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Miamism Interview - WSVN Channel 7 - Saint For Sale

By
Real Estate Agent with Majestic Properties 3061802
Back in August 2006, I wrote a short blog post referencing a Realtor Magazine Article that talked about imploring higher powers to sell real estate. Most people that know me will tell you that I am spiritual and I found it interesting that sellers were looking for non-conventional and mystical help to sell their properties.

Here's that article:

 

Spiritual approach to sell your home?

We are bombarded by the Media everyday telling us that it is a slow housing market. Some sellers are trying new ways to attract buyers into their homes and eventhough some of these methods may seem unconventional, it's interesting to know different options are out there.
We have talked about conventional methods like "staging", "updating" and even "seller incentives", but what about imploring a HIGHER POWER??

Some of these practices involve from burying a St. Joseph statue in the yard of a home, to Feng Shui, to the Indian practice of Vaastu. Dinah Eng, in her Realtor Magazine article, speaks to different real estate professionals who have experienced these approaches.

Can Higher Powers Sell a Home?

Let us know if you have had first hand experience using any of these methods, and what the result was and good luck with the sale of your home.

Little did I know what that blog post would turn into. I was contacted by a Channel 7 producer last week telling me that she had found my "St. Joseph blog post" and would like to interview me and possibly one of our customers because she was doing a story on St. Joseph and Miami real estate.  (Did you know that St. Joseph Statue sales has increased over 200%?)

Of course I jumped at the opportunity, this would mean great exposure not only for "Rick & Ines" and our real estate business, but would help out one of our customers as well. (Nothing like getting TV exposure for one of our listings).

I have to admit I was a bit nervous during the interview and felt my voice cracking at times, but it was a lot of fun and I was happy to meet the producer, Maday Rodriguez, as well as Anthony Pineda, the photographer from Channel 7. Andrea, our customer, was such a sport about the whole thing and not only visited a "Botanica", but allowed to be filmed doing the burial ritual and let Channel 7 into her home.

I am a bit nervous at the whole editing business and hope that I am not taken out of context when they cut and snip the taping. The story should air on February 8th (I will include a link in Miamism.com when it does).

 

WSVN Channel 7 - Miamism Interview

 

(pictured from left to right:  Ines Hegedus-Garcia, Maday Rodriguez, Anthony Pineda, Andrea Williams)

And just in case I am taken out of context, here's my rational explanation why the ritual of burying a St. Joseph Statue can only help the sale of your Miami real estate.

We all know that Real estate is an emotional process. As much as we would like to think of it as business, there are a lot of feelings and sometimes sheltered emotions that are involved.

In the case of sellers, we encounter that a lot of the time there are emotional blocks where subconsciously a seller does not really want to sell their home; whether it's because of priceless memories that the home holds or simply because they dread having to pack and move and to find a new place. (I know this may be a bit far fetched for "the skeptics").

The actual ritual of buying and burying the statue can help break the emotional block, and ultimately make the house more welcoming to prospective buyers.

In the case of Andrea, the whole process went a step further. Her house had been listed for nearly 8 months without much luck. She took this opportunity as a chance to change the process, allow new energy into the sale of her home and she not only did the ritual, but also decluttered so her house would show better.  She did later admit that although she wanted to sell, she didn't take the sale seriously before, and now was ready.

I thank Maday Rodriguez for finding the article and for letting us join in the fun.  Thanks also to Andrea for playing along.  Now let's get that house SOLD!

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Comments (44)

Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information

This is another great story from you two. Of course you're saving the footage. It's gold. Good luck on the sale, and see what a good blog post can bring? But you already knew that.

cheers 

Jan 21, 2008 08:18 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Gary - we not only know that......we now have proof!  : ) thanks!
Jan 21, 2008 09:58 AM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD
I have often wondered why people did this................
Jan 24, 2008 06:21 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
B and BJ - I hope you understand now! : )
Jan 24, 2008 06:26 AM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Ines,

First of all congratulations for getting TV exposure, that's the best media exposure of all. 

I remember when I was selling my own house I went to a Catholic religious store and felt like I was doing something very sacriligeous by buying a St. Joseph's statue.  I'm not at all religious, but it just felt disrespectful to deliberately buy a religious icon and to know you were doing so with the plan to bury him head first in dirt.  Well to my surprise, when I asked where the St. Joseph statues were located, the clerk perked up and said, "Oh, you must be selling your home!" and led me to a big display of the statues especially for that purpose. 

That's a really funny story about your son's attachment to the St. Joseph's statues.  I love it!

Jan 27, 2008 02:03 PM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Thanks Gail - the producer told me that The Catholic church refused to be interviewed.  They said that they did not support the whole St. Joseph burial ritual (I was very surprised to hear that).  They were able to interview a local Catholic priest that LOVES the camera - of course I'll include the link here when it comes out.
Jan 27, 2008 02:38 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT
Ines - I can see why the Catholic church wouldn't want any part of it.  It would make sense that a religion that places a high importance on its icons wouldn't want them defiled in any way or used for non-religious reasons.   Although the religious store sure didn't have a problem capitalizing on the trend!  I'm curious, what did the priest have to say about this practice?
Jan 28, 2008 01:14 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

I was not at the interview with the priest - we'll have to wait until the story airs.

Jan 28, 2008 01:28 AM
Janie Coffey
First Coast Sotheby’s International Realty - Ponte Vedra, FL
Uniting Extraordinary Homes w/ Extraordinary Lives
Ines your branding with the orange is just the total BOMB!!!! You have raised the notch soooo much, I am so amazed, you go girl!
Feb 10, 2008 01:20 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

Hey Janie - thanks for that!  you know I've been working hard on it.  The story was a big disappointment - they did not even include the client's address or information and they cut me off the interview completely on the last second because of time restraints the day they ran the office.

Go figure - everyone went out of their way to make this happen, and Channel 7 let us down.  You better believe I'll think twice next time they ask. (to think I missed my son's baseball game for this).

On a positive note - the whole St. Joseph process has brought a whole new light to the sale and we are getting a lot of movement.

Feb 10, 2008 03:09 AM
Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent
Oh, Inez....I'm so sorry you did not make it on the air.  On the brighter side, It's great that you're getting renewed interest on the property!
Feb 10, 2008 05:03 PM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Nancy - I was warned by many people - I figured they would keep at least 10 seconds of the 45 minute interview, but cut me out all together.  I always go out of my way to see the positive in things and yes, the fact that the listing is getting movement is a great thing.
Feb 11, 2008 12:58 AM
Diana Perez
Majestic Properties - Miami, FL
Hi Ines, I am just curious as to what would be the repurcussions if someone were to find a St. Joseph plastic figure buried in the front garden while trying to improve their landscaping and by lack of knowledge would throw away St. Joseph.
Mar 10, 2008 05:33 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

OMG Diana thanks for the smile!!  What to do when you accidentally throw a St. Joseph statue away? Let me think:

  • If you are really concerned and feel like you need to do something - think about purchasing another St. Joseph statue and maybe lighting a candle, saying a prayer and asking for forgiveness.
  • If you really don't believe in St. Joseph - do nothing.
  • Remeber the whole ritual is about prayer and belief - we all have our different ways of "believing" and whatever you feel is correct will do.

I had someone tell me recently that once they do sell the house, they dig up the statue and pass it along to someone else that may need help.  Another person keeps the stature in case they need it.  And many just leave it in the ground.

Personally - I don't think you can go wrong - do what feels right to you.

Mar 10, 2008 08:44 AM
Diana Perez
Majestic Properties - Miami, FL
Very good thoughts Ines, and out of respect whether what religious background one comes from or believes in, I think that whether you bury a St. Joseph, a Buddha, or a Jesus (personally I would not do the latter), but whatever god one believes in to have respect for other religions.
Mar 11, 2008 05:36 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Diana - you are completely right - I do think it has to do with the power of intention.  Thanks so much for adding to the discussion.
Mar 20, 2008 06:46 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor
Amen to that!  I've long believe that spirtual realm has an effect on our houses.........and that houses 'hold' the spiritual impressions of the people who have lived in them........I can feel them the minute I cross the threshold............But what I wanted to comment on ....is that I  was reading a blog about great Active Rain Profiles......and yours was listed.......It was my favorite.....the two of you look like to Greek Gods.........lol.........but the profile is super.........and embellishments appealing........all around sleek..:-)
Apr 02, 2008 06:41 PM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Hi Liz - thanks so much for the compliment.....what a way to start the day (now I'll be walking on a cloud) - as for the "spiritual realm", it's  extremely powerful energy that in my opinion we should not fight but work with.
Apr 03, 2008 01:44 AM
Lynne Pope
eXp realty, MFA,Hermosa Beach,Redondo Beach,South Bay - Los Angeles, CA
"Out of the Blue" solutions for perfect homes

I love the joy in your posts and the responses. I pray that the clients will find their home or sell it.

Every miracle we value finding

our relationships

our home

our community and schools and neighbors

discovering it right under our noses...sometimes.

Jul 07, 2009 12:44 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

thanks so much Lynne!  - sometimes it is about being creative :)

Jul 08, 2009 03:21 AM