Ok everyone…it’s spooky season and in honor of Halloween on Friday I thought I’d bring up a strange topic/question that I’ve heard brought up before.  Do you need to disclose if the house you’re selling is haunted or had someone die in it (especially in a tragic way)?  

Before I answer, I will tell you that I am not a real estate attorney and ultimately, you would want to consult with one if you have a unique situation.  Generally speaking when I talk to my sellers, I say “If you know it, disclose it.”.  In the case that you feel your house is haunted or there was a tragic death that occurred in it, I would point you to the Missouri laws regarding disclosure.  You can read them here on the Missouri Revisor of Statutes website: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=442.600

In the state of Missouri, sellers legally have to disclose all material defects.  These would be things like previous water leaks, cracks in basement, anything dealing with the physical condition of the home.  A ‘haunted house’ or a previous death in the house does not physically present itself and would be known as ‘psychologically impacted real property’.  According to state law, sellers do NOT have to disclose that information.  However, if a buyer comes out and asks, the seller is obligated to tell the truth.  Rules regarding this vary state to state and in varying degrees as well when it comes to this disclosure.

 Have you ever thought about this question?  If you have any other strange real estate questions, I’m happy to answer them!