"Sorry, no English"

[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.

[JeffXD]

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.

Well, if it makes you feel any better... I am quitting. Not sure where you are, but there will be slightly less competition.

[afmo]

refuse to do business with anyone who doesn't communicate with you in english....

no speeka da engrish...den no sella you anyting....

[Cannibul]

Originally Posted by afmo

refuse to do business with anyone who doesn't communicate with you in english....

no speeka da engrish...den no sella you anyting....

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

[texas_rebel_1980]

if you're selling it privately you can sell it to whoever you damn well please. besides, is it his responsibility to hire a 'translator' to deal with these people who refuse to speak english, hell no. it damn sure isn't his responsibility to learn chinese, russian or mexican or what ever....

[Captain Jack]

Originally Posted by Cannibul

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

Tbat's right, it can. It is a big no-no to discriminate. It's too bad that there is no law saying customers can not descriminate as well.

Refusing to do business with non-english speakers can also get one out of business where there are mostly non-english speakers like where I am. And I find myself involuntarily going out of business because no one wants to talk to me because I don't speak Chinese or Spanish.

[Captain Jack]

Originally Posted by JeffXD

Well, if it makes you feel any better... I am quitting. Not sure where you are, but there will be slightly less competition.

It does not make me feel any better. I'm sorry to hear you are quitting.

[chupacabrachus]

Originally Posted by Captain Jack

...It's too bad that there is no law saying customers can not descriminate as well...

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.

[Bill in San Jose]

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

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.

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.

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.

[Vandal]

I thought about working for a landscaping company this summer and to get me hired i was going to use the line " I can speak english and communicate effectively with customers"

I ended up working for Ada County Pest, Weed and Mosquito Control. I have a brand new f-150 and drive around setting Mosquito traps to track the spread of West Nile. I work alone, meet interesting people and enjoy what I do. And I speak english!