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Death, schmeath. The clients of U.S. realtor Scott FladHammer don't let little details like the fact a previous homeowner was chopped up by his own tractor "like a pizza cutter" get in the way of purchasing their dream homes. In fact, they get a thrill out of such grisly stories.
Mr. FladHammer told Reuters he has sold a dozen haunted houses in the past four years to folks who'd rather know about the murders, suicides and horrific crimes committed at a prospective property than about more mundane things like the quality of the local school system.
Got a haunted house you want to sell? Mr. FladHammer and other real-estate experts shared with Reuters the following tips:
1. Be upfront about poltergeists and gruesome histories. It's the moral thing to do.
2. "De-spookify it." Make your house look clean, bright, warm and inviting. Nothing says "creepy" like cobwebs, rusty doors and "old pictures of ancestors."
3. Expect to sell it at a discount. "Psychologically affected or tainted" homes tend to sell for 10 to 20 per cent less than their spook-free counterparts.
4. Sit tight. The market can be tough. Selling a house with a horrific past can take up to one and a half times longer than normal.
Apparently, someone should share these tips with the owners of the Amityville Horror house. According to the home-listing site Zillow.com, 108 Ocean Ave is up for sale for an estimated $830,000.
Want more horror? Check out the Globe's guide to Halloween
Wency Leung