Jack, I'm a khaki's and polo/hawaiian kind of guy and it matches my market. In winter, I sometimes have to wear a sweater and even a jacket. Thankfully winter is short and mild.

When I started in the industry, my broker was an older gentleman, ex military, and this was his second career. He never wore a tie, for summer, it was pants and a safari shirt(he owned the same shirt in about 5 colors and had 10 of each color), pants, shirt and blazer in winter. How did he do, when he was just a saleperson, he was the number 1 agent in the Charleston market for 10 consecutive years, and he did fine as a broker too.

Bottom line, clean, neat, professional. It works just fine.

Depends on how good your rap is.

I know you just want answers from men only, however, I just had to jump in and tell you what I think :)

1. People like to be lead and they determine if you are their leader by your apperance (Did that make sense?). Potential clients look us over from head to feet - their mind is made up about us within the first couple of seconds and that first impression can never be changed.

2. I think the first time you meet a potential client, you should be dressed totally professional, then once you get to know your client, then you can dress down to match them (like golf shirt and khakis). But when you go to the clients closings you should again be dressed totally professional.

That's just my 2 cents worth!

I would like to add something for the ladies.

I think it is so tasteless when women show too much cleavage, wear flip flops, tight clothing, etc. when they are working with clients.  Leave your "cleavage" for your husband or significant other. Showing too much "skin" does not earn you respect, it does the opposite.

To me, the same rules apply for women as what I mentioned above for men.

I will shut up now :)

Jack,

   Please let woman answer. Without a woman by my side, there are days I couldn't dress myself. There are a lot of days that I ask does this look OK?

   I do agree, I dress for my clients. If my client is a laid back person, I've been told they sometimes feel weird seeing me in a suit and tie. If I know the client that I'm going out with that day is a Jean & T-shirt kinda person. I will wear nice jeans and a nice shirt. I won't wear a suit and tie out with them.

Todd

I think it depends on where you are. I live in rural Southern Maryland and the majority of people I meet are put off buy some guy in a suit telling them how to buy or sell their home.

It also depends on you. If you are not comfortable, how do you expect your clients to be comfortable. I do very good in jeans and a polo shirt with the company logo.

Also depends on what type properties you are showing. We do alot of rural property and some of these old farmers would be very leery of anyone in a suit and tie telling them about thier own property.

For FLorida I would go with a golf shirt and Dockers or similar.

You know your market better than us.

Dress a bit better than the clients, you make the call.

Send CT Referrals to http://realestatetorrington.com

Suit and ties intimidate some people. I have actual had some folks tell my they feel more comfortable with me in jeans and sneakers. Suits can sometimes create distrust.I like to stay somewhere in the middle.

Hey Rhonda , SHHHHHHHHHHH I shave each morning,Think im showing too much skin ?

I dress to the comfort level of my client. Some want to see me in jeans or they feel uncomfortable, others want casual and others suits.

Judgement call... get to know your client. However, no matter what (jeans or not) do not look sloppy. Tuck your shirt in for heavens sake.

:)

Parker Byron

Kansas City Real Estate

www.johnsoncounty.com

As a former buyer for a menswear chain I wore a suit and tie every day of my life for over 15 years, and wouldn't dream of doing business dressed in any other way. When I became a realtor ,however I had to content with the fashion remnants of the "casual friday". To my surprise I found that some people judged me on first impression as "stuffy" or "old fashioned". Luckily for me, my easy going personality and quick wit helped me to overcome that first impression, but I did not like coming accross that way. I had to find a way to present myself as professional but not "stuffy". After careful consideration I decided to "Brand" myself. I had an embroidery tape made of my company's logo and another of my name in a stylised font. I ordered the following items: 6 Short sleeve Twill shirts in red an another 6 in black. 6 each of each colour in long sleeves. Another 6 Polo (golf) shirts in each of those colours( our corporate colours) in both short and long sleeves, a black windbreaker, a red parka, and a couple of sweaters in each of those colours. My name goes over my left chest,and my company's over the left sleeve.Some of the items are embroidered black on black or red on red, while some are embroidered in contrasting colours.

I wear these items with chinos or dress pants depending on the occassion.I mostly wear the long sleeves in winter and the short sleeves in summer. The look I am going for is casual corporate. And I find that I connect more easily with blue collar clients who instantly relate to the "uniform" and I have noticed no change in attitude from white collar clients who assume that the casual look is forced on me as the company's "uniform".

I think that by making my clothes more neutral, I forced my clients to concentrate on me as a person, and a professional demeanor does the rest.

Jeans and polo shirts for me.

Suits and ties are for weddings and funerals.  I have never understood how men in Florida can wear suits (or jackets) and ties.  The weather is HOT here for most of the year.  Its a "business uniform" I guess.

I once worked for a broker who admonished me for wearing jeans and no tie into the office when I had just come from showing heavily wooded land to a customer.  The customer was with me and also dressed for the woods.  He wanted to write an offer on the spot.  The broker wouldn't let me do it in the office because I wasn't dressed properly.  The next day I quit and opened up my own brokerage and have been my own boss since.  

Weather is the deciding factor in the Puget Sound.

Adapability is key for funtional attire.  I used to "Dress for Success" but loafers and sport coats do not keep you dry when touring houses in the rain.  An umbrella does not work either as your feet are still wet and the wind is blowing right through your fancy pants.  

Here in the Northwest it is hard to do sometimes.  But for scheduled meetings in an enclosed environment, slacks, shrit and tie are best.  When out and about, dress for the weather as your clients will be too.

I am a native Floridian. I dress in a professional manner all the time. But in this market I was thinking of going streaking with a banner flying behind me with my website address printed on it as a marketing tool! LOL (Of course, for those of you that have no sense of humor, I AM JUST KIDDING!) :)

Go Scott, go Scott, its your birthday. Totally kidding just thought that was funny!!!!!!

I live in a small town in Ohio.  For the most part, people dress fairly casually.  I do believe when you first meet a client that you should "look the part."  After the initial meeting, where you'll get a feel for how they dress, then wearing slacks and a sweater is appropriate.  The types of clothing that are NEVER appropriate are blue jeans, shorts, flip flops, and low-cut tops, as mentioned previously by Rhonda Doty.  

Corporate casual is the way to go for me! My company has golf shirts and long sleeve denim shirts with company logos on them. NEVER bluejeans.

I'm going to tick some people off with this next statement, but... some guys just can't or shouldn't be seen in a suit and tie! It makes them look like "time share" salesmen.

Keep it clean, not overbearing, and let your professionalism show through.

p.s. I don't see anything wrong with Hawaiian!

This is a good post.  A businessman knows that his clothing is an investment in his trade.

The key for me is quality clothing.  Being on the side of a mountain in 10 degree weather with a stiff north wind requires warm and waterproof boots, coats and hats.  Think LL Bean.  

"Homework" requires quality shoes, Allen Edmunds or Johnston Murphy with pants and shirts and sometimes ties that will still look great after being dry cleaned 100 times.

I always go by the old adage "you can tell the quality of a man by his shoes".  I invest a few hundred bucks in good shoes and don't have to think about replacing them every 6 months - and they make your feet feel great. I've even had people comment on the shoes I wear.

Listing appointments are interviews.  If you don't pay close attention to the details of your wardrobe, people will notice.  Just like us, clients are looking for clues.  Let's not forget socks either, because you never know when you have to take those shoes off to tour a house.

I live in a hot climate as well.

I think that smart casual will be great for all sorts of clients you meet - slacks/chinos with a polo shirt - can work for all - especially in a hot climate.

Smart appearance is key - including clean shave, neat haircut, clear complexion, clean teeth and fresh breath, and nicely clipped finger nails (remember this when you have to point out things in a contract or within a unit!) - they will notice!!

Tend to the above and you're good to go...

I live in an area with 5 lakes within 30 mins. from my office.  I have had people come into my office dripping wet from a bathing suit.  I keep a speedo in my desk for just that reason.  A quick trip to the bathroom and I'm ready to show.  Superman has nothing on me.   Seriously,  I do the causal jeans and long sleeve shirts with logo in winter.  Summers shorts and polo w/ logo.  I dress like about 90% of our customers since I live in a retirement and second home area.

Now that you have that picture in mind, Have a great day.

Tommy

Jack,

Interesting topic..it shouldn't be but...

I think we should always dress conservatively, your dress should dignify your profession and the ocassion. If you're walking land, of course you won't wear your Sunday finery but outside of that, Always Be Closing! I indoctrinate my agents with this mantra. Like police officers and teachers, we are always on call and should be prepared to do business anywhere, anytime. I think it's important to appear neutral and approachable. You can't wear loud, out style clothing and expect people to take you seriously when its time to be serious. The aquisition of property is for the most part the single most important finacial transaction of most peoples lives. Dignify and honor the service we provide by donning clothing generally accepted as being appropriate.

People size you up within the first ten seconds of meeting or seeing you. Whether its realized or not people do in fact want to be lead and guided. Consumers look for leaders, not managers. Managers demand results, leaders inspire action. Those that "appear" to be in charge, are in charge, by virtue of the public's perception of them.  

Besides all this, if you dress good you feel good.