Almost three quarters would consider buying a haunted house – but bad neighbours, flood risks and subsidence are enough to send buyers running.
Forget ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night. It seems the prospect of living next door to a nightmare neighbour is far more frightening to house hunters than sharing their home with a supernatural presence, according to our Halloween Property Poll.
The poll attracted 222 responses and found that 38 per cent considered nightmare neighbours the biggest deterrent to buying a property, followed by flood risk (23 per cent) and a history of subsidence (16 per cent).
By comparison, just 3 per cent identified a property’s reputation for being haunted as their biggest concern, while only 2 per cent were most worried about buying a home in which somebody had died.
Despite the enduring fascination with haunted houses, our findings suggest that a ghostly reputation is unlikely to frighten off many prospective buyers.
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) stated that they would consider buying a supposedly haunted property, with 37 per cent saying they probably would if they loved the house, 24 per cent claiming to be unconcerned by its reputation and 10 per cent prepared to proceed if the price reflected its paranormal history.
Only 12 per cent ruled out buying a haunted property altogether.
While ghosts might not be enough to deter most prospective purchasers, some respondents would expect a financial incentive to share their home with an unwanted supernatural guest. More than a quarter (27 per cent) said they wouldn’t require any discount to purchase a supposedly haunted property, while one in three (33 per cent) would want the asking price reduced by more than 10 per cent.
Sebastien Lewis, Managing Director of Warren Powell-Richards, comments: “There’s something rather eerily reassuring about these findings. While the idea of buying a haunted house might make for a good Halloween story, the reality is that most buyers are far more concerned about the practicalities of living in a property than its supposed paranormal occupants. Neighbour disputes, flood risks and structural problems can all have a very real impact on the enjoyment, value and saleability of a home. And unlike ghosts, they’re things that buyers can investigate before committing to a purchase.
“What’s particularly interesting is that so many people would still consider buying a house with a haunted reputation. It suggests that when people find a property they love, even the prospect of sharing it with a ghost isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker.”
Interestingly, the history of a property appears to be less of a concern than might be expected, too. The survey revealed that 40 per cent said knowing somebody had died in a home would not affect their decision to buy it, while another 45 per cent said it would depend on the circumstances.
Sebastien concludes: “Every property has a history, and older homes in particular may have stories attached to them. But our experience is that buyers tend to be much more focused on finding somewhere that meets their needs, feels right and represents good value. Of course, there’s a serious message beneath the Halloween fun. Buyers should always do their homework, ask questions and investigate anything that might affect their decision. A good estate agent can help them understand the property and the local area, while an appropriate survey and independent checks can provide reassurance about potential problems. Butultimately, it seems the prospect of a troublesome neighbour is much more likely to give buyers sleepless nights than the thought of a ghost in the attic.”