Negotiators at Falcon and Foxglove (Burnley) have taken to burying statues of St Joseph in the gardens of properties they’re trying to sell.
St Joseph? Despite many years enduring the tender ministrations of Sisters of Mercy, Christian Brothers, Jesuits and Dominicans, this is a new one on me.
But a quick Google of St Joseph does indeed reveal that he’s the patron saint of carpentry, property and home sales (he’s also the man to get in touch with if you want an easy death, but let’s move quickly on…).
There’s quite a little cottage industry out there on the interweb flogging St Joseph home sale kits to the devout and the desperate – take your pick from:
Or my own particular favorite:
Once you have your statue, you bury yer man in the garden (upside down according to some), say a quick prayer, and stand well back to avoid being trampled by the stampede of heaven-sent buyers …
But does it work? Howard Baker of Falcon & Foxglove told Estate Agent Today: “Very few houses were selling and we just thought it was worth a try.
“When the first house sold within four days I thought it was a coincidence, but the second sale happened only days later, followed by the third shortly afterwards.
“We are always looking for new ways of marketing properties and making them more saleable, so we are willing to try anything that helps to sell houses.”
Hmmm. Spooky!
Now why, oh why, didn’t someone tell the DCLG about this before they went to all the trouble of introducing HIPs?
My thanks go to Mike O'Flynn for this amusing if not slightly wierd story.
You will note no tea or cakes have been mentioned in this story - Mrs Jackson has me on a diet and I'm trying not to think about doughnuts, butteries, vanilla slices, fresh apricot Danish pastries, warm pain au raisin's, croissants with jam, Russian slice, blueberry muffins............
Hungrily yours,
Mr Jackson.
Posts
