7,836,419
It depends on the market. Seniors may well reject a poorly dressed agent for the simple reason that they have no confidence in a professional who fails to dress like a professional.
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Juli Vosmik
Scottsdale, AZ
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John Grissom
O'Fallon, IL
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Frank Rubi
Metairie, LA
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Gene Fitzpatrick
Charlotte, NC
5,104,931
Suit and tie! We are dealing with people spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. We wouldn't expect to see our attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, etc. in shorts and t-shirts!
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Donna Quinlan
Newburyport, MA
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Kathleen Frawley
Wilton, CA
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Gene Fitzpatrick
Charlotte, NC
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
1,574,666
I wear a dress shirt (with or without tie) every day. I never know who I am going to bump into and even if the tie is not on it is available for that unscheduled appointment. Not everyone in Florida wears flowery shirts and shorts and flip flops every day!
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Kathleen Frawley
Wilton, CA
821,426
Depends on my market - horse properties - jeans and boots. High end, dress up definitely required. Rehab foreclosures in 110 degree heat - the least amount possible - typically a pair of golf shorts and nicer summer shirt - not a tee. Then, head home for the second shower of the day, LOL.
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Jan Green - Scottsdale...
Scottsdale, AZ
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Juli Vosmik
Scottsdale, AZ
542,076
I show a lot of equestrian properties and farms. Then it is jeans and boots because we will be walking land. To show upscale residential I dress in slacks and a nice sweater or jacket.
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Jan Green - Scottsdale...
Scottsdale, AZ
432,957
I completely depends on the client.
If I am with investors- I will dress down- as we will usually be going into gross properties and/ or construction sites.
The first time I meet a client - I am dressed to impress. I then gauge their expectations and go from there. Different ages have different expectations. I have some clients that appreciate a more casual dress code.
There are also my clients that wear $500.00 shoes. They will want me to look upscale.
Yes- this sometimes catches me with the wrong attire for the client- but usually by that point they have observed the reason they picked me (knowledge) and it is no longer a factor. (This typically only happens if I am on the run and squeezing something in.)
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Jan Green - Scottsdale...
Scottsdale, AZ
713,369
Depends upon your market. Suit and tie would look out of place in a beach community, just as shorts and tee shirt would in a New York high rise. Know your market and your clientele and dress accordingly.
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Bill Panton
Bend, OR
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Frank Rubi
Metairie, LA
1,209,215
It depends on the situation. Listing appointment? Dress pants and buttoned shirt. Showings with a new buyer? Sometimes the same, sometimes jeans and a nice shirt. I like style, but you won't see me in a suit and tie unless somebody's dead.
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Frank Rubi
Metairie, LA
1,432,649
The only time I have worn shorts is on very hot days with clients I have a good relationship with. It is not lazy on my part, it is to keep me comfortable and to keep me moving through a long day of showing homes in the heat. I know it sounds pathetic, but a long day of showing homes leaves me very sore and tired.
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Gene Riemenschneider
Brentwood, CA
187,583
I went one summer and never wore anything other than shorts and tennis shoes and sold just as much as when I sweated to death in a suit or slacks and a jacket. If you are professional and courteous you'll do fine. I think if someone can't get past what you are wearing I don't care to work with them anyway.
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Doyle Davison
Huntington Beach, CA
557,375
It depends on many factors, but Pete X's comment is the coolest IMHO.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
953,717
In my Zegna suite and tie for a multi million dollar listing appointment in Beverly Hills/Newport Beach (if it's only a million...tie comes off) and only my briefs on for telephone prospecting and follow up.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
969,888
I agree with know your market. But no shorts or tee shirt for me regardless. Dress shirt, on occasion a tie, sport coat and blue jeans and dress shoes work for my clients. Most of my business now is referral so they pretty much know what they get with me.
105,987
I've been working with realtors now for almost two months, and the most successful realtors I work with always dress business casual. The ones who are just starting out often tend to wear what I consider weekend clothes for being around the house. First impressions are the door to getting business from clients and becoming successful.
If you want to be successful and give the right impression to clients, go to work dressed like your a professional.
Here is the other key to dressing for success. GET TO KNOW YOUR CLIENT. Some clients dress like slobs while others dress like corporate professionals. You want to try and match your client without going below business casual. This gives the client the impression your not better than them, and creates a good first impression.
4,999
I used to be a suit and tie guy, now I sell in South Bay area of Southern California where most people are in shorts and a tee shirt. I am typically in slacks and a dress shirt now, I haven't been able to make the move to shorts yet. I guess it just depends on where you work along with your clients comfort level.
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Doyle Davison
Huntington Beach, CA
355,039
I wear slacks and a dress shirt or a golf type polo every day. If I'm walking neighborhoods I'll swap the slacks for jeans and wear some walking shoes so I dont look so salesman-ish.
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Frank Rubi
Metairie, LA
3,340,443
A long time ago...before I was in real estate some said"Dress the way you want to be treated." Amen and Women
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Gene Fitzpatrick
Charlotte, NC
885,790
Good question. I change my clothes depending on what I'm showing and the type of client I'm meeting. It does matter. I never wear shorts, but I can definitely be more or less casual as the situation requires. I need to be taken seriously and not look like I'm a part time working and part time hanging out at my pool. Dress for success they say. I find that it matters!
279,878
630,251
4,800,082
4,319,419
131,196
In our area it is jeans and tennis shoes or boots. There are a lot of oil field workers and cowboys here. When the temperatures are over 100 during the summer, many agents will wear nice shorts with tennis shoes, but we do have some agents that do wear their flip flops. For me it is always jeans with a casual pair of shoes.
1,622,432
Depends where you sell your properties. I heard about agents who where showing houses in Malibu in swim suits:)
1,257,045
Funny that you ask that question. In our 110 degree heat as Juli Vosmik quotes we end up dressing cooler, but I still wear nice clothes. It's not easy but we try to always be professional in our hot climate.
51,536
I always dress in suits, skirts or dresses. I work in a beach town but it works for me.
1,683,912
No Shorts or T Shirt. Depends on the client, maybe suit and tie, but mostly casual. It makes the buyers feel more comfotable. I'm more apt to wear tie when going to a listing.
3,988,007
This is not a tie and coat area and if a guy comes in dressed like that agents tease and asked who died. Business casual works best in Clarksville. Shorts are not appropriate to be in the office IMHO.
1,771,867
Never ever shorts. If I know the buyer client it is jeans and a nice button down shirt. A listing appointment, nicer slacks. Not many people wear ties these days.
5,772,575
Here in Santa Barbara, it is dress pants and shirts. There is a firm in Florida that requires suits and ties, and suits and dresses for women including panty hose....It is what works in the market. Shorts in my opinion would definitely not work. A
16,817
I agree with always being ready for what the day may bring. I don't always wear heels but I don't wear jeans for appointments or to the office.
37,691
Wow so many varied opinions! I have to agree that knowing your client and market is huge. For me there is another factor though. When I started out in Real Rstate I thought that suit and tie was a must, but the truth is that I grew up a farm boy and then was a steel worker for 30 years before entering Real Estate. Suit and tie is not really who I am, and I think any one who knows me for 5 minutes is going to realize that. I dont want to pretend I am some one I am not so it is usually short sleeve collard shirts and slacks for me and if the weather is cold I throw on a sport coat. I know there are people out there who view my casual dress code a sign of disrespect, but there are also many who apreciate my down to earth style and honesty. Not likely we can please every one
236,403
somewhere in between? I don't think agents should wear jeans and t shirts. However, a tie is very formal for my area in Southern California. Maybe polo shirts and slacks?
245,600
We are in a resort environment selling a lifestyle more than a property. Shorts, yes. T-shirt, no but a golf type with collar. Sandals, no but boat shoes sure.
356,182
I think it depends on your market..and the weather! For the most part I wear casual clothing that fits in with my client's expectations. No shorts or tee shirts, but nice jeans and a button down shirt is good for our market.
46,277
Great topic. I personally believe in dressing honestly for who you are and yet being open to adjusting your attire to your client, geography, climate, type of properties being shown, type of market you serve. Don't overdress or underdress, be real.
735,052
Ha! If I showed up in a suit and tie in my farm I'd be disc'd immediately. Not so sure about the shorts and T shirts, however. That may be pushing the envelope unless you just got out of the water with your client. LOL!
In our funky little beach community almost anything goes. I've thrown away more moth chewed ties and dress shirts than I've purchased in the past 2 decades. Shorts and even sandals are widely accepted if not proper protocol.
Tommy Bahama style are more the norm, however, over T-shirts. It's part of the surf/beach culture and you'd be as out of place at the beach donning a tie and slacks as you would in your shorts, sandals and Tommy Bahama in Beverly Hills.
That stated, However, It's even different in beach cities like La Jolla, Del Mar and Newport beach. Not saying Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the Sea, Carlsbad and Oceanside don't harbor high end properties.
In fact the 92024 zip code, funky Leucadia, boasts price points as high as La Jolla and Newport Beach. But truth be known the dress code is a little more demanding and protocol leans a Little more towards a shirt, tie, slacks, even nice Levis and Top Siders but no sandals.
That's my 3 cents worth (adjusted for inflation).
145,595
It all depends on the client and sometimes the property, maybe even the weather. If I am going to spend the day touring acreage or foreclosures, for instance, probably jeans and boots, you never know what to expect. Otherwise pretty casual for the most part.
258,273
Suit and tie! My dress shows respect (or lack of respect) for whoever I am representing.
10,953
I vote for the shirt and tie. Not only does it look professional; but it also sets you apart and people remember you.
637,434
Casual chic, not too dressy, no shoes I can't walk in depending on the terrain.
371,913
In the winter, shirt & tie, coat or vest optional. Summer (South Alabama heat'n'humidity - polo & khaki long pants.
631,962
Suit and tie depends on the client, but shorts and T is a bit to casual. We are professionals...se need to look like professionals. WE are getting a bad rap many times and the overly casual look doesn't help.
49,761
I worked in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for many years and always wore a shirt and tie and nice slacks, even with that humid weather. Jeans may be in with many but a nice pair of khakis/slacks are more professional, even if you are "walking properties".
There are times that I will wear a jacket and tie; often when I am meeting a Realtor at their office for the first time.
330,375