A Paranormal Guide: 6 Ghost Hunting Tips You Should Know

I asked some members of my paranormal investigation team for their ghost hunting tips and this is what they had to share. Specifically asked them to avoid talking about ghost hunting equipment or anything which requires a specific situation or experience level. These are things everyone can benefit from knowing.

The world of ghost hunting is full of incredible stories and people who have dedicated themselves to the search for answers. To efficiently ghost hunt on your own, you will want to know proper ways to begin, including being sure you have the right supplies, knowing the history of a haunted place, and being prepared. 

Ghost hunting has long intrigued people who have found themselves drawn to the world of the paranormal. Maybe you think a certain spot might be haunted, or you just want to try your hand at getting some exposure to the life that lies beyond the physical.

Whatever the case may be for you, you should know that you can’t just rush into ghost hunting unprepared! There are some important tips you will want to keep in mind as you get ready for this adventure to keep you safe and ensure you are ready.

Do you think you’re prepared to begin? If so, then the rest of this guide is for you. Pay close attention to each of the following tips about ghost hunting and follow them closely for a safe first outing into the world of the paranormal.

What is Ghost Hunting? 

Ghost hunting is the practice of identifying places that folks believed to be haunted and investigating them for proof of paranormal activity. Some professional ghost hunters work to try to get spirits in a haunted location to go onto the other side, while others are hobbyists who simply want to document the location and the entities located there.

Ghost hunting is an activity that can produce very fruitful evidence of paranormal activity in a location if done right, but like any other activity of its kind, it requires a little bit of preparation and know-how to go about doing it the right way.

Tip 1: This is Paranormal Investigation. Be Skeptical.

While ghost hunting can be a fun profession, hobby or once in a while experience – it’s important that we don’t fall into the trap of convincing ourselves of something which isn’t there.

Sometimes ghost hunting is a game of patience. It isn’t always exciting and having intelligent conversations with ghosts. Sometimes we’re forced to wait around in a quiet session and we start to look for shadows and fall for false positives.

Ghost hunting is part science and part art. Don’t allow yourself to become frustrated and force a situation in your head. Paranormal investigation involves trusting the equipment and your team’s experience. Sometimes it involves sitting around for a while before the fun stuff happens.

If you’re using a ghost box to try and talk to a ghost – look for meaningful and intelligent responses. Random words are likely just local radio stations. An electrical surge could trigger an EMF meter.

We have to rule out what it isn’t before we can figure out what it is.

Tip 2: Never Go Alone!

One of the first things you will want to keep in mind when thinking about going on a ghost hunting adventure is to always use the buddy system. You’ll often see ghost teams or groups do this. You never know what you are going to encounter when you are going on such an outing, and while it is going to be fascinating and even scary, you are going to want to make sure you have someone with you, should something go wrong.

Besides, when you have a friend or two with you to come along on this journey, you will have witnesses to back up your claims if you do encounter something from the beyond.

Tip 3: Make Sure You’re Prepared!

When you are thinking about going ghost hunting, you shouldn’t be just showing up empty-handed to the haunted property. There are some things you are going to want to bring with you, both for the sake of safety and for documenting the experience.

There are more in-depth guides available for knowing what you should bring with you, but some of the baseline items you will want to make sure you have on hand include:

• A flashlight, so you can safely see where you are going.
• A video camera, so you can document the experience in case you encounter any paranormal activity.
• A cell phone just in case you have an emergency during your outing.

There are other tools you could bring along, including things geared specifically towards this activity, but these are some of the essential items you will always want to have on hand on these adventures.

Tip 4: Be Sure You’ve Done Your Research!

You don’t want to show up to a haunted place without having done some research on the supposedly haunted place beforehand. This is even true if you are planning to investigate your own home or property for paranormal activity.

Hit the internet or newspaper archives to learn a bit about the past history of the place you are planning on checking out. Look for any signs of past deaths at the location, reports of paranormal activities from others, or any other information that sticks out to you.

If there are known sightings at the location, don’t just charge in. Prepare carefully and check it out during the day first. This way, you can get a feel for the lay of the land before you return at a time when sightings are believed to pick up.

Tip 5: Always Ask Permission From the Property Owner!

If you are investigating an area that doesn’t belong to you for paranormal activity, make sure you have permission from the property owner before you start doing any ghost hunting. You don’t want to be trespassing, after all!

The best way to do this is to simply obtain written permission from the owner of the property so you can prove you are there with their consent if asked. It might even be a good idea for you to bring your identification along with you so you can prove you are who you claim to be, as well.

Tip 6: Always Stay Safe!

Ghost hunting is a fun experience that you can learn a lot from, and gain a lot of incredible experiences through. However, it is also an activity that you will always want to make sure you are doing properly with safety in mind.

This is one reason why you should always take some time to visit the property during the day if you are not familiar with it. You can also bring along a first aid kit if you would like, for peace of mind. This would be a nice thing to have on hand just in case you or someone else in your ghost hunting group run into a situation where they have physically injured themselves and need a hand.

Be Curious, and Have a Good Experience

Ghost hunting is one fun experience if you are able to find some activity on your adventures, and that much more fun if you can get some footage of your encounters that you can show others to document your experiences. By following some of our tips outlined above, you will be able to enjoy your ghost hunting adventures with safety and preparation in mind.