In the spirit of Halloween, let’s talk about spooky houses. The “creepiest” house in the world is said to be the Carlile House in Auckland, New Zealand, which is a huge, old gray home with an overgrown garden where it is reported that many ghosts have been witnessed over the years.
In the U.S., the creepiest home would be the infamous Chelsea Hotel in New York City where paranormal activity runs rampant. Perhaps Lynchburg’s most famous spooky house is on Jackson Street. Dubbed the Rocking Cradle House, legend has it that a cradle once was rocked by unseen hands. The cradle in question recently was donated to the Lynchburg Museum.
But here’s what is really spooky. Buying a home without a home inspection. Who knows what lurks inside the walls, beneath the floor, in the attic or living in the basement? Your licensed home inspector will investigate above, below and all through the house that you’ve chosen to buy. The inspector works on your behalf and will make you aware of any spooky defects that could come back to haunt you later.
Ask your Realtor for a recommendation of the inspectors they have worked with and do online research to be sure your inspector is licensed and qualified. Be sure your mortgage lender is more friend than fiend. If they don’t answer your questions and explain your paperwork, and have more tricks than treats – find another.
When you purchase a home without a Realtor representation, you could be stirring up a specter of your own. Your Realtor is trained and educated to decipher the frightening amount of paperwork that may be involved, and make sure you don’t get tangled in the web of lenders, inspectors, permits and processes that could leave you bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Don’t be spellbound by pretty décor and great furniture when looking for your permanent place of rest. Your Realtor will help you focus on the “bones” of the house and not get hung up on things that are easy to change like paint and fixtures.
Whether you purchase a home next to the Addams Family, or move into Herman Munster’s house, make certain you possess the right information to avoid being buried alive under repairs and costs you did not see coming. Your Realtor is your trusted advisor and is bound by a Code of Ethics. When buying or selling a home, I wouldn’t be caught dead without one.