House Hunting and Haints

As most of you know by now, I plan to move as soon as I can sell my house and retire.  It is a process and it is taking forever.  -sigh-

In the meantime I've done a lot of looking at houses that I may want to buy in several different towns in the hill country of SC and the mountains of NC.  Who knows where I will end up??

Now.  Let me tell you, all houses are NOT created equal. 

Take this house for instance:

Maybe it is just me, but generally speaking, I would say the porch should be built over the front door. I don't know. Maybe it is just me.

Yes.  This is a real house and it is for sale right now.

Aw...this house doesn't really bother me so much.  It is the houses with previous tenants who refuse to move out that really bother me.  You know...the tenants who lived there back in the 50s and 60s before they died.

Yup.  The haints.  The ghosts.  The things that go bump in the night.

You can feel them.

They wring their hands as people traipse through the houses.  The young ones giggle and run through the house in anticipation of new playmates.

You do not want to be their playmates.

Those are the houses to avoid.  

How do you recognize those houses?  It's not always easy, but some clues are:

• The house has "cold spots" that make you shudder as you walk past or through them.
• You hear footsteps in the next room thinking another realtor is showing the house too, but there is no one there.
• You could have sworn that cabinet door was closed....
• Hmm...what could possibly be making that shadow?
• What's that smell?  Is something on fire?  No smoke....
• That stray cat sure was acting weird when we drove up.  I wonder what she saw through that window?
• What did I trip over?  There's nothing there!!!
• The hair suddenly stands up on the back of your neck.
• Goosebumps appear on your arms for no reason.

I could go on.

I'm trying to pay attention and not end up buying a haunted house.  Seriously.  That would be bad.

The biggest clue that the house is haunted is the price.  If the house's Zestimate is $300,000.00, but the house is listed for $125,000.00.  That is another big clue something is wrong.  

Just sayin....

Unless you come across something like this listing in Cayce, SC.  

Click HERE to read the listing, but basically the worst part says:  
Upstairs apartment cannot be shown under any circumstances. Buyer assumes responsibility for the month-to-month tenancy in the upstairs apartment. Occupant has never paid, and no security deposit is being held, but there is a lease in place. (Yes, it does not make sense, please don't bother asking.)

Makes you wonder, doesn't it???  That is a BIG CLUE something is very wrong.
 
You don't believe in haunted houses???  Really???  That is okay.  The ghosts believe in you.

Wish me good luck that I find something very good at a reasonable price in a great place with excellent neighbors.  Is that asking too much??  I never know.  Stay tuned.