It's the same old story: your home is infested with poltergeist activity, or overrun by demons or other malicious entities, and you've decided you don't want to live there anymore. But thanks to its paranormal reputation, you can't seem to unload it on anyone else.
The editors of Singapore newspaper The Independent feel your pain, so they've published a list of pointers and recommendations for people who find themselves stuck with a haunted property. For example, in some Asian countries, a house with a haunted reputation is often shunned, resulting in a different kind of nightmare for real estate agents.
“Bad Feng Shui, or some sort of violence that occurred in the house, can be a turn-off to some buyers,” said a realtor interviewed for the article. “Because the problem exists only in the buyer or tenant’s perception, you cannot disprove it or fix it. It is not like a crack in the wall that you can patch up.”
The article offers detailed advice on overcoming the stigma that may be associated with the troubled house, which includes completely changing the building's appearance... or if you're on a budget, avoiding the topic of haunting in conversation. If it puts potential tenants at ease, you could also consider hiring a professional ghostbuster – which is a totally legit profession in Singapore and many other countries.
But what if you're the potential renter or buyer? They've got tips for that too, like letting the owner know that you're concerned about paranormal activity, in an effort to haggle the price down. I'll have to remember that one next time.