How to Fix a Haunted House
Is someone watching you?
Is there a funny smell?
Your house could be haunted – or…
Check out these fact below, it could be something less sinister, but maybe more expensive!
Every so often you might notice something in your home that seems a little “off”. It could be a sudden draught from nowhere, or simply a feeling that someone, or something, is watching you. With Halloween round the corner and horror stories keeping us awake at night, this all starts to feel quite real…
Yet, the more sceptical among us know that most “supernatural signs” can be explained by common household problems that can be easily solved.
When it comes to unexplained issues in the house, home services marketplace Plentific.com know a trade professional who will do a much better job of fixing them than an exorcist!
Here are some of the most classic signs of a haunted house, advice on what they really mean and top tips on how you can fix them:
The lights keep flickering on and off!
Lights turning on and off at random is one of the signs most commonly associated with a haunted house, but also one of the easiest paranormal signs to debunk. If you have a licenced electrician inspect your property, they will most likely tell you that the flickering is being caused by faulty wiring, loose bulbs, fluctuating voltage or any number of other perfectly logical reasons.
Doors and cupboards keep slamming shut!
A slamming door can be sudden, loud and alarming, especially when heard from a room halfway across the house. Luckily, this can simply be blamed on bad fitting. If a door can open and close on its own, it may be that the strike is slipping too easily out of the latch place, or it could even be caused by a strong draught. If you need help re-hanging your door, a local handyman or carpenter would be the professional to call.
I always feel like I’m being watched!
Over the years we have come up with some truly terrifying explanations for the feeling that someone, or something, is watching you. You might think you can see a shadowy figure in the corner of your eye and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end as if a sinister figure is standing right behind you. It is a sad and well known fact that many Brits fail to adequately protect their homes. If you want to feel more secure, it would be worth speaking to a local security specialist about installing measures like CCTV cameras, sensor activated lighting or simply a stronger lock for your front door.
My belongings go missing and then reappear!
Have you ever put something down, only for it to vanish by the time you go back to get it? Supporters of the supernatural are quick to blame ghosts. If your belongings keep going missing then the most likely explanation is poor organisation. You can make things easier for yourself by adding more useful storage to your home, a hook for your keys or even a safe for your more valuable items. If you really want to stop your belongings from vanishing, try having a handyman put up some convenient new shelves before you start looking for a local ghost busting firm.
I can hear strange noises!
Do you hear something going bump in the night? When we hear noises that we don’t recognise, it is common for us to feel on edge or even to start panicking. Ghosts are said to have a wide repertoire of spooky sounds, with believers reporting everything from scratching to faint wailing. The truth is that an average property can produce a wider range of noises than a symphony orchestra. Those scratching sounds are far more likely to be caused by a few resident mice or rats than a poltergeist, just as that bubbling sound is most probably down to a faulty boiler. Do you hear what sounds like something otherworldly banging on your pipes? A plumber will tell you it is caused by trapped air pressure.
Other haunted house myths:
- Unexplained smells: Did you know that burning plastic components in an electrical socket can produce a fishy smell?
- Sudden changes in temperature: Do you need more control over your temperature? Have a smart thermostat installed.
- Holes appearing in the garden: A landscaper would be able to tell you if it’s sinkholes, collapsed drains or a resident family of moles.
- Waking up with scratches on your skin: Bedbugs! Clean your bedding straight away and have your mattress inspected by a local pest control specialist.
Don’t panic
Plentific.com spokesperson Stephen Jury said:
When something unexplained happens in the home, it can be natural to panic. You just need to ask yourself which is more likely: ghosts are out to cause mischief, or that your home just needs a little bit of TLC?”
Pick up this week’s issue for scary locations, Hallowe’en stories and pumpkin cookery…
Maggie Swinburne
Hello! How nice to meet you! My role on My Weekly is Specials Editor (published four-weekly and full of lovely things for you to read and enjoy; Cookery Editor (lots of yummy tasty treats for you to look at and make); Pocket Novel Editor (super-fast romantic reads, on sale every fortnight)
