Jeans not Slacks

Dressing for your market is what works for me too. I do like to dress up a bit at times, but I have days where i need to change because of where I am. Not dress shoes at a construction site. No flip flops in the woods. I need a warm heavy coat to show new construction that is not yet heated, and si not all that glamorous. It always depends on who I;m seeing and where we are. Looking professional but not stuck up is important.

I am a spring and summer person. The fall season is okay, but dresswise, winter brings out the worst in me and I probably dress like I should have never left the house.

But during the spring and summer, give me my dresses and high heels.  I wouldn't call my style a niche at all.  I guess my attitude changes with the season (good, bad or indifferent, that's the way it is).

As for the way you dress, it bothers me none.  I wouldn't consider it outrageous, I'd just consider it "YOU."

Total nonsense. Business casual is age appropriate & gives your clients respect which in turn they will give to you. Niche marketing is not a 'teenager now grown up Star Wars Geek'.  Wonder if that is a Google keyword that you might use?

I go out previewing a couple of times a week and I freqently wear jeans. I am not about to tottle around in high heels while previewing in some of these homes where there are holes in the yard and rickety steps! Who needs a broken ankle really! I am also a little more then a little geeky! I am the Star Trek/wordpress/D&D/NPR variety of geek myself! I see nothing wrong with it at all!

Hi Rick,  Our destination island is pretty casual and nit unusual for a client to come in off the beach.  Dress slacks, suit, tie  -  not likely !

Karen- I agree with you! I ALWAYS wear a SUIT when out with a client. I do not practically sleep in a suit though like some agents. My doctor does not wear his labcoat when he is out and about and I don't always wear a suit! My dressing down cosists of a pair of trouser jeans, a nice sweater, penny laofers and a wool pea coat! It is not like I am wearing my gardening clothes so please do not misunderstand! 

Personally, I think jeans are a little too casual for business.  This is why most companies have no jeans dress code.  To me khakis would be a more professional option than jeans.  A suit is too much on the dressy side though given how common business casual is. 

Wow, this must be the generation gap talking. I'm happy to hear that you can show up at someones home with jeans on and list their home worth 100's of thousands of dollars. I wouldn't, but that's just me. I like getting dressed up for work, I enjoy looking like a true professional in my field. I will tell you that on occasion I have had some of my younger clientele say things like - "you didn't have to get all dressed up for us or are you going somewhere special after work today". So I believe that the generatrion gap does play a part here. To that end, I suppose that is what you consider your niche marketing - marketing to younger people.

Thanks for posting the video, I watched it and enjoyed it.

Best of luck with your business in 2012.

Roy

Rick, thanks for posting the Seth Godin video on TED Talk. I subscribe to his newsletter, have read a couple of his books. Your post offers a lot to think about.

Dress and car choices are a hot button for many agents--how we dress, what we drive up in to see clients--our overall appearance. What's interesting to me is how to make ourselves stand out in a cookie-cutter world of real estate. Sure I could dress to the nines, show up in a Mercedes, but it doesn't interest me to separate myself from the people I want to be interested in what I have to offer them. 

I "dress" for closings and meetings, but I go very casual for showings.  I work on a lake and sometimes my clients call from the lake in swim suits and flip flops.  I don't think they'd react well if I showed up on the dock to meet them in a business suit. 

Rick ~ I am not a fan of wearing jeans to work, nor do I wear suits.  I do wear jeans occasionally, but if I am meeting a client, I want to show respect to them by dressing professionally in a nice pair of slacks or a skirt.  With that being said, I do think that wearing jeans does work for some.

Great point of view, Rick.  I recently went to work for a company that allows jeans on Fridays.  I have been there for three months and finally felt comfortable enough to throw a pair on this past Friday.  I loved it!!!  I felt more "me" and actually got more accomplished!  Happy New Year to you!

I guess it depends largely on your clients.  It's definitely not a "generation thing" to think that way of suits. There are certainly some clients where I wouldn't mind wearing jeans, a collared shirt, and a sport coat.  It works, especially if I'm representing a buyer and we're looking at properties for the day. 

We rep a lot of developers.  Our pitch meetings can take place at law firms or their corporate offices.  A suit and a tie are pretty much mandatory for such a meeting.  I also do a lot of networking events, lunches and drinks.  If it's day time, I go with a suit and no tie.  If it's night time, jeans and a sport coat might be cool.  Lastly, we spend A LOT of time at development sites with our clients.  These days are perfect for jeans and work boots.  In fact, I keep a pair in the car!

Dear Rick,

In this job, many clothes get ruined by overly friendly dogs, the mud puddle you did not see, etc. I tend to buy clothes in multiples (especially pants), so I always have plenty, if it has been a week like that. As far as dressing for clients, you have a point. Some people are a little more fashion forward and others like you to dress like a comfy old slipper. Most are very forgiving, if you do a great job for them.

Hi Rick,

You stirred up a lot of opinions!

Our new young pastor started right out preaching in casual clothes with his shirt untucked. There was a lot of protest. He refused to change!

He is still there, and very effective as a minister.

Phil

Rick, you're just gonna beat the jeans thing to death aren't you? Anyway I watched Seth & it was a great clip.

Idea Diffusion - that's a great broad minded idea on what actually happens today with products on the internet, social media. I love the phrase.

Coke Salad in Japan - it can stay there. Makes me urppy just thinking about it but it is on the 'fringe'.