Can you get by with black slacks, dress shoes, long sleeve dress shirt and a tie or do you need to have a full suit?

I think it depends on the client that you are working with. If they wear suits you may want to wear one. Business casual is usually acceptable.

I will usually wear nice thin pin stripe dress pants from Express along with an Express collar polo or dress button shirt with a tie. No matter what I wear, I look good. Just kidding. I will sometimes wear jeans and a t-shirt if I am already in escrow with the client and I have to show up for an inspection or something. That is just what I am comfortable with.

Meeting a transfering executive to look at upper end residential property would indicate a totally different attire from meeting a prospective buyer when you expect to be walking vacant rural hunting land.

Dress for the task at hand!

I have learnt to ask (on the phone) if that's the first contact about their price range. It is also better to have something business casual and have a coat ready.

If you are in the luxury market, a suit of course.

I doubt jeans and t-shirt is acceptable at anytime unless it happens to be a rare situation where you are out and about getting Ben and Jerry's, somone just happens to mention they are in the market for a home and you take the liberty of showing them a home you happen to have a lockbox for?


Other than that, I fully intend on wearing nice dress shirts and pants....no highheels though LOL

Ive met many a clients in jeans and t-shirts. It pretty much depends on the client. During our past heat wave I had a client request that I actually wear shorts, my regular attire made them feel hot looking at me. I complied and was comfortable.

I've gone as far as meeting a client in jeans, only to end up changing into dress clothes in my truck to meet another client.

If in doubt though a pair of dockers and a polo is generally acceptable. I believe thats business casual.

Ive met many a clients in jeans and t-shirts. It pretty much depends on the client. During our past heat wave I had a client request that I actually wear shorts, my regular attire made them feel hot looking at me. I complied and was comfortable.

I've gone as far as meeting a client in jeans, only to end up changing into dress clothes in my truck to meet another client.

If in doubt though a pair of dockers and a polo is generally acceptable. I believe thats business casual.

I usually stick with business casual. My clients haven't mention anything to me about being unprofessional, so I generally stick with this style.

I dress business casual. I'm not into dresses or skirts, so usually wear a nice top and pants.

The next time you show a lender owned property that is listed as a fixer-upper go in your heels. I will be going in shorts or jeans and bringing bug repellant!

I agree with Ohio Realtor in this case. It really depends on the listing your showing and what clients I'm showing to.

Dress to your clients level. They will feel more comfortable.

Real Estate agents, like all other professions, are stereo typed.

Male: Pin striped suit, slicked back hair, drives a <insert exotic car here>

Female: dress suit, pulled back hair in a tight ponytail or bun, <insert exotic car here>

I hate going with the grain, "Dress to impress"? I hate it. I'm me. Jeans and shirt, I'm not selling me, I'm selling property. 90% of the people out there looking for homes are average, ordinary people. If your honest, straight forward and truely want to help and project that. It won't matter what you wear. Your buyers/sellers get to know you and your personality.

I'm not saying show up in a spaghetti sauce stained shirt, but dress common. Some people are intimidated by suits and hair gel.

I have no idea what to wear since I am going to be stopping by a fsbo open house soon. Their townhouse, if I were to list it, would only be the 2nd resale unit in a 1200 unit devolpment currently under construction (4 to 5 year build out).

For listing appointments - business suit and heels.
For buyers it depends on the buyer - most of the agents here dress business casual unless you are showing a 20 acre horse farm then dress in jeans and boots!

It depends on your market. I'm in a resort market and most of the people buying here are buying a certain "life style". Its not uncommon to see most agents in shorts and golf shirts.

In our area most of our clients are on vacation when they are looking at property. useually Khaki shorts and a golf shirt works on most occassions. ofcourse this wouldn't work in new york city.

it all depends on your clients and your market.

I wear my regular clothes that I feel comfortable in. May be shorts one day, or jeans. I think the clients feel at ease when I arrive dressed similar to them.

I wear whatever I feel like wearing that day. If you're good at what you do and knowledgeable the first impression of what you're wearing will go out the window within minutes of meeting. That being said, I don't wear sweatpants and a t-shirt. At least be presentable but a full suit is not needed.

I do have to say that I worked with a client on a large home. He was the president of a larger international company for the US region. After the completion of the home he talked to me one day about dressing more professional. My response was, "I can do just as good of a job for him in khaki's and a shirt as I would in a suit and tie" (which is how he dressed). Anyway, ran into him about a year and a half later and he had to thank me for changing his outlook on the dress code. He implemented a complete clothes change through out his US companies to a relaxed look. He himself was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt and loved it. His response, people were more at ease with the sales staff and responded more openly to their product sales.

very bold zmehappy....but interesting....took guts to do that...but well done...

Maybe not to you, but to some of us it is acceptable. If I am out at a property during the home inspection, I don't usually want to sit around for 2 hours in dress clothes, especially if the A/C isn't working properly or something. If my clients show up and say anything about the way I'm dressed, I usually tell them that it's my day off today. It makes them feel like I am still working on my day off for them. Hasn't failed me yet.

I am usually all about looking good always to represent yourself..whether that be a shirt and tie ...suit...or just nice pressed polo and khakis..but I am with 007 ..something like that it would be fine ...I am assuming clean tshirt and jeans....sounds good to me

Thanks Tony. Gotta dare to be different. Grin.

I'm generally of the feeling that one step "above" the client that I'm meeting with is appropriate.

I always dress well even I just go out for fun. I think if you are not dressed well that shows disrespect of the clients. May be after you know them for a while I can show up more casual, like in a jeans and shirt. I do not need a dress code to dress myself good. But I think this is very personal, I love shorts and t-shirt when I relax ion my day off, but if I go out for a dinner or drink I always wear at least jeans.

try meeting a potential client naked and see it if works.

Wow, thanks ericka, that really helps...

::)

There is an emerginging niche market for nudists i've read about. Perhaps it would be appropriate in certain situations.

Jeans and a button down shirt for me. I do a lot with the luxury market an 90% of my clients are incredibly laid back and want nothing to do with anyone in a suit. They're very savvy about real estate and know that I know what I'm doing. They see a lot of people in suits as just trying to play a part. Just my experience, mind you. Not saying there's a hard and fast rule.

I'm also in Texas, though, and it's very common to dress more casually. It's just too hot for suits.

If you're comfortable in whatever you're wearing and know what you're doing, that's the most important.

amen on the TOO hot part Kevin....I am in far west houston...Katy

I will probably wear a shirt and tie for listing presentations...but pressed khaki and polo most other times...except maybe for deep summer...maybe clean t and shorts if it nothing big

At least business casual. Polo shirt and nice pants if not a button up shirt. I usually go with shirt and tie for new clients.