How to Tell if Your House Is Haunted

Last Updated: February 2, 2023 References Approved

While there is no definitive proof that ghosts exist, some people believe strange noises, smells, and sights can be explained by the supernatural. If you think your house is haunted, you can conduct an amateur investigation by watching for unusual phenomenon and noting your own intuition. You can also study the history of your home or region. Allegedly, areas with a violent past can increase the risk of a haunting. While ghosts can be frightening, keep in mind they may not be real and most people are not harmed by the presence of a supposed spirit in their home.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Investigating Physical Signs

1
Look out for shadows and figures. If you've ever seen anything seemingly inexplicable in your home, this can be a sign of a haunting. You may see things like dark shadows in the corner of your eye or even shadowy figures that resemble people or animals.
- Remember, however, that your peripheral vision is not always reliable. If you think you see a spirit out of the corner of your eye, you may be seeing a trick of the light.
- You can try setting up a video camera in your home when you're away to capture any unusual shadows on film.
2
Pay attention to unusual or inexplicable smells. Some people think ghosts can leave unusual smells that do not have a clear source. Sulfur and bad odors are often associated with hauntings. However, smells like food and perfume may also be detected.
- Rule out other sources of a smell before assuming it's supernatural. Try to follow the smell to see if it has a source or notice if you left a window open. An unusual smell can float in from outside.
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3
Listen for unusual noises. People who believe they live in haunted houses often report odd noises. You may hear inexplicable footsteps, scratching, music, or even soft voices. Keep in mind, unusual noises can be caused by opened windows or even your neighbor's TV set, so don't attribute them to hauntings without checking for more plausible explanations.
- Scratching and footsteps could be caused by things like mice, rats, or bugs. It's a good idea to have an exterminator check out your home to rule that out and provide treatment if necessary.
- You can use a digital audio recorder to capture noises as well.
4
Watch for lights turning on and off. Flickering lights can be caused by brief power outages. However, if flickering lights are a frequent occurrence in your home, there may be another explanation. If lights tend to go on and off without explanation on a regular basis, this can be a sign of a haunting.^{[1]
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- Other issues, like loose light bulbs and issues with circuits and electrical panels can also cause flickering lights. If your home is very prone to flickering lights, consult an electrician.
5
Pay attention to nervous behavior in pets. If you have any pets, unusual animal behavior can be a sign of a haunting. Animals may become frightened without a clear cause or may stare at something you cannot see. If your dog, for example, suddenly starts barking at a corner of the room, it may be seeing a ghost or spirit.^{[2]
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- Strange animal behavior, especially excessive vocalization, can also be a sign your pet is in pain. See a vet before attributing unusual behavior to ghosts.
6
Note any cold spots or temperature changes. Some believe that ghosts can cause dips in temperature. If you notice spots in your home seem cold, even if there is no obvious cause of a draft, this can be a sign of a haunting.^{[3]
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- However, double check for things like cracks in doors and open windows near the cold spots. Drafts can easily be a culprit for unusual cold spots in your home.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Personal Experience and Intuition

1
Pay attention to your dreams. Some believe ghosts can affect the types of dreams you have. If you begin having intense nightmares, this can be a sign of a haunting. You may have nightmares about the supernatural and feel like something is chasing or attacking you in your sleep. Nightmares may be very vivid, to the point you can physically feel things in your dreams.^{[4]
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- If you're experiencing things like shortness of breath during sleep, however, see a doctor. This can be a sign of a medical condition, such as sleep apnea, which should be ruled out before you attribute the issues to ghosts.
- Nightmares can also have psychological causes. If you've been stressed or upset lately, this may be causing your nightmares as well.
2
Notice if you feel you're being watched. Your own intuition can help guide you when evaluating whether your house is haunted. People who live in allegedly haunted homes sometimes feel like they're being watched. If you ever get a sense you're not alone, even if no one else is in the room, this can be a sign of a haunting.^{[5]
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- If you have other people living with you, ask them if they experience the sense of being watched as well.
- Keep in mind, feelings of nervousness and paranoia can also be attributed to underlying mental health issues. This kind of anxiety should be evaluated by a mental health professional.
3
Evaluate changes in your own or other people's moods. Ghosts can allegedly affect personality and mood. If you or another household member becomes angry, irritable, or inexplicably sad, this may be a sign of a haunting. If negative moods tend to only surface in your home, this indicates there may be a ghost present.
- Low moods and irritability can be a sign of mental health issues, however. If you have a persistent low mood for a long time, see a therapist before attributing it to a haunting.
- Remember, ghosts are usually just people. They don’t have a body, but they were a person once. If you feel like other people are around you, it may be a big sign they are.
4
Watch for strange illnesses and feelings of weakness. Some people believe hauntings cause mild physical symptoms. For example, you may sometimes come down with small colds. Hauntings can also cause an overall feeling of weakness.
- As these symptoms can be caused by a number of other ailments, however, see a doctor before attributing them to a haunting.
- If everyone in the house is experiencing physical symptoms, have your home investigated by professionals to check for hazards like mold and bacteria.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Conducting Research

1
Research the area. If you just moved to town, you may not know the area well. Do some research to see if there were any recent tragedies or accidents. Some people believe areas that have dark histories are more prone to hauntings.
- You can look up the history of your town online.
- Try stopping by a local library that archives old newspapers. You may find some unusual stories there.
2
See if anyone died in your home. Some websites allow you to enter your address and, for a fee, they will provide you with information about deaths that occurred in your home. You can also try simply searching for your address online. There may have been a news story if someone died in your home, or if a tragic event occurred there.^{[6]
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3
Do an energy audit. You can hire professionals to do an energy audit of your home. This involves using a thermodynamic camera to check your home for dips in heat. A home with inexplicable dips in heat and uneven temperatures may be haunted.^{[7]
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- Energy audits can sometimes find logical causes of dips in energy. This can allow you to fix problems in your home that cause things like drafts, slamming windows, and flickering lights.
- Stick to people like professional mechanics, who offer non-paranormal services. Paranormal investigators are not legitimate and will not provide a real service. There's a good chance there's a rational reason for drafts and cold spots that may require repairs that paranormal investigators cannot provide.
4
Talk to your neighbors. If you just moved to a neighborhood, your house may have a reputation for being haunted. Ask your neighbors if they know of any paranormal activities in your home. Ask them if previous neighbors ever said anything about your home being haunted.^{[8]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you catch a ghost in your house?

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Jennifer McVey is a Spiritualist, Seer, and the Spiritual Director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. With more than 22 years of experience, she specializes in manifesting, ghosts and spirit attachments, hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually based life coaching. Jennifer has also published 13 Affirmation Image and six Word Search Puzzle books in spirituality and self-help and has produced over 600 audio sessions.

Jennifer McVey, Cht

Spiritual Director

Expert Answer

Don't ever do that! Anytime that you do anything, you develop karma—you're bound by what you do, what you think, and what you say. Instead of catching ghosts, focus on sending them to life. Ask your higher self to send them where they need to be (or where they should be) by imagining an open door and shooting them out of your house.
Question

What can I do if I heard terrified screaming in the night and found my daughter very distressed, having had a paranormal encounter?

Community Answer

Tell her to calm down. Check the house for any sign of paranormal activity. Look for moving objects and doors opening and closing. If you continue to have activity in the house, call an expert for help.
Question

I heard a banging noise like a dropping glass and whispering. Is my house haunted?

Community Answer

It is possible. If you are alone and there are no thunderstorms, try to make a recording of what you hear.