Would you hire an Arizona agent wearing flip flops, shorts, and a tee shirt?

Peter J Thoesen PLLC While dressing professionally is no guarantee of the abilities of the agent (as others have said), it does promote "acceptance" at an initial meeting unless the expectations are set in advance that the "dress code" for the encounter is "anything goes".

My rule of thumb is to dress better than the clients.  If my clients wear jeans and a shirt, I wear slacks and a professional looking blouse.  I've yet had to don a tuxedo!    I agree, about the flip flops and shorts!  I don't care how hot the area and/or local market is . . . dress professionally!!

Was greeted at the door of a new home community by an onsite agent in a tank top, short shorts and flip flops. Was not impressed. Not sure why anyone remotely thinks this is professional attire!

I'll start this by saying that I am biased. As I think we are all. We are biased by our own experiences.

My wife and I recently bought a house in Arizona. We actually used a real estate agent team that does some of their marketing around the idea of wearing flip flops (I even have a pair of their flip flops in the closet in my home office).

When we were thinking about how we were going to pick our agent, what they wore was not a consideration. Maybe this is because of our biases. I work from home, so I don't dress up to go to work. I'll wear a suit jacket if I go to a conference, but it wasn't always like this. In the early years of ActiveRain, I wore an ActiveRain T-shirt and jeans, always. I never felt like I was any more professional or smarter because I put on the suit jacket instead of the t-shirt and jeans. I just happened to find a suit jacket that I really like and is flattering as I get a little older (and by older I mean I'm not as fit as I used to be, haha).

Here are a few of things that we did consider when picking an agent:

1. Did we like them? Did we trust them? The whole 'we wear flip flops and we aren't ashamed of it' thing actually comes across as authentic. They are who they are, and they refuse to apologize for it. I like that. To me, that's authentic and way better than picking someone because they are wearing a great suit. 

2. Are they good at what they do? This one can be challenging to know. But I guess I just assumed that since they do about 100 times the number of transactions as the average agent, they have probably gotten pretty good at it. We've used plenty of lawyers over the years. Guess what? They ALL wear suits, and 75% of them aren't worth 1/100th of what they get paid.

3. What was their level of technical savvy? Did they have great systems in their business. Did they have a top notch website (even though we didn't use their site, we used Redfin, knowing they had one let us know they were savvy). Did they do business using the latest tools like e-signatures and would it be conducive to the fact that we would be buying from out of town. 

4. Could they handle our business? My wife is very particular. I have a TON of questions. We needed someone who we believed had the skills to be able to handle this. They happened to be set up as a team where everyone on the team has a specialty. This ensured that there was always someone available to answer my questions, and things were done in a very precise fashion to make my wife happy (we never once didn't get a call answered, or waited more than 10 minutes for anything)

Like I said, we have biases. One of those is that we've come across plenty of people in suits that aren't professional. Wearing a suit or dressing up doesn't make someone professional any more than passing the real estate exam make someone a great real estate agent. 

I would hire the Arizona agent if he/she was great at what they did. 

I would not... I don't expect my attorney, my accountant, my doctor to look unprofessional and I sure don't expect my agent to look that way either. There is a way to be business casual without looking like a slob.

Yes, people are judged by what they are wearing. If I found an agent with experience that knew my area and had a successful marketing plan, his or her clothes would not be an issue for me. That said....personal hygiene would be.  

Living in Destin, Florida my career apparel is shorts, boat shoes and polo that has Re/max embroidered in it. Never had anyone not work with me because of that. If I worked NYC it might be different. Have been to Arizonia in the summer. No way long pants for me. Great local story. A bummy looking guy walked into the office. Wanted to look at $1,000,000+ properties on the beach. Floor agent kind of brushed him off. Guy walked out. Getting into his limo another agent outside walking in recognized him. Said hello asked if he could help and sold him a $3,000,000+ home. Think I can compete with the suit anytime.

The last time I was in Arizona it was 118 degrees in the shade.  I think I would question the agent who WASN'T in flip flops and shorts!!

I had a tenant in a home I was viewing the other day say, "look at you, in your matching Tory Burch bag and sandals," and you know, there is a way to dress a bit casual for the weather without dressing down. I still dress for my clients, although I run around in literally rags the rest of the time. And I could pull off rags, but I don't want to. I believe they deserve my best, whatever illusion that may be, LOL.

Bob Stewart made some INCREDIBLY important distinctions here.

In his explanation of 'choosing' he actually listed several of the what I call 'THE ONLY FIVE QUESTIONS A HOME OWNER HAS."

Moral to the story: answer those questions without being asked and you will get the commitment. 

The 21 year old with the tats and blue Mohawk kicked my butt in sales as he closed 5 mill in GCI. Look at the score. If they are winning you need to take notes.

What I have observed is those who complain about other agents get more visibility, spread more negative message, than the actual offender.

When I'm on the trail pounding out the miles I'm still spreading the real estate gospel....sweaty, pained, exhausted and most certainly out of uniform......exactly like everyone else I hope to encounter on the trail. Some folks do not dress trail appropriate. NO PROBLEM! I still celebrate 'cuase they are on the trail.

Do I extend to the flip-flop wearing, tee-shirt baring, Foster Grant shielded agent the same measure of professional respect as others? Not likely. I image the 'curb appeal' reflects what is inside. And in a tie, I will point to the offer that suggest the greatest assurance of closing.

An observation.  Everyone who has commented here - both for and against - that one can see more than a head shot - is dressed "professionally" - collared shirts, many with ties, yours truly included.  Why no T-Shirts - I think we all know the answer.

Interesting... However there are big differences in those agents who 'dress up' and those of us who wear jeans and flip flops. For example. I've climbed fences, trimmed cactus, patched roofs... I've climbed onto a roof to examine the HVAC's in 110 degrees. I sell my fair share of homes, and I do whatever is necessary to make sure that everyone parts ways happy! I can honestly say that I've never seen a guy in a suit and tie climb a roof... but we all have our ways. My way is about taking care of my clients myself and doing what's necessary. Other's recommend a good vendor... both work. So, when I show up at your listing wearing jeans and flip flops, know that it's because I work my ass off... and as a trade, I'm going to be comfortable doing it.  :-D

Flip flops in tow, these guys sell a ton of real estate. http://movethirty.com/relocation-guide/professional-real-estate-agents-in-denver/

I'm glad you didn't include wearing panty hose with that Kevin...because you'd need to go first with the 100+ degree's we still are having in October.  I agree with you about looking professional.  Heals, nice pair of shorts and blouse works too :-)

Peter J Thoesen PLLC I think business is business - and if local trends allow these business people to wear that, I'd say, go for it.

Now just for the sake of being different someone does it, that' a different story altogether.