of persistent spirits. If homeowners feel threatened, they may need additional help from a priest or spiritual shaman.

If you’re nervous to inform prospective buyers about your listing’s ghostly activity, do some research so that you won’t have to. There’s a solution for both practical and paranormal disturbances, so make sure to use our advice above to take care of the situation. Or if you feel daring, you could lean into the haunting and use it as an additional selling point for the home. Living in a haunted house might just seal the deal for potential buyers that are fascinated with ghosts and the paranormal!