As our country becomes more culturally diverse, real estate professionals need to develop sensitivity to the traditions, customs and beliefs of their clients and customers. In America, we are comfortable shaking hands, patting shoulders, touching elbows and arms as we talk with one another and we usually like to maintain about 2 feet of personal space around us. People from other cultures may shun physical contact and be offended if we shake their hand, pat them on the back or touch them while talking. However, they may get physically closer to us than what we usually experience if they come from a culture that only requires on foot of personal space. Social behavior of other cultures may include getting to know one another before business dealings take place.
Many cultures believe that quality of life issues are more important than being efficient.
Impatient Americans may be frustrated by the amount of time spent on preliminaries by other cultures. We are quick to address someone by the first name and expect him or her to do the same. We tend to reflect our personal qualities in our business relationships and consider our business relationships separate from our personal friendships. Peoples from other cultures tend to take a long time to establish a friendship and maintain formality until a relationship is established. Many of them may consider it rude to ask personal questions about family and jobs when they first meet.