Marketing a Haunted House: Putting Spirit in Your Sales Pitch

Sellers are finding it difficult to attract buyers in this time of economic uncertainty and tougher mortgage standards. But what if you have a little something special that none of your neighbors have, like something that goes bump in the night? If your home is plagued with houseguests of the undead kind, you face a unique challenge in trying to sell.

Houses where suicides and murders have taken place are generally avoided by the average home buyer. The grim history of the house can scare away a great number of people who are afraid that bad mojo may still be lingering. So what do you do if you hear noises, feel spontaneous cold breezes, or see ectoplasm oozing from power sockets?

Hiding your "houseghost" from potential buyers won't get you very far, especially if the haunting is common knowledge in the community. In terms of your legal obligation to disclose a haunting, responsibilities vary by state. Either way, if you try to keep this vital information from a buyer, not only may they try to sue you later, but your karma will be shot as well. It's best if you're straight with people about the condition of your home, both structurally and spiritually.

You may ask, "But if I'm honest about the house, how on earth are we ever going to sell it?"

The answer is good marketing.

Like with any property, you need to appeal to a target market. Ask yourself who would want your particular home. Certainly it has desirable qualities like a good location or granite countertops, but what sets your house apart from the rest of the neighborhood? It's a resident ghoul or goblin! Use this to your advantage and try to attract buyers who are dying to live with the dead.

While it may seem strange to some, there is a niche market out there for haunted real estate. There are even websites that host ads from buyers who are eager to break bread with a spirit. These sites provide a great opportunity to network with buyers who are looking for a home just like yours. You can reply to a buyer's post if it sounds like a good fit, or post an ad of your own in the sellers' section.

Note, if you can produce proof that you have an apparition, your home will be a hot commodity on the haunted realty circuit, so keep your camera handy!

Another way to get the attention of haunted house seekers is to start writing a blog that details your ghostly experiences. Many paranormal aficionados are tech-savvy, so they often start their home search online. If you blog regularly, your home is much more likely to get noticed by your target market than by relying strictly on print advertising. Create a buzz about your property, and you'll soon have a lineup of ghost-loving buyers at your doorstep.

Find out where these buyers like to hang out online. Post in paranormal related forums and advertise on radio programs that deal with the supernatural. Performing a Google search for terms like "paranormal radio" or "haunted real estate" should give you a few places to start.

When you have people viewing the home, be sure to have a brochure to available upon entering. Include a history of the home if you're able to, and share a couple of your ghostly encounters. Your guests will be greatly intrigued, and may decide that the high jinks of a poltergeist are just what they're looking for in a home!

By getting to know your target market, you can better appeal to their needs. Visit the websites they visit, listen to conspiracy radio programs like they do, and soon you'll know just what to highlight in your ad and get yourself a genuine buyer.