Divine Intervention

April 26, 2015

A Saint To Sell Your House

When selling a home, the first thing most people do is stick a sign in the yard declaring it FOR SALE, but some sellers put a little something extra in the ground for some additional help: a statue of St. Joseph. According to legend, burying the patron saint of the home and family will help a home sell quickly.

"I’ve probably used it about half a dozen times in my career," says Don Toffolo, a realtor with Pat O’Brien and Associates in Boyne City.

But it’s not as simple as merely plunking the statue in the ground. There are specific instructions, even though sources disagree on the specifics.

Most say the statue should be buried upside down. Once buried, St. Joseph should not be unearthed until the home sells. The prevailing theory is that, if the statue is buried upside down, it will work extra hard to get out of the ground. Another theory posits the statue should be buried on its side pointing toward the home, as if offering it to potential buyers. When the house sells, the property owner is supposed to free the statue and give it a place of honor in their new dwelling.

St. Joseph is customarily buried in the front yard, though others suggest placing it in the back yard or in a flower bed. Some advise burying it next to the FOR SALE sign, which does make it easier to remember in terms of statue recovery post-closing.

Most recommend the statue points toward the home. If it’s buried toward the street, it might be a neighbor’s house that sells.

St. Joseph’s connection with real estate supposedly began in the 16th century, when the growth and popularity of St. Teresa and her religious order resulted in a need for more lands. The nuns asked for the intercession of St. Joseph in their property quest, and they buried medals with his likeness in soil of their desired property.

Today, you can purchase St. Joseph statue kits everywhere from Wal-Mart to Catholic supply stores or even online at stjosephstatue.com or on Amazon.com.

Does it work? No one can say definitively, but real estate agents across the region admit they, or their clients, have occasionally carried on the tradition.

"I’ve had clients use them," says Nancy Jacob, a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway in Gaylord. "I bet I’ve had 10 people over 20 years.

Some people use them and don’t tell you."

"If it’s something they’re comfortable with, then let them," advises Judy Porter, a realtor with Real Estate One in Traverse City. While she says it’s not common practice, she’s had clients who have buried a statue.

"Do I think it sold the house?" she asks rhetorically. "How do we know? The homes that don’t sell are the ones that are overpriced."

It’s not foolproof. Jim Richardson, manager of the Bellaire and Shanty Creek offices for Coldwell Banker Schmidt, mentions sellers required to move due to health problems. Their property failed to sell and went into foreclosure, despite the buried statue. "I’m sure there’s still a St. Joseph statue there somewhere," he says.

Steve Witt from Coldwell Banker Schmidt in Harbor Springs says in his 20 years of selling real estate, he remembers just one seller burying a statue. Other realtors have never had clients express interest in burying one and some have never even heard of the tradition.

Tough times can often prompt homeowners to look for additional assistance.

"I’ve had clients that have done that, more so in a down market," says Matt Dakoske of ReMax in Traverse City.

Stjosephstatue.com offers three statues of varying sizes. The basic kit includes a sand-colored resin statue approximately four inches high, instructions, prayers and history, plus a cloth tote bag for storage, a protective plastic burial bag, and a complimentary bronze home listing. Kit prices begin at $9.95.

Burying a statue is only one component of the ritual, though. According to tradition, sellers must believe in divine help and also say daily prayers.

"You’re supposed to say prayers every day. Some were more diligent than others," says Jacob. "The power of prayer is more than any agent or marketing plan."

Is that true?

"I’d like to think it was me [that sold the house]," says Doug Bronkema of Real Estate One in Elk Rapids. "They [sellers] want to think it was divine intervention. I’ll take any kind of help."