Issue Date: November 1, 2006

Selling a Home? Bury a Saint.

By Jody Zink
Licensed Realtor in Ohio & Michigan

Many who have experienced difficulty in selling their home have reporting miraculous sales after burying a statue of St. Joseph on their property. Last week a client gave me specific instructions to do this. I obeyed. The same day I drove to the nearest Catholic merchandise outlet, walked through the jingling door and marched up to the counter. I began explaining that I'm a Realtor. Without missing a beach, the fine store-tender raised his hand, got me quiet and said, “Follow me.”

He led me to the “home selling”section of the store, complete with St. Joesph statues, prayer cards and books of devotion. “We're out of the home-selling kits right now,” he said, “but how many statues would you like?”

“I'll take three.”

Along with those statues, I added a devotional booklet and some St. Joseph prayer cards to my purchase. What could it hurt?

The custom of burying St. Joseph has become popular among Catholic and non-Catholics. Disagreement swirls as to whether the statue should be upside down or right-side up; whether it should be in the front or back yard, or facing the house, street or for sale sign. Condo owners might stick him in a flowerpot. I've decided that worrying about such things is unnecessary. The important part of this custom is to have faith and pray for St. Joseph's intervention.

While the real estate market has a lot of people getting religious, it's important to note that it's not St. Joseph himself who grants the blessing of a speedy and successful home sale. That happens through the power of God.

So in a drizzling rain with my shovel, I respectfully buried Joe in front of the house, head-first. I said a prayer requesting new owners come forward soon.

It's fair to wonder why St. Joseph is called upon when trying to expedite a home sale. Some say an order of European sisters buried a St. Joseph medal asking him to help them acquire land for a convent in the Middle Ages. Or that German carpenters first buried St. Joseph statues in the foundations of houses they built. Or because he faced the challenge of finding shelter for his family when “there was no room at the inn.”

In addition to this ritual, I also recommend the seller do all necessary fix-up, cleaning and most importantly, pricing, to reflect market value. Momma always says, God helps those who help themselves.

After the sale, some say the statue should be left in the ground. Others say it should be dug up and displayed prominently in the new home to tell others about the power of this great saint. St. Joesph is also a tangible reminder of who really is in control. (Hint: It's not us.)

Jody Zink is a licensed REALTOR in Ohio and Michigan with the Loss Realty Group. Her column appears every other week in the Toledo Free Press. She can be reached at jody@jodyzinkrealtor.com or 419-725-1881.