Whether you fall into one or all of the categories (eek!), we have some suggestions for how to best proceed.
Like the printer at your office, haunted homes tend to smell fear. It’s best to leave the worries and apprehension at the door, or at least, keep them in check. Embrace the predicament you’ve found yourself in and remember that you’re the best real estate agent to tackle this.
Finding yourself easily spooked by your new listing? Do your research, as your listing isn’t the first to go on market with some spider webs across the porch and some doors mysteriously slamming on their own. Use others’ past experiences to find the best way to make you and your clients feel comfortable. This real-estate agent specializes in selling spooky homes, and tells us her go-to method when showing homes. “The first thing I do when I arrive at a house like this is open all the windows. You would be surprised by what a breath of fresh air can do to a home that has been sitting for quite some time. I’ll usually wipe everything down with a lemon-scented cleanser, then put fresh flowers on all the tables. Honestly, those tricks really seem to help the house sell. The whole idea is to erase the uneasy vibe. If my client is superstitious, I’ll whip out the sage and ‘holy’ water.”
Alternatively, if you are intrigued with the spook, here are three bloodcurdling haunted house stories told by agents that will make you feel spooked even in your lemon-scented, sage-waved home.
And by understand, we mean you should probably find out just what your prospects are going to feel when they enter your newly listed home. Is it giving off friendly, Casper-like ghosts, or more of a Sanderson sister feel? If you can tell what feels and looks spooky, you might be able to eliminate that with a little TLC.
Don’t believe in ghosts? Well, your clients might, and it’s important to understand the psychology of what makes a house feel haunted. According to Psychology Today, evolutionary psychologists have proposed the existence of agent detection mechanisms — or processes that have evolved to protect us from harm at the hands of predators and enemies.
If you’re walking through the woods alone at night and hear something rustling in the bushes, you’ll respond with a heightened level of arousal and attention. You’ll behave as if there is a willful “agent” present who is about to do you harm.
While a select few prospects might be into the Sanderson sister’s vibe, most prospects will appreciate your effort to eliminate the feeling of the agent detection mechanism that innately appears in uneasy situations.
Mastering the marketing of this listing will be key to your success. And while listing a haunted house might be tricky, there are some added benefits of the little invisible man walking up the stairs.
By using the home’s history to your advantage, you’ll be able to get more feet through the door. Who doesn’t want to stop by and check out the city’s creepiest house? The house will naturally grab people’s attention, but with your careful prep work, they’ll be stunned by a beautiful home with a lifetime of spookless opportunities that await. Instead of seeing the supernatural like they expected, they will be greeted with a clean, warm, and beautiful home that is now in their considered set of homes.
Like any other transaction, closing day is a time to celebrate. Just because a house may have a history, it doesn’t mean it’s something you can’t assist its future owners overcome. A house may have an infamous past, but with a great agent and some TLC, you can make it exciting for clients to peel back the spook and uncover a beautiful home that they get to make new memories in.
Chances are, to considering purchase a home like this, your clients have an adventurous spirit, so celebrate! Join in on the spookiness and gift them with a closing day creepy cauldron, a spooky succulent, or even some wicked wine.
Author: Mercedes Santiago
Marketing Coordinator, MoxiWorks