Crime Scene House Buying

pateroo

Please understand, I will try to write this with sensitivity, please do not be offended.

There is a house on the market in the area that I am looking to buy....at a total bargain of a price. Almost HALF of what it's actually worth.

Unfortunately, I know a little bit about the history of the house. In the house a man killed his wife and then committed suicide.

The vendor's, I assume, are the children, and apparently want a quick sale.

My question is, two fold:

1) From a practical point of view, is this horrific incident enough to cause the price to be slashed so dramatically? Or do you think there could be other problems with the house?

2) From a person point of view, would you be happy living in a house with such a history. Obviously this one is purely opinion, and perhaps is insensitive of me to ask, but I am really curious!

crazyguy

As I dont believe in ghosts or the likes personaly I would have no issue in buying the house, but I think you will get mixed answers on this as yes its a bargain and your probably right to say that the kids just want rid of the place so they can move on, as long as a survey comes back ok and your not fussed on the history then go for it !

ruggedtoast

I think you should go away and watch Amityville then post back here.

bungle4by4

its a brick wall and plaster, it doesn't care what happened in it. if its a bargain then go for it.

PasturesNew

If you can afford to hold onto it for a number of years it'd make economic sense. Memories fade, new people move into the area that don't know about its history.

Derrick Bird's house (taxi driver/Lake District shootings) got £35,000 at auction. That was half the open market value at the time. There's a couple in his road for sale right now at £65-75k

hazyjo

Don't think it'd put me off, but I'd expect it to be selling for less than its market value.

There was a similar thread about someone having committed suicide in a house, I think. Probably come up on a search... seem to remember tonnes of varying replies.

Jx

pateroo

That is my opinion exactly! I said to my partner, it's not like there's an evil spirit living in the walls that is going to make you do the same thing. I just can't understand why nobody else seems to be thinking along the same lines and snap it up.
It looks like it's going to go to auction, and probably before we can get our mortgage sorted, which is a shame. We've arranged a viewing for tonight anyway!x

3v3

pateroo wrote: »

Please understand, I will try to write this with sensitivity, please do not be offended.

There is a house on the market in the area that I am looking to buy....at a total bargain of a price. Almost HALF of what it's actually worth.

Unfortunately, I know a little bit about the history of the house. In the house a man killed his wife and then committed suicide.

The vendor's, I assume, are the children, and apparently want a quick sale.

My question is, two fold:

1) From a practical point of view, is this horrific incident enough to cause the price to be slashed so dramatically? Or do you think there could be other problems with the house?

Yes, it can be. Particularly, as you say, it is likely to be the children who wish for a quick sale and to put the horrors behind them.

2) From a person point of view, would you be happy living in a house with such a history. Obviously this one is purely opinion, and perhaps is insensitive of me to ask, but I am really curious!

Yes because the house isn't responsible for what happened there; it was the people inside it.

Obviously any survey would show up and structual problems, if they exist.

Death wise, I doubt there are many properties of a certain age where someone hasn't died in them - either of natural causes or otherwise.

hazyjo

You could get an AIP before the auction, I'm sure. If you like it after viewing, get your AIP immediately, find a solicitor, then see if they'd take it off the market before auction. Are you chain free? You never know, worth a go...

Jx

ReadingTim

1 - Unless the house featured in the local/national media with some "house of horror" type headline (10 Rillington Place London, 25 Cromwell Street Gloucester, 5 College Close Soham) , I don't think its history will affect the price much over and above the usual factors that determine price - how quickly the vendors want to sell it, local market, structural condition, and cosmetic condition. Only the last thing could be worstened by the unfortunate events you describe - other than that it's simply another chain free property from a now-deceased owner.

2 - as for history, those of a sensitive disposition might not like it, but they should consider the following - only in the last 50 years or so have births and deaths been mainly confined to hospitals. Before that, they occurred at home, so the average pre-war house has probably seen more babies and corpses than you'd think - what's another 2 to a pile of bricks and mortar?!?

VfM4meplse

Bad karma, man, bad karma!

That's all I'm saying.... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: