My house may be haunted

[Anonymous]

I'm serious. I really think my house is haunted. It's not a particularly old house (about 60 years) but maybe the land itself has some ghosts.

What makes me think this? I've heard footsteps upstairs when my child is asleep and no one else is home. I've heard footsteps when I'm down in our basement and again I'm all alone. My husband, who doesn't believe in ghosts, has heard it too and only told me when I mentioned the footsteps to him.

Our child is under 2 and has been acting out lately, almost as if they're scared of something but we don't know what. I'm talking completely inconsolable and it's not night terrors.

What should we do? Ignore it? Call in a priest? I've even looked into smudging, or burning sage and leaving it around the house. I'm that serious we have a ghost or something otherworldly in our home.

[Anonymous]

Most ghosts are kindly, if you respect their privacy. Your ghost is probably getting a little excited since All Hallow's Eve is coming up. Centuries ago, people used to protect their houses from incursions of evil spirits that roamed the earth on that night, before All Saints' Day (not today's inane dress-up and candy-gorging). I forget what herb you are supposed to hang on your door to deny them entrance, but you can look it up. Your ghost will be reassured and calm down.

[Anonymous]

If calling a priest would be meaningful to you, that sounds like a reasonable place to start.

[Anonymous]

I believe in ghosts, so I don't think you're crazy for thinking this. On this note, I would try to get in touch with someone who believes in ghost (priest? psychic?) but is not a wack, and see what they suggest.

[Anonymous]

Okay, I really don't mean to sound rude here, but if I were watching this in a movie, I would be screaming at the screen, "Get out of the house you idiots! Get out! There is a ghost in the house!!"

Why aren't you considering moving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I really don't mean to sound rude here, but if I were watching this in a movie, I would be screaming at the screen, "Get out of the house you idiots! Get out! There is a ghost in the house!!"

Why aren't you considering moving?

Has someone died in the house, dont they need to disclose that at the sale? google your address.

[Anonymous]

No, the sellers don't need to disclose that someone has died in the house as part of the sale. In nearly every jurisdiction.

[Anonymous]

I lived in a haunted apartment when I was in college. If I didn't have 2 other roommates that were there for the problems, I might have thought I was going crazy. Our "house guest" actually would throw things across the room. Looking back on it we don't know why we stayed, and I've forever been worried when I move to a new place that there will be issues....point is I feel for you.

Do you own your house? Also, have you done any renovations to your house recently, or any big changes? Supposedly a presence will sometimes appear when there have been big changes. Mine in college showed up after a break when we were gone for a week or so, and finally left after another long break many months later.

I would start off by contacting a priest. Some colleges / universities also have paranormal departments. I would do a quick internet search to see if any local universities have such a department. They may want to come out to do readings on your house, etc, and can tell you if they find anything. I would be particularly concerned because of your child's acting out, so I would investigate further. Hopefully it's nothing. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Nope. I think all deaths that have ever happened in a house do not need to be disclosed.

I say this because there is a house in my neighborhood that was the site of gruesome and at the time well-publicized multiple murders. This happened a few decades ago. The house has changed hands a couple of times since (and if you can believe it - bad things have happened to subsequent owners). In the past few years, someone bought the house, remodeled it, and flipped it. I doubt the most recent owners have any ideas of the home's past.

[Anonymous]

OK. Let's get a grip. Firstly, is it a detached house or could it be a neighbor making the noise? Secondly, could it be pipes when heating goes on or some other mechanical issue? Could wind be getting in somewhere and making things creak? Try and stay rational, note down the times you hear things, what the weather is, etc. & get a plumber or someone to check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. I think all deaths that have ever happened in a house do not need to be disclosed.

I say this because there is a house in my neighborhood that was the site of gruesome and at the time well-publicized multiple murders. This happened a few decades ago. The house has changed hands a couple of times since (and if you can believe it - bad things have happened to subsequent owners). In the past few years, someone bought the house, remodeled it, and flipped it. I doubt the most recent owners have any ideas of the home's past.

What kind of bad things?

[Anonymous]

13:04 here - meant to add, I also have a 2 year old who flips out like that. The older one did at that age as well. It's totally normal and part of their development, like separation anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK. Let's get a grip. Firstly, is it a detached house or could it be a neighbor making the noise? Secondly, could it be pipes when heating goes on or some other mechanical issue? Could wind be getting in somewhere and making things creak? Try and stay rational, note down the times you hear things, what the weather is, etc. & get a plumber or someone to check it out.

See, you're that old guy in the movie who says, "Now now. It's probably just the wind cutting through that old oak tree. Or something in the pipes. You guys all calm down. I'll go have a look tonight"...then no one ever sees Mr. Pennypacker again.

[Anonymous]

If you genuinely believe in the paranormal then I pity you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK. Let's get a grip. Firstly, is it a detached house or could it be a neighbor making the noise? Secondly, could it be pipes when heating goes on or some other mechanical issue? Could wind be getting in somewhere and making things creak? Try and stay rational, note down the times you hear things, what the weather is, etc. & get a plumber or someone to check it out.

See, you're that old guy in the movie who says, "Now now. It's probably just the wind cutting through that old oak tree. Or something in the pipes. You guys all calm down. I'll go have a look tonight"...then no one ever sees Mr. Pennypacker again.

Cracking me up. Mr. Pennypacker...