Whether you’re buying or already own, it’s normal to want to know everything that has previously happened in a home. From looking at any remodeling done to the home to researching when was the last time the roof and boiler were installed, the goal is to purchase a safe home for your family? However, have you ever thought about the impact of someone dying in a home?
Although you might not be worried about extremes like the paranormal, blood, and bodily fluids that may have been left from a death in the home, it can pose a bigger risk to your family. If an unattended death or tragic event wasn’t properly cleaned up, it could expose you to diseases and other health risks. Before you move and/or settle into your home, learn more about what to do and how to properly clean up if someone previously died in your home.
Ways To Find Out If Someone Died In A House
Are you unsure if someone passed away in your home? No need to be concerned. In most cases, you can find out for free or with a small fee for public records. A home inspection usually costs between $200 and $500 depending on where in the country you are. If that option doesn’t work, there are several other, easy ways to find out.
1. Ask The Neighbors
The neighbors can usually share some details about the previous residents or owners.
2. Search For The Address
The neighbors can usually share some details about the previous residents or owners.
3. Check Public Records
Contact your public records office to see if there are any reports or notices about a death.
4. Read The Disclosure Form
If you’re buying a home, read the disclosure form and look for red flags like recent remodeling or cleanup.
5. Ask The Real Estate Agent
Although they aren’t required to disclose a death in the home, most agents will answer honestly.
6. Have A Home Inspection
Hire a home inspector to investigate the home. While they might not confirm a death, they will usually find biohazard risks.
Avoid going to research online if someone previously died on your property. Some websites charge a fee of about $10 to $20 that claims to tell you if someone died in your home. While it may seem like a cheap investment, these sites usually aren’t that accurate.
These use automated computer searches to access the same sites you can for free. There is also no guarantee the information they find is accurate. If you choose to still search on the web, understand that is at your own risk.
What To Do If You’re Concerned About Blood, Diseases, And Other Biohazards
Blood, bodily fluids, and other biohazards may carry diseases and other health risks. After an unattended death or traumatic event, it’s important to properly clean up the scene to eliminate the risk from those biohazards. Here are a few important steps that can be taken to determine if someone died before purchasing a home or for the home you already own.
1. Steps To Take If You Are Buying A House
You may have fallen in love with a home and are ready to put in your bid but you’re still unsure of your suspicion that some passed away in the home. There are several things you can do to determine if death occurred inside the property.
- During the walk-through, look around the home for questionable things. Signs of a recently deceased person may include stains, smells, and hasty remodeling.
- Reading the home listing and seller’s disclosure form. The listing will often include details about remodeling. Although the seller doesn’t need to mention death, the disclosure form can give insight into sudden changes.
- Ask the real estate agent. You may want to start with some leading questions about stains, smells, or remodeling. If you’re concerned, it’s fine to just get right to the point.
- Most importantly, ensure you do not skip the home inspection. The home inspector works for you, so talk to them about your concerns. If there is something to be worried about, they will likely spot it.
2. Steps To Take If You Are Concerned About Your Home
If you have already purchased the property or have lived in it a while, but signs that someone died in your home emerge, there are still things you can do. Here are a few tips for finding how if someone died before you owned the home:
- Research and hire a reputable company. Even if you only have a suspicion, look at companies that specialized in biohazard cleanup and home restoration.
- Talk with your neighbors about the previous residents. Depending on your relationship with them, you might be able to ask direct questions. In other cases, you may need to ask leading questions to determine what type of cleaning up you need to do to your home.
- Search for your address and the former owners’ name. If there was a serious crime or traumatic death, there is probably a news story about it. Check obituaries too, as they sometimes include details about how they died. That way, you can let the biohazard company know the extent of their clean-up. The more they know, the easier it will be to budget and get the job done as quickly as possible.
- Another important option is to review public records. This takes a little more time and effort, they can provide a wealth of knowledge. Some records offices may charge a small fee to review or get copies of documents.
What To Do If You Find Out Someone Died In A Home
Whether you’re buying a home or already own it, there are things you can do if you discover that someone died in the house. The biggest concern is whether the biohazards were properly cleaned up. If you find out there was a death, make sure to:
- Talk to your agent before purchasing the home. When buying a house, you should have your agent approach their agent with your concerns immediately. Ask for records and receipts of proper biohazard removal. If they cannot provide them, you have options.
- Add the clean-up of the buyer-seller agreement. You can either pull out of the house sale or require that they have the scene properly cleaned before you purchase the home. In this situation, they will usually pay for biohazard cleanup. However, they may ask to renegotiate the price.
- Hold your composure if you didn’t previously know about the death in your home. People quickly want to sue but that may not be the right course of action. Typically, you won’t have legal grounds against the previous owner except in a few cases. They include if you were intentionally misled about the situation or if they tried to cover up a crime.
- Hire a reputable hazard clean-up company for your purchased home. There is also a chance that homeowners’ insurance policy may cover cleanup and repair costs, but it depends on the policy.
Get Safe, Reliable Biohazard Cleanup Services
If you need biohazard cleanup, Restoration Local is here to help. Call 1-888-681-1071 for a free estimate and immediate biohazard cleanup services from a qualified contractor near you. Also, Restoration 360 can help.
We look at how to find out if someone died in a house and offer tips on what to do if you need biohazard cleanup in your home. We also provide home restoration services to alleviate any worries and hassle of making your home a comfortable living environment. Contact us today.
