Home Buyers Have New Option: Paranormal Inspections

“From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, good Lord, deliver us!” -- A Scottish prayer

OPHIR members from left to right, Mike Navarro, Thomas Westbrook, Bernard Powell and Bret Edmisten Photos by Dexter Phoenix, Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Cold spots. Apparitions. Things that go bump in the night.

Some of these things can be explained by creaky floorboards, cracked walls or frisky weather. But what if they can't?

Before buying a home, inspections usually mean checking the foundation, roof and pipes. But, sometimes there is another area of concern, things that are a bit more intangible. When there are questions regarding...the unknown... future homebuyers will be especially glad to know that there is someone to turn to.

Investigators with OPHIR (Occult & Paranormal House of Investigational Research) in Salem, Oregon, want to make it easier for homebuyers to make sure all the creaks and bumps are, shall we say, Of This World.

Bernard Powell, OPHIR's founder, along with OPHIR’s team of experienced investigators help buyers learn what may be happening -- and perhaps what went on before -- on a particular piece of property.

You don't have to believe in ghosts. The value of a home that was the location of a murder, suicide or has been used as a drug lab can be starkly diminished. Real estate professionals call such properties "stigmatized".

OPHIR's staff say that tortured pasts go beyond the crime log of the local newspaper; that homes can be stigmatized by ghosts -- real or rumored.

Powell says OPHIR offers "a full investigation into the history of the property -- from past owners to newsworthy occurrences that may have taken place on said premises."

Investigators and Research personnel pore through public records and interview current and former residents if necessary. An investigation may also include a series of three on-premise paranormal probes.

"We use everything from the most modern equipment available to us to the inclusion of psychics, clairvoyants and/or clergy members custom-tailored to the clients' preferences, and spiritual orientation," Powell says.

"We do not charge for the paranormal investigation itself. We do that out of our passion for the field."

However, a fee is charged to investigate the past of the property. "The cost is based on research, fuel costs and man hours spent at various locations," Powell says.

This specialized inspection service isn't just for buyers, though. Sellers, beware! You too may have some explaining to do, should you not follow your inclination to see that your property is void of unwanted guests. "You don't want buyers coming back and saying you never warned them about the house's past," Powell said.

"Protect yourself and make a wise future investment," Powell says. "There is a good chance that homes with a reputation or negative history may be harder to sell down the road, so you could get stuck with one."

"You want to know as much about your potential investment as you possibly can. This way, you can make as informed a decision as possible."

Want more information or need a property investigated? Contact OPHIR at investigations@Team-OPHIR.com or call 971-239-5992.

OPHIR is a nonprofit group that includes researchers in religion, physics, paranormal and public records. Members include both believers and skeptics.