"Sorry, no English"

[Captain Jack]

What gets me is there are plenty tht do speak English, but fake the "No English" routine. Why, I dunno. I'm there to help them. I don't bite. I want to help people, I like helping people. It irritates me that things have to be so rediculously complicated...

Originally Posted by Bill in San Jose

Have you had any 'leads' from 3 open houses?

That's actually 6 open houses. And, yes, I got a few leads from the few that do speak english.

I got a RE license a couple years ago, and one of the Brokers I spoke with about a job told me the 'secret' about open houses.

Heh, that is no secret now that you posted it. You blew it.

The purpose (only) of an open house is to give the Realtor an opportunity to go and meet your neighbors (to invite them to the open house, should they know somebody who was looking) and to get new clients. People visiting an open house are either looking to buy a house, or sell theirs and buy a new one- both clients for the Realtor.

The purpose of an Open House is to meet buyers and sellers. You never know what you will get. Sometimes you get nothing.

Open houses are how thieves 'case' homes to know which ones to have their associates burglarize. I wouldn't let somebody into my home without my first photocopying their drivers license, and checking that the face and picture match- not that it's a guarantee with all the forged ID cards out there.

You'll never sell your home then. No one wants to be interrogated.

If your home is listed, and not vacant, then you:

1. Take lots of pictures of your valuables. You should do this anyway.
2. Lock up and/or take with you anything you don't want people to see or find.
3. Don't leave things lying around.
4. Keep your house as clean and "vanilla" looking as possible.
5. Have your Agent get people to sign in as soon as they enter.

I never let people wanter about unattended in an occupied home. I'm always there with them. Sometimes I bring along an "assistant".

[xracer]

Originally Posted by chupacabrachus

Is it really though? If I was buying a house in a country where I didn't speak the native tongue I would certainly choose a realtor that spoke my first language.

I think if i were to buy a house , or even move to a country other than mine , i would make it my business to learn the lingo! IMHO.

[Captain Jack]

^Exactly. Thank you.

[Breadfan]

Living in a country without wanting to learn its official language is just lack of culture and pure ignorancy.

I mean, when you go somewhere as a tourist you are expected to either know the language of the country OR speak english (one of the most wide spread international lanaguages) let alone being a citizen.

I know we have lots of Italians visiting Croatia in summer and they don't speak anything but italian.

I speak english and german and all of that knowledge goes thru the window when I encounter an Italian I have to use the body language, wave hands just to help them out in their quest to find a certain store or a parking lot.

But IMO it's unacceptable and shows lack of respect when you actually live in a country you don't WANT TO speak it's language and I'm sure most of them just don't want to learn it and use it as they already feel comfy in their own surrounding.

[1lowlife]

Get a realtor, let them deal with it.
They will prequalify anyone BEFORE they show the house.
They communicate with prospective buyers and their agents.
Stop wasting your time.
Stop getting yourself worked up.
If you haven't hired a real estate agent, stop being a cheapskate and get one.
If you have hired one then get another, you shouldn't be dealing with these non-English speaking people.

I sold my last house to a man that didn't speak English, I didn't care.
I never met him.
The neighborhood was being bought up by Hispanics as soon as a home went up for sale.
I got married and wanted a new home with my new wife.
I also wanted to get out of Dallas County and get in the country a bit.
I had my agent show him the house, when I wasn't there, with his agent.
No one wants to look at a home with someone watching over their shoulder the whole time.
My agent made sure who they were and made sure they would be able to afford the home before she ever showed it.
That didn't waste my time, the buyers time, or the realtor's time.
I got my asking price, less than a month I put it up for sale.
He was legal, he made enough to get the loan, that is all I cared about.

This isn't a good time to be selling a home anywhere.
Get a realtor and let them do the work for you.
It is worth it.
Your post is a prime example.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Jack
I never let people wanter about unattended in an occupied home. I'm always there with them. Sometimes I bring along an "assistant".

That is what a realtor is for.
It is no wonder why you haven't sold this house yet...........

[cozy338]

Originally Posted by Breadfan

Living in a country without wanting to learn its official language is just lack of culture and pure ignorancy.

Unfortunately we don't have an official language.....that would be politically incorrect

[WD40]

I was stationed in Germany for three years so I learned to speak German. It was great! There are a lot of Spanish speaking people where I live now, so I am learning to speak Spanish. I had a garage sale last week end and talked to a Mexican gentleman for a while. I thought it fun and he turned out to be time to bitch about not understanding what a heck of nice guy. Learn a new language! It is actually fun if you don't mind a little bit of work.

[Smoke_Works]

Originally Posted by Captain Jack

You know, i'm so tired of hearing that. I've held an open house on my listing for the past 3 weeks and nearly EVERYONE who has come to see the house can NOT speak english. That's all I ever heard. How can I earn a living if I can not communicate with anyone? It's bullsh**. I'm sorry, but I'm just so mad. I'm a white guy, and where I live is mostly asian. NONE of them want to talk to me. But when my associate who is asian came by for a visit, they wasted no time talking to her. So, how do you think that makes me feel? They tell me "No english", or if I ask if they have any questions or if they like the house, they say "I think about it", but they chat up a storm with her. I mean, asking about making an offer kind of chat... Gah, I'm just exasperated...and depressed. I just can't seem to make an honest living.

Part of the reason my Dad moved out of the Bay Area with his practice, it wasn't a racist thing it was a patient thing. The Asian population only went to Asian doctors, and likewise in other professions.

I am a Realtor here in North Idaho however we don't have any issues with language as it is 98% caucasian in this state. I know anything I say from here on sounds racist, please trust that it is not. I don't know how many Californians I have sold homes to that just want to get away from that place because of the hatred bestowed upon THEM, not their distaste for others. I hear many comments such as, "we love it here because it is so laid back, just good people getting along with good people", which I can agree with, then I have been here for 21 years however anytime I go to a culturally diverse city, I do notice the racial divides to be quite prevalent.

[LUVMYSIGP225]

Originally Posted by Cannibul

That could get your ass in a huge sling when it comes to selling a house.

There are subtle to ways to do it. My friend is a realtor with many rental properties. He has successfully screened the types of people he wishes not to rent to. He has done it for nearly 20 years. He is good at doing it during the intial phone call.

"Sorry, that house has been rented. Sorry, the security deposit is 12 months rent in advance. Sorry, no pets. Sorry, no section 8".

[Carnivorous]

Originally Posted by LUVMYSIGP225

There are subtle to ways to do it. My friend is a realtor with many rental properties. He has successfully screened the types of people he wishes not to rent to. He has done it for nearly 20 years. He is good at doing it during the intial phone call.

"Sorry, that house has been rented. Sorry, the security deposit is 12 months rent in advance. Sorry, no pets. Sorry, no section 8".

Unless those statements are all actually true, your "friend" could get in six kinds of trouble doing that. There are companies that, to this day, will call up or visit brokers and leasing companies with both a minority and a white, with nearly identical qualifications, and make sure you're not discriminating. Sounds bizarre, but it's a hold-over from back in the day when some people couldn't find a decent apartment to save their life, since many brokerages would lie to them to avoid having "their kind" on the property.