In the dead of the night... I heard something from far, far away.
A familiar sound... but alarming.
I jolted awake to glance fearfully at the clock. 2 AM it blinked.
My cell phone was RINGING!
My heart starts to pound. Is it some emergency?
I don't recognize the number ....I let it go to voicemail. I wait....the cell buzzes that a message was left.
Now, I'm really awake wondering who would contact me at 2 AM and leave a message??
I call voicemail and it reveals a man calling about a house in a nearby town. He wants to schedule a tour. Could I give him a call back? WHAT? Does he think I work all night?
Finally, I get back to sleep. It's hard to get it out of my mind...but finally I do and I dream of a strange house that is deserted and boarded up.
For some reason I'm inside and climbing the stairs to the attic. I reach the top step to open the door and I hear the voice. It so soft I almost don't hear it.
Bam....I pop out of the dream and realize the voice I was hearing was my dog Chanel making little noises to get me up for breakfast.
Rubbing my eyes, I glance at the clock and see I have overslept to 8AM. As I climb out of the cozy bed, my mind skips ahead to my day.
That call! Did I dream it? I grab my cell to check to see if there really had been a message. It was real alright. I first think maybe I shouldn't call so early. I might wake him up. What? He wasn't worried that I would be bothered at 2AM. I write down the number and make the call.
The same male voice picked up the phone. The story spills out that it is a family that wants to tour one house about 20 miles away ...could I set it up for later that day? Without hesitation, I schedule them in the afternoon.
I decide to go a little early.
It's in unfamiliar territory on a street I've never been on in my life. I write down the directions.
As I arrive, the street is deserted except for a mongrel dog digging mindlessly through the dry leaves littering the yard.
I swing my car into the dirt driveway that circles around the front of the house. It's overrun with trees and weeds. One tree was almost growing out of the house.
Can this really be the place? I recheck the rusty number on the mailbox.
Hmmmm...right place alright.
The house with it's windows boarded up looked like it had been vacant for years. I open the lockbox and take out the key. I've done this a thousand times and like routine... I open the lock.
I step inside and my eyes try to focus on the dim surroundings. I suddenly feel a bit alarmed as I see the lights don't work.
That figures, the electric is off! Quickly, I walk through the rooms that have rubbish and filth scraped into disorderly piles. A broken chandelier is in the floor.
Dust and cobwebs cover everything. As I look closer, I realize that all the wood floors are unlevel and slope inward. I vacantly wonder how furniture would work to make you not notice the slope.
I move through the kitchen and decide to go out the back door to see the backyard and porch. While there I make a call to the listing agent to chat a bit about the house. Since I'm early there's not much to do but wait.
Then while we talked, I heard the door bell chime(we BOTH heard it). One of those with 8 bells. I quickly told her I needed to go, because my clients must have arrived even though I knew I had left the front door standing open. I walked back though the house to greet them.
There at the open front door...it was standing open exactly as I had left it.
No one there and not a soul on the street and the dog was gone too.
What the ****! How did the doorbell ring? Wasn't the electric off? There wasn't anyone here to ring it. Suddenly, fear was washing over me.
In that instant...I felt an icy breeze brush the back of my head!
Then, I felt something shove me toward the door like a hand on my arm. Let me tell you... I was out that front door faster than I've moved in my life!!
I decided to wait for the clients out in the car. In about 10 minutes they showed up.
Nice little family that quickly walked through and decided they didn't like the sloping wood floors. Fine with me.
I stayed out front and tried to act normal. I didn't utter a word about what had just happened. I was still in shock!
They left and then I realized I had to lock up.
Totally freaked out, I rushed through the house to get the back door locked. Somewhere upstairs, I heard a door creak... then slam!
Petrified, I tiptoed back toward the front door to get it locked.
My hands were shaking as I could barely put the key back in the lockbox. I ran to my car, got in and locked the door.
I couldn't get out of there fast enough!
What had happened in that house? I'll never know.
Something was still living there in the emptiness. Something sinister.
I found out later it was haunted and many people had mysteriously disappeared after living there.
It's still for sale.
P.S. The house in my post is not the same house (I love the look of it and it has great bones!)but was great eye candy for reliving my story don't you think?
Happy Halloween!
Lizette Fitzpatrick- Principal Broker at Lizette Realty.
#1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com.
Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun!
For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Lizette Realty, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington KY real estate click on Lizette.us.
See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky Real Estate experience. Copyright © 2009 By Lizette Fitzpatrick, All Rights Reserved...*How To Not Sell A Haunted House...True Story!*
Creepy Halloween story Lizette, but I loved the photos anyway.
Lizette~ Are you serious or is this just a mischief nite trick? If it is true, I wouldn't have gone back in there for any reason!!
You are one brave woman! I never would have gone in alone. I'm not sure that I would even have gone to meet them - especially if I'd never met them before.
Very, very weird.
Lizette - Is this a true story or are you pulling our leg? Happy Halloween!
Gary - I couldn't resist taking pics of this lovely old house.
Vickie - I'm serious! It happened when I was first in the biz and pretty fearless. LOL! Now I would be packing a gun and a pitbull with me!
Sandy - I feel the same way...now!
Lanette - Love your name! It's really true! Except for the pictures.
Wow! I would have ran out of there and met the family down the road.
Lizette, What a great story, but the house in the photos is even better. I love the old detail around the bay window. What stories it could tell, but I tink they would be happier ones. Take Care!
Lizette, creepy story!! I can't even imagine having an experience like that. Thanks for sharing this Halloween tale!
Freaky! Reminds me of the Amityville Horror...except the creepy stuff happened after the family moved in.
I actually showed a home that looked a lot like the home you have posted. I was showing it to a client who wanted a "cute little fixer upper" and there was something very creepy about the home. We stayed inside for all of about 2 minutes. It turned out that the homeowner had passed away in the home and was there for several days before they found him.
Tammy - that would have been a better idea.
Jane Page - I picture in my head a big family with lots of kids that enjoyed that old house. I love the window detail.
Kristen - Thanks! Hope you never have to have a creepy experience! LOL
Jim - I remember that movie! It scared me to death!
Christine - Houses have impressions of the previous owners. Some more than others as you experienced. Happy Halloween!
Lizette, There is no way I would have let those buyers leave me alone there. Yikes~ I would have been frozen with fear! I got the chills now just thinking about you being all alone there!
That was a great story Lizette and the perfect time frame for it to be told; the day before Halloween The pictures go great with the story. Enjoy it very much.
~ All the Best
Lizette, those pictures sure take "fixer" to a whole new level. I think I would recommend that the buyers spend their money on Ghost Busters instead of a home inspection.
Love the photos - and the post. Happy Halloween - be careful in scary houses. All the best.
When the listing expires go list it.
Then in about 1 week have it on caravan, then the next week have an open house.
Third week check yourself into a mental institution. Just kidding.
Great story for Halloween.
Finally, a halloween based story on halloween. I really don't want to visit that house you pictured but i've seen hundreds of them in and around lancaster, pa.
perfect day to post the story - great photo's - It felt like I was there with you!!!
Liz, oh my.............made my palms sweat as I was reading in. Now me I would never have even gone in without the clients or someone with me. I bet you never forget this one.
Lizette--I walk through houses prior to my clients arriving too...I have never had a "Steven King" creepy experience like you just described but I did have one home that gave me an "off" feeling. My clients liked the structure of the home and we went back twice. When they were going to write the offer, the other agent disclosed as is required in MN that a family of five had been murdered in the home. Clients didn't write the offer. Maybe it is better not knowing what happened after all.
As for the photos...perfect backdrop for your spooky story. What a lovely home that must have been a one time.
Have a Happy Halloween...Don't let Chanel play any tricks on you! :)
Lizette, great story for Halloween. Im just curious, did you ask them why they called you to see the house at 2am!?
Happy Halloween everyone!
Lizette ~ Great story! The hair on the back of my neck was standing up just reading it; I can't imagine what I would have felt living it!
Great Halloween story! It actually had a surprise ending because I kept thinking the sorry clients who'd called at 2:00 am were gonna be bad! Did you find out why they called at that time? Or did they? Perhaps the ghost called! LOL I also loved the pictures.
I was thinking that you went to the second floor heard muffled voices behind the door like in your dream. Then saw your client there, He says, I've been waiting for you for a long time.... come in...
Good story Ms. Lizette. Pictures were excellent to project the mood!!
Great story - but scary to live through it. I would have ran through also!!! happy Halloween!
Whether this is tru or not its a great post to read on Halloween. Happy Halloween!
What a creepy but great story...I don't think I would have even walked inside...did you ever talk to the agent who listed it? Did they have any wierd experiences? Wonder what happened to the people who lived there? I'm so curious....
Hey sweetie, wonderful recount and lovely eye candy! When did you shoot these? (LOL) Hmm... ;-)
True or not, great Halloween story.
All the best!
LOL!!! I would have been out of there faster than a fat kid playin dodge ball!!!
Great story, perfect timing. Happy Halloween!
You were not being serious. Are you?
That's one spooky story. Perfect for Halloween
WOW!!! That was quite a story. I think I would have locked up while the clients were still in the house with me. Your much more brave than I am!
Ted
I was hooked reading this story and running out the door with you. I did have to laugh though that of everything you described the buyers said they didn't like the sloping floor LOL :) Thanks for the great story today......
Hi Lizette,
Happy Halloween!! The photo's of the house you used for your story would be beautiful if it could be fixed up!! That is one scary story, I think I would have closed the house up with the clients still there, I never would have went back in by myself that's for sure!! Take a look at the first picture on your post is there a blurry spot above the little tree on the right to you? To me the picture is very crisp except for that one spot?! Did you catch something there perhaps.
Hi Lizette,
Nowthat brings creepy to a whole new level, my heart was pounding! LOL! :)
The little hairs on the back of my neck are still standing up. Brrrrrrr. Great story for Hallowe'en!
Great post for Halloween!
That is so scary - I think I would totally freak out!!! And it is crazy how late people feel comfortable calling!!! I guess they think we turn off our phones at night or something - God knows we SHOULD!!
You were TOO brave or too hungry back then, for sure! I KNOW you would not go there now!
Take care and don't let the spooks get you tonight! I will be locked in tight at home.
Hi Lizette, What a story for Halloween! Wow, I am surprised you even went in that house. The photos do seem to be similar to your description. God bless !!
Great story and the pictures go with it prefectly. Kinda weird the potential buyer called at 2:00 am and then you end up at a haunted house.
Hi Lizette - you are far braver than me! I would never have gone in there ahead of time, I would have waited in my car till the buyers arrived. And then if I had to go in there after they left to close it up like you had to - well, I'm not sure what I would have done at that point, with those things having happened..... yikes! I must admit I might have called the listing agent to tell her I was just way too chicken to go back in. Maybe...
Ann
Thanks for the chilly tale, the photo's are great for this story!
You had me on the edge of my chair the whole time! What a scary story! I hate regular vacant houses as they give me the creeps anyway but a haunted one? I don't even know how you got the nerve to go back in and lock up! The pictures worked!
Hmmm...Trace noted the blur by the tree on the right might be a ghost!
Freaky stuff. Had the hair on my neck up just reading about it.
Glad you survived!
You're a great story teller.
Lizette - went to this story from your CSI story! Great - but I don't know if I would have been as brave as you were!!!
Thanks,
kathy
Great story!!!
Honey you have hutzbah. More than I, for sure. Excellent story to say the least. I would say that this story is worst. I would have been on the phone with someone begging them to come join me. Take care! Cheers,
Perfect story for the night but WoW... I think I would have just freaked out!