The Caretaker House

In more than two decades of showing homes, I’ve had my fair share of unique experiences. But one showing from over fifteen years ago still gives me chills every time I think about it.

The property was an estate-style home with a carriage house and barn. It sat vacant but was occasionally used for small church services. On the day of the showing, I arrived with my clients and was immediately greeted by something unexpected: the faint sound of piano music drifting from inside the house.

We rang the doorbell, and an older, short, thin man opened the door. He introduced himself as the caretaker and warmly offered to show us around. He led us through the main house, sharing details about its history, then offered to walk us out to the carriage house and barn quarters where, he said, he had once lived. He even pointed out the fence line and provided details about the property boundaries.

The next day, I called the listing agent to thank her for arranging for the caretaker to be there. She sounded confused. “What caretaker?” she asked. “No one was supposed to be there.” She did mention that a piano was scheduled to be picked up, but when I described the man, she said, “No, that doesn’t sound like anyone connected to the sellers.” To this day, no one has ever been able to confirm who the “caretaker” was — or why there was piano music playing when we arrived.

My Clients would give each house a nickname, so initially we called it “The Piano House.” But after this encounter, we renamed it “The Caretaker House.” It remains one of the strangest showings of my career — and one that still gives me goosebumps. Needless to say, my client found another house.

Have You Ever Experienced a “Haunted” House?

I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever toured or owned a home in Texas where something unexplainable happened? Whether you’re an agent, a buyer, or a homeowner, drop your story in the comments below — I might feature some of the best ones in a future post.

Published by Kim Bowling for the Real Estate Blog at TalkToKim.com
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