Posts with tag: spooky property

A Nightmare on Elm Street for UK Homeowners

Published On: October 31, 2016 at 11:49 am

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According to a new study by online estate agent HouseSimple.com, living on Elm Street certainly seems to be a nightmare for UK homeowners!

The research, conducted ahead of Halloween, found that 57% of the 79 Elm Streets in the UK have experienced no property sales since last year. What’s more, when the agent delved a little deeper

A Nightmare on Elm Street for UK Homeowners

A Nightmare on Elm Street for UK Homeowners

into the figures, it unearthed a chilling fact…

Over the past decade, there have been 666 property sales on the UK’s Elm Streets – eek! If that doesn’t make homeowners want to move house, we don’t know what would.

HouseSimple analysed the number of property sales on all Elm Streets in the UK over the last 12 months, five years and ten years. And it certainty seems that these homeowners are having a real nightmare of selling their properties!

One in ten Elm Streets seem to have been hit with the curse of sharing the same name as the 1984 slasher movie, as there have been no registered sales in ten years on Elm Streets in Manchester, Rossendale, Belfast, Glasgow, Ellesmere Port, Coatbridge, Birkenhead and London.

In addition, the average house price on Elm Streets across the UK, at £180,114, is almost a fifth (18%) lower than the UK average of £218,964. Are buyers spooked by the infamous name? Recent research uncovers the spookiest reasons that buyers have turned down a property: /spookiest-reasons-given-not-buying-home/

The CEO of HouseSimple.com, Alex Gosling, says: “It sounds like a horror movie sequel, but for hundreds of homeowners, the curse of Elm Street could actually be a grim reality. No sales since last Halloween on more than half of the 79 Elm Streets we found suggests there’s more going on than subsidence to scare buyers away. And we nearly leapt out of our skins when we discovered the number of sales on the UK’s Elm Streets in the past decade was the devil’s number – it’s enough to send a shiver down the spine.

“Fortunately, not everyone is spooked by Halloween, and with Elm Street prices below the UK average, I’m sure there are plenty of buyers who would snap up the chance to live on such an infamously-named street… they just wouldn’t want Mr. F Krueger living next door.”

Keep up to date with our spooky property stories this Halloween at: https://uk.pinterest.com/landlordnews/halloween-2016/

Do You Own a Spooky Property?

Published On: October 25, 2016 at 10:04 am

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A new study by specialist insurance broker Towergate has found that half of Britons believe that they have experienced some sort of paranormal activity in their property, with one in eight even moving out because they thought their home might be haunted.

Spooky property

Do You Own a Spooky Property?

Do You Own a Spooky Property?

According to the study, many of us have experienced weird events in our homes – almost a third of people confess to having been spooked in their properties at night. Meanwhile, 17% have seen a ghostly figure, a quarter have heard strange or unexplained noises, and 18% have felt a sudden and icy chill.

The research also found that 13% of Brits would move out immediately and put their house up for sale if they thought it was haunted, while 9% would contact a paranormal investigator. Just 6% would prefer to speak to a member of the clergy, while some enterprising homeowners (6%) would even try to make some money by organising paid visits or overnight stays.

Haunted house hunters 

Spooky properties are also putting homebuyers off their purchasing plans. The study found that one in eight Brits (12%) have looked around a house and decided not to put in an offer because it was too spooky, while 14% would not buy a home if their pets were spooked by it.

Two-thirds would not buy a house near a graveyard, an undertakers or a sinister-looking church. Unsurprisingly, three-quarters would not buy a property near a morgue.

Meanwhile, many prospective homebuyers would look for a sizeable discount on a property that was said to be haunted, with almost a third saying they would be satisfied with 20% off the asking price. But even so, almost half of homebuyers (45%) insist that no reduction in price would be enough for them to move in.

Towergate’s Drew Wotherspoon comments on the findings: “When there are stories of something strange in a neighbourhood, this can be a huge turn off for potential buyers. Some people thrive on stories of haunted houses, and can use tales of things going bump in the night to their advantage.

“What is clear from this research is that spooky vibes can be real deal breakers when it comes to buying and selling properties – and this makes it a scary time for sellers.”

Have you ever been put off buying a spooky property?

Remember that to celebrate Halloween, Just Landlords is offering you the chance to win a great prize! Enter the Terrible Tenant Tales competition now: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/enter-terrible-tenant-tales-competition-halloween/ 

The Grandest Gothic Homes on the Market This Halloween

Published On: October 30, 2015 at 2:07 pm

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Halloween may be a time of pumpkins and fancy dress for most, but for us, it’s the perfect opportunity to uncover some of the grandest, historic homes with spooky twists.

Many of the country’s Gothic churches and manor houses have been converted into beautiful – if not slightly mysterious – homes.

This grand architectural style has created some of the most beautiful properties on the market – we take a look.

St John’s Church, Hertfordshire – £2.35m

This church conversion has won awards for its blend of period features and 21st century technology – it includes concealed televisions, under-floor heating and a Bose sound system in the living and dining rooms.

The home is spread over three floors and the main reception area is within the original church nave, with a stunning vaulted ceiling.

Fitzhugh Grove, SW18 – £1.1m

This Brothers Grimm-style Gothic building is set on Wandsworth Common, and you can buy a three-bedroom home within the striking property for just over £1m.

The three-bed slice of the house has multiple mezzanine levels and a rooftop terrace.

Cliffe Park Hall, Chesham, Buckinghamshire – £600,000

This peculiar Grade II listed castle was built in 1811, with Gothic windows, doors and arches, Tudor-style arch heads, a stone-covered entrance and vaulted roof. Can you picture yourself entering through this arch everyday?

Hever Gardens, Kent – £800,000

A former hunting lodge, this Grade II listed home dates back to 1851. Built in the prime of the Victorian era, it boasts grand Gothic architecture, including high ceilings, a pitched roof balcony, beautiful fireplaces and a spiral staircase that leads to a turret.

Wyfold Court, Oxfordshire – £2.35m

You can buy a wing of this Grand II listed mansion for £2.35m. The large, four-bedroom apartment is set over three floors. It includes original period details, including fireplaces and a decorative drawing room ceiling.

The Old Rectory, Witham, Essex – £2.35m

This intricate, early Victorian Gothic country house has a stunning walled garden. The entrance hall has a galleried landing above and the French-polished, oak-carved staircase has elaborate balustrades and finials.

Plas yn Cwm, Denbighshire – £1,395,000

If you’re looking for something a little larger, this country home in Wales has nine bedrooms and a turret with a spire, stone-mullioned windows and beautiful stained glass. The main reception rooms have views over the park and the house has been modernised throughout.

 

New Website Uncovers Details of Deaths in Properties on the Market

Published On: October 28, 2015 at 9:25 am

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With Halloween just around the corner, one American website has joined in on the fun (or not) by launching a property portal with a morbid twist.

New Website Uncovers Details of Deaths in Properties on the Market

New Website Uncovers Details of Deaths in Properties on the Market

DiedInHouse.com provides details on whether anyone has died in a home that is on the market, either for sale or to rent.

The $11.99 (around £8) report gives the date of death, the cause and information about the deceased.

The site states: “In most states, a death in a home, no matter how it occurred, is not considered a material fact and it’s not required to be disclosed.

“A murder could have occurred days ago and the seller does not have to let you know.

“A death in a home, especially a violent death, can decrease the home’s value by 25% and increase its time to sell by up to 50% longer than comparable homes.”

It asks: “Would you want to know that a murder, suicide or even a bizarre death occurred at the property before you sign the contract?”

In the UK, we have Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) that mean agents must disclose certain details, for example a murder.

However, the American website believes that people “may not want to live in a house where someone has died, no matter how they have died”.

But it also points out another side: “If you do not mind either way, a stigmatised home can be a bargain and the information can be used as leverage to negotiate a reduced price.”

Could something similar launch for the UK market? And would you mind moving into a home where somebody had died?

Visit the site here: http://www.diedinhouse.com