If a Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words, What’s a Best Picture Worth?

Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

I’m not much of a movie buff. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen a movie in a movie theatre in well over two years. I’m thinking the last movie I might have gone to see was “The Big Short” and before that, I’m certain it was back when Harry Potter was still killing it at the box office.

On the other hand, many people I know like my Mom and my good friend and fellow podcast host Bill Risser are movie nuts. They attend movies throughout the year and make it a priority to see all of the Academy Award nominated films for Best Picture.

So today’s fictional story is a tip of the hat to movie lovers everywhere as well as real estate practitioners because it involves many Best Picture winners from the past…

If a Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words, What’s a Best Picture Worth?

I had just received an email inquiry on my newest listing. It came from “An American in Paris” (1951) who was considering a move back to the United States. His name was “Tom Jones” (1963) and he was debating between a new home in Central Ohio or he was going to move to “Chicago” (2002).

I responded quickly and told him I was just the Realtor he was looking for and he agreed to work with me. While I wasn’t “The Godfather” (1972) of the local real estate market, I assured him I would keep his best interests in the “Spotlight” (2015) throughout the transaction.

I asked if he had a home he needed to sell there in France before moving across the Atlantic and he said, “N0, “The Apartment” (1960) I was living in is owned by my ex-wife, “Annie Hall” (1977). Our relationship turned “Rocky” (1976) when she found out that I was a “Man for All Seasons” (1966) and had connected with a woman named “Gigi” (1958) that I met on “The Lost Weekend” (1945) I spent at the “Grand Hotel” (1931/32) in “Casablanca.” (1943)

“You see, we used to live in Capetown,” Mr Jones told me.  “We had a beautiful house “On the Waterfront” (1954) where we spent “The Best Years of Our Lives.” (1946) but after my indiscretions, we both felt it was best if we moved “Out of Africa.” (1985)

“Annie was truly an “American Beauty” (1999) and I didn’t want to lose her, ” said Mr Jones, “so I called “Oliver” (1968) “Patton (1970) from Coldwell Banker in Paris.”

“By the way,” Mr Jones laughed, interrupting his own story, “he is “The French Connection” (1971) who put me in touch with you.”

Mr Jones continued, “He told us in his broken English that we’d have to spend about a “Million Dollar Baby” (2004) for a decent place in the French capital. I hesitated because that was a lot of money but I wanted to be a “Braveheart” (1995) and start fresh with Annie. I knew life wouldn’t be fun if I remained “Unforgiven” (1992) forever, so I made a “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) for the apartment we ended up buying. We left South Africa “In the Heat of the Night” (1967) and settled in this place on the “West Side Story” (1961) part of  Paris.”

“For a few more years we shared many “Terms of Endearment” (1983) but the “Silence of the Lambs” (1991) between us just grew to be too much. Just like that our relationship was “Gone with the Wind” (1939).”

I asked if he still had any commitments to take care of there in France and he said, “No, but to her credit, “My Fair Lady” (1964) made me a “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) when she bought out my share of the apartment. I’ve just decided that France is “No Country for Old Men” (2007) and moving to America might just help return me “A Beautiful Mind” (2001). 

Mr Jones told me he recently sold his “Chariots of Fire” (1981) because his ex-wife told him, “You Can’t Take it With You.” (1938). “Seeing as I won’t be “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989) anymore, I decided to put it up for sale on “Schindler’s List” (1993) which is like Craigslist over there…but different. It turns out that “The Deer Hunter” who lived next door to us ended up buying it.”

“When “Amadeus” (1984) came over from next door to pay me for the vehicle,” Mr. Jones uttered, “I told him you can drive this vehicle “From Here to Eternity” (1953) but just don’t drive it in the “Rain Man.” (1988) She never handles so good in bad weather.” 

 I told Mr Jones I was excited to work with him I promised I would do my best to take “The Sting” (1973) out of his last real estate experience.  He assured me that as long as the real estate market didn’t “Crash” (2005) again anytime soon, he was ready to go. “You know Sean,” he uttered, “I think things are going to start “Going My Way.” (1944)

I think you all know how the rest of the story goes, right? Turns out he was an “English Patient” (1996) at a mental hospital who simply had access to email one day and decided to surf around on Zillow. Mr Jones isn’t the only bad lead I have ever received online but he was the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), that’s for sure. He won’t be the last “Midnight Cowboy” (1969) I’ll run into as a Realtor but clearly, common sense had “Departed” (2006) from this potential customer.

Oh well, back to the drawing board. I’ll just try and stay busy with genuine leads and referrals as well as continue to book speaking gigs. As long as I don’t have to “Moonlight” (2016) as a waiter to make ends meet, I’ll be okay.

Until next week, enjoy the popcorn and keep building relationships, solving problems and having fun!

Photo Credit” Robert Couse-Baker via Flickr

Photo Credit: Davidlohr Bueso via Flickr