It's a rough market out there for people seeking a new home. Sometimes, listings last only a day or two before a house has multiple offers. And even though this one particular house has gone viral for being so odd, surely the same will happen.
The house, located in Baltimore, quickly went viral after its listing was posted. The reason why? The previous owner seemed to be quite fond of death. While homes have gone viral before for odd reasons (such as one that had jail cells in the basement), this one is extra special. Even though the theme is a little creepy, the house is actually in immaculate condition.
The house itself is on the small side, with one bedroom and one bathroom in 1,540 square feet. Surely there's room to move around, but it might not be suitable for a small family … or any family, really.
The house, which is listed as a "hot home" on Redfin, is located on 228 Townsend Ave. "Come inspect this one of a kind rare home," the listing reads. "Seller has made many improvements." Improvements, for the record, is an interesting word choice.
"Enjoy summer bonfires in your own fire pit," the listing continues. "High privacy fence and eight security cameras will keep things private and secure. A covered 14 foot stone wet bar with granite pillars that includes a double built in cooler is like going on vacation in your back yard." In the first few photos, viewers can see that black is a popular color choice for many of the rooms.
Sure, it looks cozy. Perhaps a good starter home for a single guy who really enjoys those summer bonfires. "Downstairs is a huge open recreation room open for your imagination. The lower level includes four windows and an outside entrance. There is easy access to service the gas boiler, water heater and sump pump," the listing continues. Based solely on description, it looks like a good deal.
One thing the listing doesn't mention are the caskets. Surely, they don't come with the house — but the selling agent seems to completely avoid the elephant in the room. Matt Godbey from Re/Max talked with Slate to discuss the home in greater detail.
"You should have seen it before," Matt admitted. "He somewhat neutralized it. I told him: I've been doing this for 33 years, and I know what sells. Some of the things in there, I told him, will frighten people. There were about 25 mannequins in the basement and some upstairs."
"His thing is horror movies," Matt explained. "It’s not a cult thing. And I can relate. I've seen quite a few of those movies myself. He removed the mannequins. He did what he could, but between getting the house ready for sale and working six days a week, it's just about all he could do by himself."
Sadly, the previous owner was expecting this home to be his forever home. "He never planned to move, but something changed in his life," Matt said. "We wanted to catch the spring market. And it's working. I've got six or seven showings scheduled already, and it’s been up less than a day."
The home itself really is stunning. And even though the decor may be a bit out there, it's very apparent that this seller put a lot of time and love into this house. "The backyard's a paradise," Matt gushed. "He built, himself, out of stone and granite, a 14-foot wet bar that has built-in coolers and a TV on the wall."
Those details surely make up for the little things, like the fact that his basement steps have no railing. But based on the seller, that may have been intentional. "He's done some updates, as you can see," says Matt. "He customized it so there's one loft-style bedroom. That makes it a lot easier getting furniture upstairs."
Obviously, Matt is going to be quite kind when it comes to this home. He is the one trying to sell it. But in his interview with Slate, he really did look quite sincere. This house is very special and very unique, and a firm reminder to everyone that homes can be customized to your liking.
That said, it still might be a bit off-putting for a buyer to see the "cemetery" part of the house. It's pretty hard to ignore. As one Zillow Gone Wild fan commented, "Great for trick or treaters! And some of the work is done already!"
Matt insisted, when asked by Slate, that the seller wasn't a vampire. Or at least, he's not aware of the fact. Really, it's a shame that the seller put so much work into his dream home just to have to move. Surely his next place won't look quite the same.
According to records, the house was last sold in 1995. So throughout all of that time, the seller has worked to create a masterpiece. Sure, it might not be everyone's taste — but walls can always be repainted. The space outside and the parking situation can't be beat.
Homes should always reflect you and the things you love. This seller probably didn't expect to go viral, but it's for good reasons. Despite being a little odd, people are more or less impressed by the time, effort, and dedication it took this seller to create a space made just for him.
