St. Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters and, in more recent times, homesellers. In order to hasten a sale, some people bury a small statue of the saint in their front yard. We have no data on the effectiveness of this marketing technique, but we do know from those running religious supply stores that the little statues are “flying off the shelves.” In California’s capital city, you can even buy statues at the Sacramento.

The use of buried statues of St. Joseph has been traced to St. Teresa of Avila, who buried a statue in the ground where she hoped to erect a convent. (It should be added that St. Joseph is a patron saint of family…and of patience.)  Though buyers are not necessarily Catholics, sellers generally strongly advise the buyers not just to bury the statue, but also to include prayer in their search for a buyer.


 At the very least, then, the practice gives them a prayer, and possibly even a sense that something mysterious is helping to get the home sold. With a firm faith in praying and then paddling the boat to shore, rather than just waiting for help, may we suggest that you work with the real estate professional of your careful choice to arrive at the best possible asking price for your home, to help prepare the home to look its best to potential buyers, and to build a marketing program, including relevant buyer incentives, that will generate interest in the home. With all of this going for you, the best possible results could come quickly. For professional assistance call Lil at 530-550-5007 and visit our web site at www.alltruckeehomes.com.

The Schaller Family Realtors® are Associates of Dickson Realty.