Sometimes the most unsettling paranormal encounters happen when we least expect them. A simple favor for a loved one can turn into nights of terror, revealing supernatural secrets that families have kept hidden for years. One such experience unfolded in 1991 when a teenager agreed to house-sit an empty home during his girlfriend’s family relocation.
The story begins with what seemed like a straightforward request. During the recession, his girlfriend’s family received an offer they couldn’t refuse and needed to relocate across the country. Before leaving, her father pulled him aside with a request that would change everything.
The Innocent Agreement
“Her dad had asked me if he could trust me with something,” the witness recalls. The family needed someone to check on their 4 bedroom, 2 bath ranch-style home while it remained on the market. Located in the older section of town with spacious lots and mature trees, the property seemed like any other suburban home.
The father’s concerns appeared entirely practical. “During that time, there were issues of people breaking into foreclosed homes and removing appliances, and squatting,” the house-sitter explains. The request included not just checking on the property, but staying overnight occasionally so neighbors wouldn’t think the place was abandoned.
“He seemed really worried about leaving the house alone, he said if you could maybe stay a night or two just so people don’t think the place is abandoned.”
The First Night’s Warning
The initial overnight stay took place on a Friday, with the young man setting up in his girlfriend’s former bedroom. He brought basic supplies: a cot, radio, and a few lights, planning to work through the night on cleaning tasks.
The first sign something was wrong came in the middle of the night. “During the first night I woke up in the middle of the night freezing cold, it was fall and temps could dip down at night but this felt like something else, it felt like a cold from some kind of source like being inside a fridge.”
Despite turning on the house heater and bundling up in his sleeping bag, the unnatural cold persisted. When he mentioned the frigid night to a friend the next day, he learned that the weather hadn’t been particularly cold that evening.
Escalating Supernatural Activity
The second overnight stay brought more disturbing phenomena. Setting up in the den with a small camping TV, he settled in for what he hoped would be a quieter night. That hope quickly evaporated.
“I heard a noise come from the other side of the house, it sounded like well you know if you lean a broom handle against the wall and it falls over but slides down the wall. That is what it sounded like.”
When he investigated, he found nothing disturbed. The brooms and mops remained upright in the kitchen pantry where they belonged. But as he used the bathroom, something more unsettling occurred.
“I swear I heard someone whisper like saying a sentence.”
Security Concerns Turn Paranormal
Remembering the father’s warnings about break-ins, he immediately conducted a security check, turning on every available light and examining all doors and windows. Everything remained locked and secure. But when he returned to the den, his small TV had been turned off despite being left on.
“I can honestly say I didn’t sleep at all that night.”
The experience left him torn between seeking companionship and honoring his promise. Though friends offered to join him, he’d given his word not to have visitors over.
The Family’s Hidden Secret
The truth emerged during a phone call with his girlfriend several days later. When she asked about any issues being alone in the house, he reluctantly shared his experiences: the unnatural cold, the mysterious noises, and the whispered voices.
Her response was both validating and chilling: “Yeah I kind of figured you would find out.”
The conversation revealed the family’s long-kept secret. “She said well remember how I told you I never liked to be home alone,” she reminded him. “We would hear noises and see things. When she was a kid and they moved in there that she would run to her parents room and sleep at the edge of their bed.“
This revelation explained years of behavior he’d previously attributed to normal teenage preferences for company.
A Final Terrifying Encounter
Despite being relieved of overnight duties, the house-sitter continued daytime visits to maintain the property. One evening, arriving after dark around 7 PM, he experienced the most frightening encounter yet.
While using the bathroom, the large mirror provided a view into the hallway. “I saw something really fast go by, I yelled out HELLO.“
He immediately fled the house, leaving lights on in his haste to escape. The aftermath proved even more unsettling—the neighbor reported seeing lights on and movement in the house at 11 PM, four hours after his departure.
Skeptical Analysis
Several natural explanations could account for some of these phenomena. Rapid temperature changes in empty houses can occur due to heating system irregularities or drafts from windows and doors that don’t seal properly in older homes.
The falling broom sound could result from settling in an older structure, particularly during temperature fluctuations that cause wood to expand and contract. Auditory hallucinations during periods of stress and isolation are also documented psychological phenomena.
The shadowy movement in the mirror might be explained by peripheral vision tricks, especially in low-light conditions where the mind can interpret shadows and reflections as movement.
Family Patterns and Generational Knowledge
What makes this account particularly compelling is the multi-generational experience of paranormal activity. The girlfriend’s childhood behavior—running to her parents’ bed and refusing to be alone—suggests the family had dealt with these phenomena for years.
“She said I didn’t want you to think I was weird,” reveals the stigma often associated with reporting supernatural experiences, even within families. This reluctance to discuss paranormal activity often means new visitors encounter phenomena without warning or context.
Historical Context of the Property
The house’s location in the older section of town with its ranch-style architecture and mature landscaping suggests it was built during the post-World War II suburban expansion of the 1940s-1950s. Properties from this era often have histories spanning multiple families and decades of accumulated experiences.
The large lots and spacing between homes mentioned in the account would have provided privacy for families dealing with unexplained phenomena, potentially allowing activity to continue unreported for years.
This firsthand account, originally shared on Reddit, demonstrates how empty houses can amplify paranormal activity or make existing phenomena more noticeable without the distractions of daily family life.
The Psychology of Empty Spaces
Empty houses present unique psychological challenges that can heighten sensitivity to unusual phenomena. Without familiar sounds of occupancy, every creak, whisper, and shadow becomes magnified. The isolation can create heightened alertness that makes witnesses more likely to notice subtle environmental changes.
However, the consistency of experiences across multiple family members and time periods suggests something beyond psychological factors may have been at work in this particular location.
Practical Implications for House-Sitters
For those who find themselves in similar house-sitting situations, this account offers several practical takeaways:
- Ask property owners directly about any unusual experiences or phenomena
- Trust your instincts if something feels wrong about a location
- Don’t feel obligated to stay overnight if you’re uncomfortable
- Document any unusual experiences with dates and times
- Consider bringing a trusted friend if the situation allows
The Aftermath and Resolution
The family’s relocation ultimately provided relief for everyone involved. When the realtor took over and the property sold to a company that bought distressed homes, the house-sitter was “so glad not to have to go back anymore.”
Whether the new owners experienced similar phenomena remains unknown, but the family’s departure marked the end of their decades-long coexistence with whatever supernatural presence inhabited their home.
Bottom Line
This 1991 house-sitting experience demonstrates how paranormal activity can remain hidden within families for years, only revealing itself when circumstances change. The combination of multiple witnesses across different time periods, consistent types of phenomena, and the family’s eventual admission of long-term experiences creates a compelling case for genuine supernatural activity.
For skeptics, the account provides examples of how environmental factors, isolation, and suggestion can contribute to perceived paranormal experiences. For believers, it represents the kind of authentic, multi-witness testimony that forms the backbone of serious paranormal research.
Whether supernatural or psychological, this young man’s house-sitting experience serves as a reminder that some homes hold secrets their families may be reluctant to share—until someone else discovers them firsthand.
Have you ever house-sat a location with unexplained activity? Sometimes the most ordinary favors can lead to extraordinary encounters.
