Never.  There are cool summer materials that will keep you looking crisp and cool without showing skin.  For the ladies, a dress or skirt will always be cooler than shorts.  And yes, I'm in Canada but we get 100+ degrees and high high humidity up here too.  Don't make people guess who the professional might be :)

Debbie, although I live in Florida, I don't meet my customers in shorts.  However, I do have some nice summer dresses that will keep me cool and still looking good and professional. 

We always follow the guideline: Dress like you wish to be treated....different markets dress differently ....dress for business is what we do.

Being a Nashville agent I try to dress where my clients will feel.comfortable. When I show land I generally wear jeans and cowboy boots in the fall.winter and spring then when it's really hot I pull out the dress shorts and cute dresses with those same boots. I never want my clients to feel like I am better than they and business suits are just not who I am so I try very hard to find a good middle.ground between dressy and casual. Puts them at ease right away and I let my work ethic do the rest of the talking for me!

if it's extremely hot and it's acceptable in your area..... it's fine here, if it's extremely hot.... 

Debbie, I do not presume to tell others how to dress; but I do notice such things, and figure clients do also.  My thought simply, in all things professional, is do nothing to bring undue attention to one's self, including shoes, hats, shirts and perfume.

I personally never wear shorts in public, at least not since my high school and college track & cross country days.  I am a coat & tie guy, and generally shed the coat on summer days.  Most of my adult years have been spent as a minister and/or a mortgage loan officer, so my "work uniform" generally includes a neck tie.  My point is that it is a matter of personal taste, comfort, and circumstances.

The world has gotten more casual....  But Shorts?  No, loose fitting linen looks better and feels good.

We do all the time.  Years ago I was taking a couple through a $4,000,000 property and the agent met us in a wrinkled shirt, shorts and flip flops.  Our lives changed that day.

Even in my market, I don't think shorts would be a good idea. I'm wearing capri pants these days. 

Sure. Wear your shorts and keep cool. 

Maybe if they've called you at the last minute and only want to view one house and you've met with them several times already. In other words, basically, no, I don't really think it is acceptable. At the least, I throw on a skort, top, and sandals!

Here in Honolulu we have "casual Fridays" in offices, but that still doesn't include shorts. If one is out and about showing homes? If I knew the clients, maybe Bermuda shorts and a nice top. Never flip flops.

I can relate. I don't really feel it's appropriate for me. I can't speak for others. As an older gal, I feel I can't get away with stuff the younger women can. I have worn Bermuda shorts once or twice when we were in the worst of the summer...

For me, the answer also depends on who I am meeting - do they know me vs. a first meeting, etc.

I am in Phoenix, AZ and it doesn't get much hotter than here.  Almost all my clients are wearing shorts when I meet with them in the summer.  I have had many say to me they don't care about what I were and that I should be comfortable.  That's very nice, but as the real estate professional, I feel that I should dress and act the part.  I don't wear long sleeves and a tie, but a nice polo, dress pants and nice shoes. AZ is casual, and that is accepted business attire in many fields.  Our clients are looking to us for information, knowledge and guidance.  That will be provided no matter how we dress.  But looking the part goes a long way to making the client comfortable with the information and guidance we impart.

Like my friend Gabrielle in Arizona, it doesn't get much hotter than in Arizona in the summer. Our profession is subject to complaints lately about less then professional practitioners. I think it starts with the dress code - you gotta look and feel the part. So, lets turn the question around, when it's hot, it's hot for everyone - would we find it acceptable for other professionals to wear less than business attire like judges, lawyers, dentists, surgeons...?

Good morning, Debbie. I haven't worn shorts in 30 years! Personally, I don't believe women over 60 should be seen in shorts at all and certainly not in a professional setting! I have lots of loose, flowy dresses that are perfect for the 90+ degree weather we've been having and they are cooler than shorts.

I do and feel comfortable doing so.  

I agree with Susan Emo. Definitely not. There are plenty of cool things to wear on hot summer days. Here where I live we are in a heat wave 10 plus days of 100+ weather. With four of the 10 days at 106 and 108. Still need to appear professional and shorts aren't professional.

Debbie, having had over 110 degrees for over 10 days straight here in Phoenix, it's a must.  However, I prefer "skorts" - looks like a skirt but with shorts underneath.  Particularly handy when having to bend over to open lock boxes placed on water spigots.  And, as others have said, it totally depends on my clients AND how well I know them.  Shorts in our area are pretty much the "norm."  

No, I do not wear shorts and it is very hot here in the desert.  Shorts are for when I am not working.  When I am working, showing homes, etc I wear dry wick polos (to keep the sweat to a min) and pants, with dress shoes.  I feel as a Realtor, I need to bring a level of professionalism while conducting business.

Absolutely NOT here in DC.  Realtors w/ high end companies still wear coats and ties or dresses and heels. 

I would never think of doing that Debbie. Up to a couple of years ago I would not even wear Jeans to meet clients but now when I meet them I wear dockers and a nice shirt and after I start showing property, newer non-faded jeans and a nice button down shirt.

I think it is acceptable for women to wear shots, not men. Am I wrong? This is only an opinion.

In Sedona now about 102 deg saw REXMAX agents wore professionally....

Sorry it comes with your profession.....

Sam Shueh

It totally depends. I have seen some casual suits that had long shorts (knee length) that were very professional looking.  For women, I think a summer dresss or skirt is the answer.

I think common sense should reign on this one, Debbie Reynolds.  As a few others have noted, it depends.  On many things.  Do you know the client? Where are you meeting?  What's "acceptable" in your locale?

 If in doubt, I personally take the more conservative stance on this.  As a Lender in my area especially, I think it's fitting ...

Gene

No, I don't, but the threshold is about 92 degrees and anything above that will expose my knees for sure.

In my opinion NO! Casual business attire.

I would never.

That being said, if it's common in your area go for it.

Not professional, IMHO, with the exception of those areas where maybe it really, really is the norm.  I find dresses are much cooler than shorts, anyway - they can be very casual and cool, while looking more professional. 

Coming from someone who lives in Arizona, yes.  But it is important to make sure they are "professional and nice looking and not "bootie" shorts or other types like that. 

No! You are a professional and should dress accordingly.

Debbie - Here in AZ that is standard attire year-round. Most agents are working with people they know, so it is no big deal.

If I am meeting someone for the first time, I will typically wear slacks and a nice polo shirt.

absolutely in my market.  We show and sell lakefront and it's sweltering and many of the homes are vacant and have the air very high or off.

I generally wear capris and open toed shoes in summer months.

Debbie Reynolds as much as I'd love to, I do not!

We are professionals and should dress professionally.

I would be tempted, buy only to a casual outing with a client, such as a cookout.

You mean for the real estate agent to wear shorts? NO! Calf length pants would be okay with me but never shorts.

The shorts should be those cropped, frayed jean shorts with the pockets dangling below and the waist snap open.

"Hey! You all ready for an exciting time looking at houses? My eyes are up here. Why can't I get any respect from people?"

Shorts....I certainly hope NOT. 

Never...we need to look Professional at all times in order to get the public to start seeing us in a better light and it will take every agent doing their part.

I do have some nice shorts, dressier than most and cooler than dress pants. There are days i do dress up depending on the client. Those i know or have worked with a while, i go with what is comfortable and they love me for me. New clients, i put the dress pants back on.

Nope. Absolutely not. It is very unprofessional. We always want to put the right foot forward at all times. Can you imagine if they were the billionaires you been waiting to meet and that was your one chance at it???

I don't think they are off limits. I depends on the situation. Most of the time I will wear a polo, jeans and shoes.

Jeff Gould
Kings Realty
FishHawk Ranch Real Estate

I consider formal clothing to be my work uniform,  and would never consider wearing shorts to a client meeting.

Never.  Not even if it's a 100 degrees outside and quite often in Texas it is during the summer.  A nice little summer dress with sandals will get the job done.

I do not wear shorts but I have worn dresses and skirts to meet buyers.  Good Luck

The few times I saw female agents wear short, the butt cheeks were hanging out and it was gross.

Men look OK in shorts when they are longer.

Eve 

No. I think it's not appropriate to wear shorts unless you are in Hawaii.

I know the industry as a whole has "dressed down" over the years...but I don't think we have made it to shorts yet:)...I am OK with jeans and boots for those that show land and I suppose the agents that live and work beach or lake properties shorts would work...

No, never.  

I think it will be very distracting to me, much more for the clients ... that's just me. Good question.

For me year around its Dockers and button down shirt unless showing logging property.

I should dress up more that I do but shorts are never an option, far to many things in my workplace to pose hazards to bare legs.

It really all depends on on where one works and what kind of property one is showing.  Men and women can wear shorts if it's appropriate for the situation.  As professionals it's important to know what's appropriate for the situation. But I agree...shorts are typically not the first choice in attire. 

Debbie Reynolds It's okay for clients to wear shorts, but I wouldn't.

I meet my clients in the office in dress paints and a button down shirt. When we go out to see properties the next time myself and my clients are typically in shorts.

I don't have a problem with it. I have some expensive shorts I can wear.

Not for me, but there are some shorts that are more appropriate than others.  I would say denim and sweatpant material are out.

I think it would depend on the city and state you are working, and how will the client be dressed.

If sellers can answer the door naked then why can't agents wear shorts. They wear shorts in Bermuda. If you wear shorts do you wear socks?

I never wear shorts for business.  I feel that is totally unprofessional.  

In our area, it is perfectly acceptable to wear shorts.  I prefer a skirt or summer dress (much cooler than shorts).  And sorry, but most agents around here wear flip flops too.  

I have actually seen agents in bathing suits with a t-shirt or cover up, but I think that is a No No!

Yes. When there is 100F outside, I'd never wear heals or jacket.

A lot of realtors come to the showings here in flip flops, shorts, t-shorts.( I even had a swimming suit wearing realtor in Malibu).