Title: The "Hassle Premium": Why Japanese Builders Hesitate to Work with Foreigners

While a very small fraction of land brokers in Japan can handle foreign languages, the construction sector remains largely domestic. Even in a shrinking market for new homes, many builders do not actively seek international clients.

The Cost of "Tema" (Hassle)

The reason is practical rather than ideological. Builders worry that language barriers will lead to mistakes in meetings, misunderstandings about specifications, or difficulties in mediating with neighbours. In short, it increases "Tema" (hassle or effort).

To protect themselves, builders often set a higher profit margin when quoting for foreign clients. You may be paying extra just to cover their fear of administrative trouble.

How to Lower the Hurdle

To get a fair deal, you need to relieve the person in charge of this psychological burden. Approaching them with a clear message like, "We have arranged professional translation for important documents separately," can be highly effective.

At Dwell Japan, we go beyond translation. We act as a liaison to confirm details with manufacturers and contractors (excluding tasks restricted by law), removing the "hassle" factor.