Office Dress Code

[Homer4Bama]

Is there a dress code for your office?

I tend to think a dress code that required, at the minimum, Business casual would help create a professional atmosphere in the work place. (Basically, no shorts, t-shirts, or other beach attire.) When showing listings, presenting to a seller, or holding open houses, a business suit would be the standard.

Is this unrealistic?

[Jim Messenger]

Having such a strict dress code would not work in our area.

First, the clientele would think either it's your first day living here, or you are a nut. Really, who wears a suit when its 117 ° ? Also, in our market, many top agents might leave a company over such a policy. The "accepted" business attire here is casual.

After several years of observation, I have learned that you can tell how successful an agent is by the way they dress.

Women - The more successful they are, the dressier they get. You know, from the 2nd hand stores "fake it 'til you make it" look to the time when they might actually refer a client to someone else so they don't have to cancel their shopping day when the new Prada line comes out.

Men - The more successful they are, the sloppier they get. They might start out in an Armani, but by the time they're selling 50+ homes per year, you are lucky to see them in anything but flip flops and shorts.

[Homer4Bama]

Jim,

good points about the weather and environment.

Also, if someone is moving 50+ homes a year.....moot point.

I guess I was looking more towards the "Fake it Till You Make It" approach. I was thinking if they had to dress professionally, they would feel more confident, which would lead them to produce better results.

See, the dilemma is:

How do you get the guy that wears shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops that sells 5 or fewer properties a year motivated?

Money does not seem to be the factor.

[dempseymae]

I do not think one needs to be in an armani suit or prada. If you are casual and professional, isn't that what will matter to the seller/buyer? They care more about what you can do for them than what you look like for them.

MaryAnn Dempsey

[naplesrealestate]

I work by myself so my office dress code does not exist. Jeans, golf polo shirt, loafers with no socks.

Showing properties were dress slacks, golf polo shirt, black loafers with socks.

Some clients recognize expertise and place more importance on than what the person wears. Perfect example, working with a couple from Chicago (sorry Ken, they have a real estate agent) - first day it was business dress - second day jeans. They felt real comfortable.

I think I might remember something that says you should project to the customer at the same level as they are - so overdressing could lead to an uncomfortable situation.

BTW - I came out of the corporate world - suit and tie. When I first entered real estate, that is how I dressed and found it intimidated the customers.