Do you have language skills... Or language resources?

I was talking to my friend Ahmed Ammar today about building business, and addressing niches today. 

We got into languages and I asked him, "What languages do you speak other than English?"

He said, "Arabaic."

Me, "Well, you should be blogging an English/Arabic blog.  And an English/Arabic newsletter.  There are many people in our community who would find comfort knowing a broker spoke Arabic, don't you think?"

He agreed.  Now I want to see if he follows through and takes the challenge.

Ahmed laughed hard when I couldn't tell him what a major language in India is.  "Jeeze, Ahmed, I was born in the USA.  Don't you know the whole world is supposed to talk so I can understand them?"

I thought I'd have to lay a Heimlich on him, he laughed so hard.  High five!  When he recovered we came up with Urdu.  Now I think of Hindi, in hindsight.  Of course, Urdu is more Pakistani, I believe.  See, this can be hard work!

I had mentioned to Ahmed that I had given referrals to my friend, Axel Forno.

Axel helped me out when I found a prospective Buyer and was building my case, and then sent her in to see my HomeBanc mortgage friend Kevin Martini.

 Mr. Martini called me and told me the young lady had asked if we had any agents who spoke Spanish.  One of the intangible benefits of having talented bankers sharing office space.  Well, we sure do, and Axel stepped in, and got the client into a home.   

I hadn't sensed the language barrier.  Too many "Yesses" to too many "yes or no" questions led me to believe we were on an even keel.  (Note to self:  Pay attention and have the prospect confirm understanding via repeating the thought.) 

Then there was the nice feller who told me about his wife who worked with German folks relocating to NC/SC.

"Do you have any German-speaking agents?"  Gesa!  I connected him with Gesa, and managed to overhear a conversation in German that was far beyond my ken.

Point being:  Does your office have a list of folks who speak foreign languages, and which languages?  And are they fluent enough to transact a liability-riddled real estate transaction in the languages they claim?

We have folks who speak English, French, German, Chinese, Arabaic, Spanish, Italian, and who knows what.  I'm going to make it a personal project to make a list of the languages our market center can do business in. 

Next step?  Marketing it, of course!