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Do You Know the "Right Spot" to bury St. Joseph?

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Journey EB00061541

It happened again! I was at the closing table yesterday when a client shared with me that part of the secret to  the quick sale ( aside from my marketing savvy!, he said) was  St. Joseph. He had buried a St. Joseph stature upside down  and it  had brought the buyer to his home. This certainly wasn't the first time that this  St. Joseph had came to the rescue. This was the fourth time that his family had shared this statue with an 100% success rate. This particular statue had been purchased by a family member at  the National Shrine Our Lady of Snows in Il . It has now assisted in  closings in 3 different states. On a side note, the buyer had wanted to purchase the home 10 years ago, but lost out to the current owner. The buyer "happened" down the street just days after the for sale sign went up.....

Bobbie Bolain, Waco Title said that she had heard this before. Careful removal of the statue after the sale is recommended. One client accidently broke of the head.  Not recommended!

 

The tradition of burying St. Joesph goes back thousands of years. It is believed that because he is the parton saint of the home and family if you pray to him for help when you are selling your home, he will help by sending buyers to your home. 

Where do you bury the Statue? All seems to agree that upside down is best. Backyard flower beds, and near the "For Sale Signs" are popular places. 

 

from  Website - Saint Joseph Statue

What is the right spot to bury a St. Joseph statue in order to help your home sell faster? There are a lot of theories. One thing that all of the versions of this tradition agree on is that the statue should be buried upside down. If the statue is buried upside down then the statue will work extra hard to get out of the ground and back into a safe, comfortable home which will make the house sell more quickly. So make sure that you bury the statue of St. Joseph upside down, and once the house has been sold make sure that you dig up the statue and take it with you to your new home so that you can put it in a place of honor to thank St. Joseph for his help in selling your home.

 

Comments(37)

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

When I lived in Ireland, I learned of the Irish practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph under the foundation in homes as they're being built ... this ensures that the house will be solid, and harmony will follow the family living there; St. Joseph was a carpenter by trade and the local custom is popular with new homes.  I don't know if they also bury St. Joseph to sell a house there.

Mar 20, 2015 11:15 AM
Gustin Potter
Seahorse Realty - Wareham, MA

If you go to St. Joseph‘s Abbyin Spencer Massachusetts you find a gift shop with statues made for burying. The Brother running the shop didn't like the idea of people using fine hand painted statues buried in the ground. So there is a large basket of plastic St. Joseph on hand.
I bought them and they work!

Mar 20, 2015 12:22 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I had been told, many years ago, that you need to bury St. Joseph in the front yard, upside down facing the house.

Once the house is sold, he should be dug up and displayed prominently in the new house.

Mar 20, 2015 01:12 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I know a lot of seller bury St. Joe.  I was wondering where the best place to buy the statue.  

Mar 20, 2015 01:20 PM
Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.
Natick, MA
Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

Fortunately, homes in the Boston area typically are on market for less than 14 day, often with multiple offers, so St Joseph doesn't need to be called on to help.

Mar 20, 2015 01:33 PM
Virtual Realty Consultants
Virtual Realty Consultants LLC - Wellesley, MA
Making the American Dream a Reality

I heard a story in a GRI class of someone who buried a St Joseph in a garden and failed to disclose that it had lead-based paint (it was made in China) and they also did not remove it from the soil when the house sold (buyers had no knowledge of the statue).

Long story made short, the new family's kid plays in the garden, finds chips of lead paint, ingest the paint, tests positive at school ... and the former owners AND the listing agent were sued.

Mar 20, 2015 02:22 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I have heard stories like this in the past too.  You will never convience them it didn't help.

Mar 20, 2015 02:27 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

I have heard of this custom but never known anyone to actually do it.

Mar 20, 2015 02:50 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

 Paula Prince - thanks, did not know about this tradition. It's always nice to learn something new here on ActiveRain.

 

Mar 20, 2015 03:22 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Paula - A little extra help and luck certainly can't hurt.

Mar 20, 2015 03:24 PM
Randy Mitchelson,APR
Marketing Advisor & Squeeze Mortgage - Bonita Springs, FL
First Impressions are made at First Click

Congratulations on the closing. We all know who really deserves the credit.

Mar 20, 2015 03:45 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I came into this thinking this is going to be like that famous question of how do you get to Carnegie Hall.

Mar 20, 2015 04:58 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I could use that statue for one of my listings, Paula.  Do you think they would consider loaning it out?

Mar 20, 2015 09:40 PM
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

I'll forward a link to this blog and comments to clients of mine in another state.  We don't need St. Joseph's help here in Raleigh NC right now, but I have certainly buried a statue or two in the past.

Mar 20, 2015 10:34 PM
Gordon Crawford
Gordon Crawford Home Selling Team - Morristown, NJ
Your Morris County Specialist!

Alan May, I'm on the same page with you.  You bury the statue upside down in the front yard and need to dig it up and take it to your next residence.  We are fortunate here in Morris County to have the Shrine of St. Joseph were you can purchase a "blessed" statue.

Mar 20, 2015 10:38 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've had clients who swore by St Joseph helping them sell their home, especially those whose homes didn't sell until they buried him. Our association's store actually sells these to agents.

Mar 20, 2015 11:05 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Paula, I heard of this when I first got into real estate several years ago. It works!

Mar 20, 2015 11:09 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.


I bought a St Joseph statue many years ago at our local association's store. ;-) Many people swear by him!

Mar 20, 2015 11:34 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Well the next step for us all would be to get these into production, number them and make them available through licensed Brokers or else they will take over

Mar 21, 2015 12:11 AM
Paula Prince
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Journey - Bentonville, AR
Top 10% Grossing REALTOR in NWA

Thanks everyone! All of your comments are appreciated.

Mar 23, 2015 12:38 AM