If Completely Renovated, a Haunted House Turns Out to Have High Market Value

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Properties with the stigma of “haunted houses” do not always end up as difficult-to-sell assets. In several cases, such properties can actually have high market value after undergoing reorganisation and rebuilding. Vice Chairman of the Central Board of Directors of the Indonesian Real Estate Association (DPP REI) Bambang Ekajaya revealed that although negative stigma can drastically reduce market interest, this condition opens opportunities for long-term oriented investors. “On one hand, for long-term investors, buying such properties can be an opportunity to gain significant profits,” Bambang told Kompas.com on Sunday (26/4/2026). However, this condition can be changed through the right approach, such as demolishing the old building and rebuilding with a new design. Bambang exemplified his personal experience when dealing with a property that had become the focus of attention due to a suicide by its tenant. The property remained unsold despite being marketed for more than three years. After demolition and rebuilding with a contemporary design, the property was finally sold. “After being rebuilt, it was finally sold,” he said. A similar phenomenon occurred with a house in the Pondok Indah area that was once known as a “haunted house” after going viral on social media and television. The property was unsold for more than a year until it was eventually bought by an investor. According to Bambang, the investor then carried out rebuilding and successfully resold the property with multiplied profits. These experiences show that stigma on properties is not a permanent condition. With reorganisation and the right development strategy, properties that were previously difficult to attract interest can regain appeal in the market, even with a higher selling value.