Saint Joseph the Home Seller

One spiritual practice that can be used to assist Sellers with the speedy sale of their homes is the interment of a St. Joseph statue somewhere upon the property that’s meant to be sold. It’s not known precisely when or how this practice originated (although there are many speculations), but as patron saint of the home and family in the Roman Catholic tradition, St. Joseph’s interest is to assist in maintaining a healthy home and hearth. It seems only natural that he would also assist in transferring a home from one deserving family to another. At Anton Hospitality Brokers, we don’t think it matters precisely how or where you bury a St. Joseph statue in your yard, but we do believe that the focusing of intentions has helped several of our clients achieve their goals.

Personal Stories


	Kim I grew up two doors away from Kim's family. I called Tom Sr. (Kim's father) Daddy Tom. His wife, Carrie, was a beautiful part of my life. She often invited us to her home when her own mother and father would visit from Pueblo, CO. She would allow me to sit and sip the home-made wine they called dego red. I had no idea what that meant, but I loved sitting on the laps of the adults and sipping wine. Tom Jr. was the same age as my brother, and they were the best of friends. Because of this connection, there were many times that placed our families in the same location and moment. Kim was younger and a darling. She had the most wonderful dimples and an infectious laugh. When both Tom Sr. and Carrie had passed away and it was time to sell the house, Tom and Kim asked me to help them. At that time, Tom lived out of state, and Kim, who lived in Denver, was so distraught over her mother’s death that she couldn’t visit the house. We did everything that I could think of to sell the home and help Tom and Kim move forward with their lives. It was priced just right, and it showed perfectly to many potential Buyers, but no one made an offer... Carrie had been very involved with the Dioces of Denver, and Kim would often tell me that she sat out in her garden talking to her mom and asking her what she should do. One evening, Kim called me and said, “Cindy, did you bury a St. Joseph’s statue at Mom’s house?” We did, and the house sold shortly thereafter. This began a tradition of burying St. Joseph statues with willing clients.


	Chris Often as a Realtor, people who are not using me will ask for my advice. I’ve found that in this business there are a few good/excellent brokers and a lot of not very good ones. Information is what I have to share, and I’ll pay it forward and give what knowledge I have to whoever asks. This tends to come back to me tenfold in many other ways. Chris, a woman that I knew from an entirely different area of my life, had heard that I was in real estate and she asked what I would advise on the sale of her property. She and her husband had a condominium that was not selling, but they had found their Dream Home and couldn’t buy it without selling the condo first. We talked pricing, marketing, and presentation for a showings. Her broker was doing a good job for her. They may have wanted to take another look at the price, but it appeared to be in range, and it continued to receive exposure… “But I have to have my Dream Home!!!” I asked if she had ever heard about St. Joseph, the patron Saint of home sales. I told her a few of my fun stories, and she smiled and said, “but I’m not catholic. I’m of another faith.” I asked if she had ever asked a friend to say a prayer for her? “Sure,” she replied, “and it makes me feel better.” I told her I would give her a St. Joseph and instructions on how to bury it. If her condo sold, I asked her to find a way to gift someone in need with something to say thank you to St. Joe for his help! Within 12 days of placing St. Joe in the flower box at the front of the door, they had a non-contingent sales contract…and the rest is history. They live in their dream home and continue love it!


	Irene We found the perfect replacement property for Irene, but from the moment we started, we knew her condo would be a difficult sale because of the current foreclosure market. When out visiting the new project with the perfect floor plan, we often would discuss religion. Irene is Jewish, and I had been raised Catholic. However, as an adult, I had decided that I wanted to learn more about all of the different faiths, and so I started a life journey of study. Irene was very knowledgeable and interesting. It was a joy to be in her company, and one day, I shared some of my St. Joseph stories with Irene. Right away she said, “Let’s do that at my place!,” so we did. She told me that St. Joseph brought her comfort, and she would greet him each day when she went out or came into her home.


	Danny and Sandy I had met Danny and Sandy many years prior to doing any business with them. When they approached me to sell their home, they had just sold a business and had purchased another. It was a beautiful property, but they hadn’t lived in it for approximately eight years. Instead, they had leased it to their nephews who were very good house guests, but were young, bachelor men without a strong knowledge of sales presentation. The property showed a little bit rough, but I worked with the guys, and they did whatever I asked…mowed the lawn weekly, took out the trash, put the dishes away, and even moved things out of the space to make it more presentable. I coached them on cleaning the windows and counters. Eventually, they would make wonderful husbands or room mates! Danny, by his own admission, is impatient, and he wanted get the place sold immediately. He asked what I knew about St. Joseph, and I told him that St. Joe had helped several of my clients...Bury him today!!! We did, and within 45 days we had closed the sale. Danny later told me that he had buried a Saint Joseph to sell his other business, and it had worked on that sale as well.


	Dave and Mary Nell I often work with people who are in transitions in their lives. Dave and Mary Nell had lived in my Denver neighborhood for over 35 years. They decided to move to Arizona where they had been spending the winters since retirement, and they worked very hard to prepare their home for sale and to pare down their belongings from a 2,300 square foot home to a 1,000 square foot home. One morning, Mary Nell called and said that her friend had asked if she had buried a St. Joseph statue in her yard. Mary Nell wanted to know if I had heard of the tradition, if it worked, and if I had any statues available. I told her some of the stories that I had collected over the years, and I offered to bring one to her. Believing in the power of positive thinking, she said to bring one over as soon as I could, and she laughed, saying that her father might roll over in his grave since he had been a Baptist Minister. Still…she wanted to make sure that they sold their home quickly and moved to Arizona before the first snow… It sold, but it didn’t close until after the first snow, but Mary Nell, as the custom goes, asked me to make sure that I unburied St. Joe, because she had the perfect place of honor on the living room bookcase in her new home. My husband and I continue to hear about St. Joseph in every email and Christmas Card.