None of the above ~ I always dress professionally when in "business mode" and in my own style. No one has ever objected to how I present myself.

I think in our industry we should dress accordingly...if someone is showing a farm property it would be silly to show up in a designer suit.  If showing luxury property, it's probably inappropriate to show up in flip flops & board shorts.  

I always dress professionally, but never over the top -  I dont want the type of clients that would judge me based on a car or designer brand

I have changed clothes three times in a day to make sure my clients felt comfortable in the environment each meeting calls for. But here in the desert silk shirts and pressed silk shorts are business attire most days

I don't bother myself with what other Realtors wear.  At this stage of my life (and the last 30 years or so) I do not pay much attention to what fashion dictates.  I don't do casual very well and never have.  I have my own style and as Popeye used to say "I yam what I yam!"

After the first meeting and ground rules are established, then I might go business casual, but only if the weather demands it. I guess #2

Dress clean and neat. Business casual is fine in most cases around here. I know female agents that carry different shoes in their trunk. They might statr the day with high heels, but if someone calls them wanting to see a farm property, they just switch to tennis shoes, hiking boots, rubber boots, or whatever the situation calls for.

Inna,

It should be whatever the business norm is in the community.  Here in Santa Barbara, the men wear slacks and a nice shirt.  In the winter, they wear a sweater and a sportscoat.  Each area is different.

The women wear dresses or nice slacks and tops, or skirts.  A

I dress for the office. Not alot of jewelry or fancy clothes.  I'm comfortable.

During the nicer weather I wear skirts & dresses.

If I have appointment scheduled in the country I'm comfy in my boots and jeans. 

We don't worry about that in my market. We are very casual and most of us wear jeans. 

I think it's important to look professional.

Each part of the country is different. Understanding what is the professional work attire will set the stage for what you should wear. If we want to be viewed as a professional we need to look like one!

I was taught years ago in business you drees one step above your clients.  Remember what you look like is a reflection on the entire profession

As their clients.  In our market that would be business casual.

I think that option #2 is the generally recommended practice for most professions.

<<<<<<---------------- Just like this   unless you are a women like Inna Ivchenko and then you dress in something professional that brings out how beautiful you are kinda like Inna does.

Inna Ivchenko all good to consider but I dress accordingly meaning I am aware as to what to wear

it depends on what we are showing them....if it's land: work boots and jeans....if it's luxury properties: dressed very nicely.... if it's a dump: well, I won't go in!!

Reasonably better than client. Why?

So the other professionals encountered can know who they should be talking to and who should be directed to ask their agent. I find assurance in talking with an agent who does not appear to have just emerged from the sand box or back yard garden.

If an agent thinks clients can be 'impressed' by how one dresses, that agent is living in a world long gone. That is last century thinking. However, without exception, such indulgence will make an impression, unlikely favorable.

You will get lots of differnt responses here depending upon to some degree what is considered "usual and customary" for that market. We believe you should dress in the manner you wish to be treated....for us, it's "busienss best" and not casual.

Great question and it depends! What are you selling and where are you selling it?

Hi Inna-I pick none of the above. I would say I dress more for the real estate. I am showing.

 Good Saturday morning Inna. I think we should dress appropriately for the client. Business casual at a minimum.

Good morning Inna. I dress casual all the time. I don;t focus on how I should or should not dress, it seems to be working just fine.

I aim for one step up from the clients, and I definitely keep the property I'm showing/listing in mind. Nothing looks sillier than stiletto shoes while walking a piece of raw land!

You want your clients to feel comfortable with you so my choice is #1.

Business casual for me.  No suit & tie (except for my picture), polo and cargo pants is what I tend to wear.

Our norm is much like that of Ron and Alexandra Seigel, maybe it's the ocean influence that has us dressing resort chic.  

By someone who is not color blind and observes a color pallet.

Hi Inna.  If I were to dress like my clients, I would be in shorts and t-shirts.  Which I would like, but I don't think it would be good for my image.

I show "Concrete & Sand", so in the burbs & Downtown, I'm in a shirt and tie. In the beach communities, I'm of course going to wear, a shirt & tie. 

I dress as the professional I am and they expect me to be. If it's over 80 degrees, I lose the tie (never let them see you sweat) . I fell into the whole "Tommy Bahama shirt thing here for a while, as other agents made fun of me looking like a lawyer. But, I reverted back when I decide I'd rather look & feel professional (the 20%-ers) than conform with (the 80%-ers).

I dress so I feel professional, I do not judge or spend much time caring how other agents show up. It's the SF,CA agent in me, in the Bay Area, you wouldn't dream of showing up without a coat & tie to the office back in the day. But, I also agree with John Meussner  & Michael Jacobs & Michael Thornton 's comments; I wouldn't wear a suit to show a farm or raw land for example, nor a tie on our sweltering 80's-90's summers. I keep it real. 

I think it's up to the individual agent.  

The dress practices have changed and now vary form community to community. We do not see many men in coats and ties anymore.

I think it does pay to dress to impress, casual or dressy.

4 - Dress professionally regardless of what the client is wearing.  By the time I meet them face to face, they are already under a Buyer Broker Agreement.

Lately, it is tough to determine who the REALTOR is, as dress is getting so casual at times.   I like to dress business casual, unless showing rural acreage or mountain properties. 

Albuquerque is a laid back city.  It's jeans and dress shirt for me. 

Inna Ivchenko I guess I'm from the old school. Agents should dress for success not necessarily to impress, but business like. First impression always counts.

Personally as I am selling something of value it will be a suit and tie; the only exception would be a farm or land and a sweltering hot day might lose the tie.

No 1 most of the time and No 2 if that would be effective.

Business casual is acceptable in most markets except for perhaps the luxury market

Larry Johnston got this one. I work mostly a small town rural area where casual dress is the norm for doing business.

Professionally.  You are right those wear like a slob often have crummy clients.

As for younger people, if they are super-successful they prefer super successful agents also.   I refer them to their age agents unless they are down to earth.  In Silicon Valley many fit in that category.

depends a bit on the atmosphere, country, urban, 3 mil 200k... i would say match your clients. without leaving your taste alltogether

I think the area you live in determines the way you dress ....I wear jeans everyday ....nice shirt and shoes, but I always wear jeans! 

Inna - Business casual here in Arizona for me. Too hot to wear a suit, and I think that would actually be a real turn off to some clients, unless you were selling luxury homes. I actually have seen many agents wear shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops. It's pretty casual here in the valley of the sun.

Inna,

I am not dressed to impress but to serve. I wear my blue jeans, boots and always a nice top with or without a jacket.

Inna Ivchenko usually #1 - though at the first meeting, thoroughly professional if I am meeting them for the first time.