Police checks – we often request these when it comes to employment, but what about buying a home? When I say police check, I am not referring to the current owners, I am referring to the home itself. Now I know a home won’t have a criminal record, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a dark history. You can often request a police printout of call-outs made to a particular address, and that printout could date back several years (you will normally have to pay a fee for this service).

Would the results of that police printout affect your buying decisions? That is the question that really counts. For some, the thought of buying a home that has been the scene of a murder can be off-putting – especially if children were involved. In most states, the real estate agent (and owner) are not required to reveal this information, especially if the event occurred more than 12 months ago. A police printout may also reveal other deaths, even through natural circumstances.

The question becomes a little more important when it comes to drugs, drug sales and drug production. There’s always the potential for drug residue in the walls, floors and ceilings – a concern for those with young children. There is also the issue of undesirables knocking on your door in the middle of the night expecting to buy their next dose. There are still situations where police have raided properties believing that individuals involved in drugs were still in residence – a nightmare no one would really like to go through.

So would a house’s history influence your decision to buy. Deep down, many people would say yes. In fact, there are some who would be fascinated and attracted to homes that have a dark past. The option is there, you can request that police printout, or you can simply talk to the owners and real estate agent. They may not be required to reveal this information, however, when asked directly, they do since they cannot misrepresent the property by denying anything.

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