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Helpful Hints For Selling "Haunted" Real Estate
By Christine Hill, Broker 
No, this isn't just another timely spooky story invented to amuse you during the month of Halloween, although it just may have to do with ghosts! Do you have "that" house in your neighborhood? You know the one: all the neighbor kids cross the street to avoid passing it in the dark? Whether a believer or a scoffer, the fact is that there are pieces of Bend real estate purported to be haunted and thus far more difficult to sell than an ordinary home. Known as "stigmatized" properties, these houses have the reputation of being haunted or are the site of a previous violent crime--and the perception of ghosts and gore is not easy to erase.
So what to do? First, check with your Realtor to see if you're required to disclose information about the stigma attached to your property because you could be spooked by a lawsuit if you don't. Regardless of what the State of Oregon dictates as proper disclosure about what's happened in your home, being upfront about your home's paranormal guests or ghoulish histories is always the best moral policy.
Any time you list your home for sale, pay attention to the appearance of your property-inside and out. To minimize the presence (imagined or real) of ghosts, your home needs to look spirit-free and inviting on the outside. Clean up a dark, forbidding atmosphere; clear away any dead trees, especially those with hanging branches; replace rusty iron gates with a white picket fence, get rid of unwanted residents like stray cats and spiders. On the inside, think warm, bright, and clutter-free. Getting rid of darkness and gloom that could promote the idea of spirits may require removing outdated, musty furniture, antique rugs, old pictures of ancestors, and other items that contribute to an "eerie atmosphere" so that you can alleviate any pre-conceived notions in potential buyers.
In some rare instances, having a friendly resident ghost at your quaint Bed & Breakfast Inn, can actually make your home more attractive. But for those of you who simply don't wish to battle the supernatural, keeping your home neat, tidy, and well-maintained is the simple answer, even when your house isn't haunted.
So go ahead and put up those Halloween decorations this October, but be sure to reset the atmosphere to bright and cheery for Thanksgiving!
Haunted Places in Oregon
http://www.theshadowlands.net/places/oregon.htm
Haunted Places in Bend
http://www.examiner.com/article/haunted-places-bend-ore.htm
For more tips and other real estate information, please follow the Blog of:
Diary of a Real Estate Broker
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