Hi everyone,
My wife and I are finally starting to look into upgrading to our own house in the Nishinomiya area. I have read through multiple posts, blogs, and watched countless videos on what to expect. But the one thing I can't seem to find any solid info on is how to manage not having sufficient Japanese skills for discussing the complex topics such as insulation, loans, taxes, etc.
Wondering if anyone here has gone through a similar hurdle and how they handled it? Is there any third party translator service I could hire to sit in on all the meetings?
Thanks for any help or suggestions in advance!
by sleepless_in_Osaka
2 comments
Thank god I have a Japanese wife. My Japanese is pretty good, but I don’t know how I would have gotten through the mountains of documents involved in building a house without her. If I were in your situation, I think I would try to find a Japanese friend or colleague you trust and pay them to act as an interpreter/translator. They may refuse to accept payment at first, but you should insist because it will not be a small task – maybe pay by the hour – and you want them to stay with you throughout the process. Good luck!
Sounds crazy (and maybe irresponsible given the sums of money involved) but have you ever tried using the paid version of ChatGPT as a simultaneous interpreter?
I used it while I was on holiday abroad a few months back and honestly it was *breathtakingly* good.