Dress for Success from Mark Nash

It's important now more than ever for real estate agents to take the time to send the right impression when meeting home buyers or sellers. A slowing market means you're up against strong competition from other agents. Knowing what to wear can turn a first impression into a closed client. Here are some fashion dos and don'ts.

Women

-Pants are fine, but make sure they're not low riders.

-Ditch the tee shirts, tank and tube tops. House hunting is a business not a vacation.

-Skirts are great. Minis send the wrong message.

-Streamline jewelry and utilize limited amounts to accent your business perspective.

-Simplify make-up, hair and manicure styles to appeal to the majority of people.

Men

-Business-casual pants are best if not wearing a suit. No jeans or shorts, ever.

-Open collar shirts work fine, but other realty agents and home buyers and sellers don't need to see your buffed or not so buffed chest or four gold chains.

-Wear simple patterned shirts with matching plain pants. Remember that red denotes power.

Both

-Baseball caps are for bad hair days and if you're working, you need to fix the bad hair before meeting clients.

-You must wear socks or stockings. No sandals, period. If you are asked to remove your shoes, owners don't necessarily want your bare feet on their floors.

-Remove your sunglasses when inside buildings. People expect some eye contact.

-Go easy on the perfume. Many people have allergies to it today and they could be your clients.

-Put cigarettes, cigars and pipes out of view. They're not exactly a popular fashion or political statement.