Dress Code

First impressions do count.  We females have a much easier time looking professional than males due to the nature of "the suit".  Our suits can be short sleeve.  We have the choice of pants or a skirt.  Blouse or thick shirt.  No tie!  I want my clients to meet a "professional".  In our office we do have a dress code.  And I know our clients expect that from us.  I appreciate the comments of those selling farmland.  Sometimes we do need to tailor our dress to match the setting.  But getting back to first impressions, when meeting a client for the first time, looking professional is my motto.

Business casual works fine in my area.

All the self serving blah blah aside. You dress for success and for the client/project. To do otherwise is to ask to loose business. My dad is a prime example. A CPA, past Pres of State Assn and lots of respect and honors. He would NEVER hire anyone who wore loafers... "if your too lazy to tie your shoes your too lazy to work for me"... I just remember that I never know when I will meet my dad (I do wear loafers though...lol). By the way i also believe that nothing succeeds like success and clothes canhelp emphasize that success... it is very superficial BUT when you only have 30 seconds for a first impression you need all the help you can get. If you can't get far enough to show your knowledge and ability well you just lost.

Melanie and Lee Ann, I think professional dress is dependent on who you are meeting. Sometimes dressing down on a SUnday with jeans is ok if the client knows you. Other times it is inappropriate. I think in the office business dress is the norm. Ties for men many times seem rare these days in my office.

Its not the clothes, it is how you carry yourself in them. Some people can pull jeans off, others can not. The people that worry about it are the ones that can't pull it off. If you are successful and at the top of your game you are the one who chooses what to wear. There agents that are very successful in my market that wear suits and ties and others that wear jeans and t shirts. But you cannot tell the difference between them because they both carry themselves with the same confidence.

I would prefer to wear a jacket and tie. It is just my style but here in the Greater New Orleans area it does depend where I am going. If I am showing gutted property due to Hurricane Katrina I will be in jeans. I have damage a few pair of slacks and dress shoes. I attend all closing in business attire.

A Tie ? In Florida ? Oh Pahleeze, I would die. I usually wear long khaikis and a short sleeve dress shirt or polo shirt. It depends on who my clients are and what I'm showing, but I always look presentable. I do sometime wear dressy shorts. It's just so hot in Florida and there's just no reason to suffer. I got down off the cross a long time ago. If you're a great agent, I don't think people really care what you wear, just so long as you dress decent and look presentable.

I am not saying anything that has not been said above but I think it is important for us to dress according to who/what we are showing. I want to be approachable...not stuffy. When I put on a suit I feel I can conquer the world...but sometimes I don't need to conquer the world...only a small farm house in the middle of nowhere...great post!

Reading all the comments made me think, how do I dress, I dress for the day.  If I have a closing, business dress, if I have a listing walking land dress comfortable.  As long as your clothes are clean and ironed I don't think you will have any problem selling.  I do think if you are dressed business to show land, farms etc. they will look at you as if you should have dressed for the occasion.  Do what is good for the day.

Dress for Success. If I am hiring an attorney, I don't want to meet someone in shorts and Hawaiian shirt. Realtors are the same thing. In your first meeting with prospective clients, I guess you should dress appropriately, businesslike attire and professional looking.

I run my business my way.  I generally start off in jeans and t-shirt and met clients in such attire.  I've also started out in jeans and changed my entire outfit in my car and out on a tie to meet the next client.  I really could not imagine crawling through a window for an REO Property with a suit and tie on. 

Sometimes I put on a tie just to get a reaction from my broker.  He rarely sees me dressed up.  I always have on white gym socks though, I do not own any other kind! 

I find dressing professional helps business. There's something about putting a great suit or dress that makes me feel powerful. Clients tend to size you up by appearance first, so I would epsecially dress to impress during the initial contact because you never know who you're meeting. There are some people who come to work looking too casual and sexy, I think this is a no-no in real estate environment.