Multilingual property seekers – how well could you advise them?

Multilingual property seekers – how well could you advise them?

Due to an expanding demographic, estate agents in London are finding themselves in need of multilingual staff. Our diverse nation is increasingly changing the face of the property market – should conveyancing firms take note?

Effective customer service within the property sector, particularly conveyancing, is vital for remaining competitive within the market. With many consumers coming into the UK not being able to speak fluent English, this is an area of your business that needs serious consideration.

Buying and selling a property is a complex and significant time for consumers, and being able to trust a legal professional to offer sound advice at such a stressful time is a top priority.

Being able to speak another language could be something you haven’t considered before. However there are studies that suggest there is a surge in demand for multilingual property professionals, particularly within the larger cities.

According to a recent study by estate agents, Greene & Co, a quarter of residential buyers within the capital are from overseas. Many of them would (understandably) prefer to speak in their native language, in order to make the moving process smoother and less stressful.

As a result, the business has hired more multilingual staff members, who now make up more than 10% of their team.

The overall demand for different languages varies from region to region, according to the Greene & Co. This is due to a range of work and lifestyle factors, particularly where families are concerned.

The estate agents’ West Hampstead branch has seen the greatest need for agents who speak other languages, including Spanish, Polish, and Arabic.

Within Kentish Town, Greene & Co have found there are many French buyers coming to the region, as there are popular French primary and secondary schools within the area. Such buyers are seeking family homes between Wembley Park and Maida Vale along the Bakerloo Line, as this location is within commuting distance of schools, including a new school due to open at the start of the autumn term next year in Wembley.

The business has also found that there is an increased number of Greek and Italian clients looking to buy within Maida Vale, who are looking to move from their current rental accommodation.

Managing Director of Greene & Co, David Pollock, advises, "In London’s constantly evolving property market we have to keep ahead of the requirements of our buyers and sellers. The upheaval of moving from one country to another can be quite unsettling; however, having an agent who can negotiate in your own language can make the process much easier and less stressful. We actively recruit agents who are multi-lingual and this is a trend I see growing."

Are you witnessing a surge in international clients seeking conveyancing services? Is this something the sector should be embracing, or do consumers need to study the details of conveyancing in English if they would like to move here?

On the other hand, do your English-speaking clients fully understand the intricacies of conveyancing?

Georgia Owen

Georgia is the Content Executive and will be your primary contact when submitting your latest news. While studying for an LLB at the University of Liverpool, Georgia gained experience working within retail, as well as social media management. She later went on to work for a local newspaper, before starting at Today’s Conveyancer.

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