Field Guide to Dealing With Stigmatized Properties
(Updated October 2011)
Do you dare disclose if there is murder or mayhem at your listing? What if the owner was a controversial person? What are the professional and logistical challenges if there is a well-publicized ghost on your next property? Don't despair, help is here! This page offers some creative marketing tools and advice for selling properties with an unsavory past. (A. Siudzinski, Senior Library Information Specialist)
Determine if the stigma is truthful
Be sure to check state laws
Determine if the stigma would change the property price or even the buyers willingness to purchase the property
Discuss the disclosure with the sellers
Disclose stigmas that are determined to be factual
Source: Property Marketing Toolkit: Property Disclosure, (REALTOR® Magazine Online).
Stigmatized Property Basics 
Stigmatized homes: does your house have a dark history?, (MyNorthwest.com, June 28, 2011).
Stigmatized properties - does the notoriety help or hurt the sale?, (ActiveRain, Feb. 2, 2011).
Horrible history of a home many be hidden from buyers, (FoxBusiness, Jan. 26, 2011).
How to sell a haunted house, (Reuters, Oct. 27, 2010).
Stigmatized properties -- do you disclose?, (ActiveRain, Oct. 11, 2010).
Dealing with stigmatized property, (Boston.com, June 9, 2010).
How I Sold It: Whistling Past the Graveyard, (REALTOR® Magazine, Mar. 2010).
Stigma and Property Value
Horror tales murder on sales, (Houston Chronicle, Sept. 27, 2008).
Marketing Madoff's mansions, (Money.CNN.com, Aug. 3, 2009).
Michael Jackson's notoriety could hurt resale value of old haunts, (Los Angeles Times, June 27, 2009).
Books, eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Home Buyers' Checklist (Adobe eReader)
Homeowners' Legal Bible (Kindle, Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Death and disclosure: legal strategies for dealing with stigmatized properties, (October Research Corporation, 2007). HD 1341 R22d
An examination of stigmatized housing in Ohio, (Columbus, OH: Ohio State University, 2000). HD 1341 L32
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to REALTOR® Safety
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The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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