I’m currently reading Pet Sematary, and although I’m only about one tenth into the story, I know that the family moving into this new house can’t mean anything good. Thankfully, I’ve never experienced anything spooky or paranormal in any of the homes I’ve ever lived in or rented, but clearly, many other people have discovered disturbing things. They might mean nothing, but the simple fact that there was a pentagram carved into my attic or a lineup of naked mannequins in the basement would be enough to give me the heebie-jeebies. 

I was curious how likely it is that any of these homes are actually haunted. We see portrayals of ghosts and hauntings in films all the time, but are they really as common as Hollywood has led me to believe? To answer this question, I reached out to Troy Taylor, author and host of the American Hauntings podcast. We asked Troy if it is common for people to move into haunted houses or if it’s more likely just paranoia when new homeowners suspect something is up. “It can certainly be both,” Troy told Bored Panda. “We are always thrown off a bit by anything new, especially a place where you have never stayed, and yet you’re now expected to sleep, eat, and live there. It’s new, and it can be unnerving.”

But Troy notes that we can’t always rule out the fact that our house might be telling us something. “From the other side of it, every house has a past, even relatively new ones,” he says. “It doesn’t have to have been a place where deaths occurred, or murders were covered up – nothing that dramatic. The residents of that home leave a little bit of themselves behind, both physically and psychologically.”

“Have you ever visited someone’s home just after an argument has taken place? There’s just something in the atmosphere that feels ‘off’. Now, imagine a century or so of that kind of thing taking place in a home, and you have what some would consider a ‘haunted house’, even if there aren’t any spirits present,” Troy explained.

We then asked Troy if a homeowner should be concerned if they suspect that their home may be haunted. “First, let me say that genuine haunted houses are somewhat rare,” he noted. “No matter how odd things might seem, there’s a good chance they have a natural explanation. Determining this is the first thing you should do. Relax and be a good observer, even if you are frightened by what you think is happening.”

“Are those ‘ghostly footsteps’ simply the house settling or the floorboards creaking? Is that ‘cold chill’ merely a draft? Maybe these events have explanations, or maybe they don’t,” Troy told Bored Panda. “Just don’t let your imagination run away with you or soon, every bump in the night will be a vengeful spirit and every curtain that moves in the wind will be an apparition.”

And when it comes to what homeowners should do if they are really concerned that something may be up in their home, Troy says, “The best way to rule out any kind of natural explanation is to keep a journal of anything that occurs in the house that you think might be spook-related.”

“Write down whatever you see, hear, or even smell that seems odd and you just might see a pattern emerge – a ghostly or non-ghostly one. Write down the time and date, make a note of who was present, and describe what you experienced,” Troy told Bored Panda. “It might turn out that the strangeness happens at the same time every day or in the same location. This will be valuable information if you decide to involve a ghost hunter in your situation.”

We then asked Troy at what point he would recommend that homeowners involve a ghost hunter or outside help to feel more peace at home. “Before inviting ghost hunters, ministers, or priests to your home because you believe you have a ghost, consider that in almost every case, ghosts don’t hurt people,” Troy said. “Spirits usually linger at places where they left some unfinished business in life. They can be unsettling but are very rarely dangerous. In most cases, simply asking a ghost to leave your home or making a deal with it not to bother you will generally work. You’ll feel silly doing it, but it’s worth the effort.” Good manners can go a long way in life, even with ghosts.

Troy also says to be wary who you invite into your home in search of ghosts. “If you do contact ghost hunters, make sure they are legitimate,” Troy says. “Ask for references and ask for qualifications. Make sure their knowledge doesn’t come from watching television shows and wearing matching black t-shirts. You are allowing them into your home so be sure you know what you’re getting into with an investigation. They are not coming in to be ‘ghostbusters’. They are merely trying to verify – or debunk – what you believe about your haunted house. They should never ask for money to do an investigation. If they do, run away quickly!”

“Some people want to get rid of their ghosts, and that can be tricky," Troy says. "There are a lot of people out there who say they can do this, but before you choose one, you’ll also want to ask them for references, especially if they ask for money. You are better off contacting someone from your religion of choice and asking them for help. They may not want to get involved – or you may be embarrassed – but for a lot of people, a minister’s involvement brings a lot of comfort."

At the end of the day, Troy says having a haunted house is not the end of the world. “If your house does turn out to be haunted – relax and enjoy it. A resident ghost is almost guaranteed never to hurt you. It just wants attention. There’s nothing to be afraid of, and a peaceful co-existence is simple to maintain. And just think of the stories you’ll have to tell your grandchildren!”

If you’d like to learn more about American Hauntings from Troy, be sure to check out their website right here, and if you’d like to listen to the spooky stories shared on the American Hauntings podcast, you can find that right here.

If you found any of these things in your home, would you go running out the front door or start trying to make a deal with any potential ghosts in the home that they don’t harm you? Keep upvoting the photos that you find particularly unsettling, and feel free to share about any creepy discoveries you’ve made in your home in the comments below. Then, if you’re looking for another Bored Panda article that might scare you into never moving out of your current home, you can find our previous publication on the same topic right here.