Would you buy a haunted house?

[Rain Man]

There's a screaming deal on a haunted house not far from where I live. It's enormous, and I think I could convert it to an office given its zoning and a previous use as an office. However, there's the little matter of being haunted.

http://www.fullerproperties.com/sear...2a4e&propNo=11

It looks like it needs some work on the inside:

http://www.rockymountainparanormal.com/galleries/croke/

Some ghostly stuff:

http://www.ghostpi.com/Photos-Croke-...n-Campbell.htm

http://www.spiritpi.com/investigatio...ansion2005.htm

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It didn't feel haunted at all. It just seemed like a nice house that's had rumors spread about it. I'm trying to convince my wife to go look at it now.

Just buy the damn thing. Values are changing anyway. Twenty years ago, you wouldn't be able to re-sell it. Now? Just have "Ghost Hunters" come in and it'll make the value skyrocket.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

I'm not sure why the parking is an issue. Obviously anytime you are downtown it will be an issue. Millions of people work in downtowns and and they have to provide parking and usually its not paid for.

There are a couple of issues. First, it's not quite downtown. It's in Capitol Hill, and there are no parking lots anywhere nearby. I think you'd have to park downtown and either walk 3/4 of a mile or so or take a bus.

My employees could do that, and they've all got bus passes anyway. But the bigger challenge is that my company has clients and research participants coming in regularly, and I don't think it's feasible to have them walk 3/4 of a mile, especially if they don't know the neighborhood to start with.

There is seriously no parking at all. Street parking is available all around, but it's like New York City - all the spots are taken all the time. This is in the heart of the densest part of Capitol Hill. If it wasn't already built out, a person could probably build a parking garage in this area and make some good money.

[JohninGpt]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Beep beep, Ritchie. We all float down here. (I think.)

Yup, "It".

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Just buy the damn thing. Values are changing anyway. Twenty years ago, you wouldn't be able to re-sell it. Now? Just have "Ghost Hunters" come in and it'll make the value skyrocket.

I actually want it. My wife probably wouldn't approve of me making a million-dollar commitment without her agreement, though. If I get her over there, I think she'll be interested, but right now she's being practical and not wanting to even see it because of the parking issue.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I actually want it. My wife probably wouldn't approve of me making a million-dollar commitment without her agreement, though. If I get her over there, I think she'll be interested, but right now she's being practical and not wanting to even see it because of the parking issue.

Buy Smart cars. /crossthreadhumor

[Chiefnj2]

"First reports of hauntings started in 1970 after some offices in the building were remodeled. Sounds of typing were reported. The owners bought two Dobermans for security but they were found dead after seemingly jumping through a third story window. It is assumed that something scared them enough to cause that. In the 1970`s a baby born to the owners died in the third floor nursery. The mother committed suicide. After that the mansion became a museum."

Bring a dog with you for the tour. If the dog actually succeeds in jumping out of a window, you might be able to get an additional 50k off the asking price.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Buy Smart cars. /crossthreadhumor

I like those things. Given my household's driving patterns, it would be the perfect second car for us.

A Smart Car could drive right up and park in the courtyard of this place, too. No need for a garage. But then, my BMW might be able to do that, too.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

"First reports of hauntings started in 1970 after some offices in the building were remodeled. Sounds of typing were reported. The owners bought two Dobermans for security but they were found dead after seemingly jumping through a third story window. It is assumed that something scared them enough to cause that. In the 1970`s a baby born to the owners died in the third floor nursery. The mother committed suicide. After that the mansion became a museum."

Bring a dog with you for the tour. If the dog actually succeeds in jumping out of a window, you might be able to get an additional 50k off the asking price.

That's a good idea.

And of course there was typing. It was an office. Duh.

[JD10367]

You're fine in the house as long as you don't get snowed in, and try to write a novel while your little boy Danny goes up and down the hall in his Big Wheel.

And Scatman Crothers doesn't show up.

[Dave Lane]

I wish it was Christies that was the Realtor on this property they are going to owe me a few 100 Gs pretty soon.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by JD10367

You're fine in the house as long as you don't get snowed in, and try to write a novel while your little boy Danny goes up and down the hall in his Big Wheel.

And Scatman Crothers doesn't show up.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.








All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[Dave Lane]

Also on the parking issue you might talk to the city. Many times they are sympathetic to local businesses and problems like this. You MIGHT be able to talk them into making all the parking spaces on your side of the street along your property line as "reserved parking" (9am to 5pm) and then you have 10-15 spots available during the day. If you tell them you'll provide new jobs and revenue and fix up an eyesore I'd wager they would do it.

[JohninGpt]

Cool building. Buy it and open a B & B. Haunted B & B's are in these days.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

I wish it was Christies that was the Realtor on this property they are going to owe me a few 100 Gs pretty soon.

So you would use that leverage to make them lower the price for me? You're a true friend.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Also on the parking issue you might talk to the city. Many times they are sympathetic to local businesses and problems like this. You MIGHT be able to talk them into making all the parking spaces on your side of the street along your property line as "reserved parking" (9am to 5pm) and then you have 10-15 spots available during the day. If you tell them you'll provide new jobs and revenue and fix up an eyesore I'd wager they would do it.

My Realtor pondered that, too. If I can get my wife to buy in, I'll look into that.

This place is a steal, I'm telling you. The challenge is that a person who can buy it as a residence isn't usually the type to want a fixer-upper, and it has no outdoor spaces other than one small deck. And the person who can buy it as an office has the parking problem. So it's in a tough 'tweener situation, much like a 250-pound defensive end in the draft.