I agree it's unfortunate for the vendors but it proves life goes on.
As soon as I see the photos I visualise William there just moments before he disappeared and I admit I would always live there wondering.
If you were about to purchase a 3 bedroom family home in a quiet location, would you like to know? It's too late when a neighbour leans over your fence and tells you.
Some wouldn't worry, the others who would feel 'creepy' or unsafe need to know as it's about to be their family home. IMO.
I would want to know I'd getting rubberneckers in my quiet cul-de-sac, regular interviews in my verge or an annual pilgrimage by caring people who want to keep William's memory alive.
Some people are really intuitive.....I was showing a home and the woman focused on a small photo of two children but noticed only one single bed. She asked about the other child in the photo because she felt sadness in the house so I was obliged to tell her one child died elsewhere years ago.
I couldn't believe she'd picked up on a vibe in the house. She said she felt the sadness and politely said she couldn't live in the home. I know I could have fibbed and said it was a cousin in the photo but somehow I think she knew otherwise.
I'd ask a prospective buyer if power lines across their acreage would bother them. If the answer was 'no' I'd show them the property and others would not want to look.
My philosophy was to be up front for a pleasant no surprises purchase.