How To Sell A Haunted House?

My house is haunted and I want to sell.  What can I do!

Selling a house that was the site of a murder, suicide, or haunting can be a daunting task.  These properties are known as “stigmatized” properties.  The big question many buyers and sellers want to know: is a seller legally required to disclose that a property is stigmatized?

The answer depends upon which state you live in.  Some states require that a Realtor and seller disclose that a property is stigmatized, including that it is haunted.  Wisconsin is not one of them – at least for Realtors.

In Wisconsin ,there is no legal requirement to disclose a “stigmatized” property condition unless that condition effects a physical component or condition of the property. Wisconsin law provide that a Realtor is not required to disclose “that a property was the site of a specific act or occurrence, if the act or occurrence had no effect on the physical condition of the property or any structure located on the property.” Wis. Stat. § 452.23 (2) (a).

Yet, Wisconsin law also requires a Seller and Realtor disclose any “material adverse facts” about a property.  If a property is widely known to be the sight of a gruesome death or the home of a notorious murderer, isn’t that an adverse fact? Wouldn’t that effect the future buyers’ ability to resell the home in the future?  A California court ruled against a Seller who failed to disclose that the home was the sight of a brutal murder, finding that the murders reduced he market value of the house.

Perhaps the Seller should disclose any stigma to potential buyers?  Perhaps there is a common law duty to disclose what the Buyer does not know?  The answer to these questions is hauntingly unclear.  What is clear is that a Realtor has no statutory duty to disclose unless the stigma also caused physical effects or damage.

💀 Boo! 💀