If you’re trying to sell a home here in Pensacola, you may wonder what you must disclose to the buyers. Specifically, whether the home has been the site of any deaths there.
Realistically speaking, many older properties have been the site of resident deaths. But sellers here can breathe a sigh of relief, as Florida has no death disclosure laws. However, realtors and their clients still cannot lie or obfuscate the truth.
Is your home stigmatized?
If your house was the site of a murder or suicide that became widely known by the public, you might experience some blowback from your efforts to sell the property. When a property is considered stigmatized, it may present some unique challenges and opportunities.
There is a section of the population that is not only unbothered by deaths on the property, but they welcome the allure of owning an allegedly “haunted” house. At the same time, other potential buyers might be completely turned off by the property’s history of deaths or supposed hauntings.
Be mindful of a paper chase
Buyers often do their own research on a property’s history by searching through old headlines or police reports on a property’s checkered history. Owners should make sure that their responses are truthful, but there is no need to offer information about the property’s history.
Avoid problems by hiring professionals
Along with seeking out a trusted realtor to guide you through the home-buying or -selling process, it’s also prudent to retain the services of a legal team that will review the extensive paperwork involved and alert you to any potential problems.