In the real estate business, your image is projected through your professional appearance. In fact, some clients will judge you by your appearance just as much as your reputation, knowledge, and communication skills. When meeting with potential clients, keep in mind that first impressions matter.
To help you project the right image and professional appearance, we’ve put together some tips on how to look and dress the part of a successful real estate businessperson.
Real Estate Agent Dress Code
The dress code for real estate agents can vary depending on the market, the types of clients they work with, and the policies of the real estate firm. However, Here are some general guidelines to consider when dressing for a particular situation.
What do real estate agents wear to the office?
Many real estate offices dress business formal to business casual. While business formal typically includes dark colors and tailored suits, business casual includes slacks or khakis, collared shirts, and dress shoes or loafers.
What do real estate agents wear to an open house?
Real estate agents typically aim to strike a balance between professionalism and approachability when dressing for an open house. Consider business casual to smart casual. Smart casual is similar to business casual but with a slightly more relaxed vibe. Men might wear chinos or jeans with a collared shirt or a casual sweater, along with loafers or dressy sneakers. Women may opt for casual dresses, — or jeans or skirts paired with tops or blouses and comfortable footwear. You may also consider wearing clothing branded with your agency’s logo.
What do real estate agents wear to close a deal?
Consider wearing business professional or business casual clothing when closing a deal. Even though the transaction may be close to completion, you will still be meeting with clients and industry professionals. Hence, you must present a confident professional image that inspires trust and reassures clients.
What should real estate agents avoid wearing?
Despite what you see on real estate shows, agents should refrain from wearing anything too flashy that could distract from their professionalism. On the other hand, you should not dress like a casually dressed client who wears flip-flops or gym attire.
Tips to Dress for Success as a Real Estate Agent
You might think that real estate agents only have to dress professionally when they know they will interact with clients. However, when you work with real estate, you may meet potential clients whenever you leave your home.
Here are some tips on how to dress for success as a real estate agent.
1. Pay attention to all aspects of your appearance.
Appearance is critical, as clients tend to hire agents based on appearance and gut feeling. Your goal should be a professional, neat appearance without distractions. Groom carefully. Finally, make sure you act like a professional. No matter what you wear, always act in a genuine, respectful manner.
2. Keep up with the fashion trends.
It’s also a good idea to keep up with current fashion trends. Having a fashionable hairstyle helps, too.
Male agents can turn to men’s fashion magazines like Esquire, GQ, and VMAN. Female agents can keep abreast of women’s fashion trends by consulting Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue. Marie Claire offers helpful advice for female real estate professionals, such as having well-maintained manicures and wearing conservative-length skirts.
3. Dress for your region, market, and client.
Wear attire appropriate to your region. For example, real estate agents serving large metropolitan areas may wear different clothes than those serving small towns.
Also, keep in mind the type of property you might be visiting that day. Real estate agents may visit construction sites, beach homes, farms or ranches, high-rise office buildings, or residential homes in suburbia. Not every location, situation, or prospective client requires trendy, ultra-professional clothing. For instance, most agents wear semi-casual clothes in resort communities. Selling ranches requires jeans, western shirts, and cowboy boots. Hot summer weather allows for dress shorts and dresses. The type of property, weather, or client determines how you dress. Regardless of who they are, treat each client respectfully and dress professionally.
4. First impressions matter!
Besides professional attire, driving a popularly desired car sends a strong message to potential clients. One broker in Washington always traded for a new Jaguar sedan every year. She let her agents borrow the Jag to drive wealthy buyers around fancy neighborhoods for showings. The agents reported that the car always brought a smile to the potential buyer’s face.
The appearance of your office also sends a strong message to first-time visitors. Keep it organized and meticulously clean, and display attractive curios and artwork. A messy desk is a sign of a disorganized agent.
5. Overcome age bias by dressing for success.
Young agents sometimes use clothes to combat age bias. Real estate agents accused of looking “too young” may overcome initial client objections by wearing professional clothes with a perfect fit. As a result, a real estate agent’s age may be less of an issue. Instead of potential clients asking how much experience they have, they may ask questions related to the transaction.
Appropriate dress for real estate agents varies depending on the situation. Even though you may think that some situations call for more formal attire than others, it would be a mistake to assume that how you look as a real estate agent doesn’t matter. Your clients depend on you to help them with one of their life’s most significant financial transactions. The way you present yourself must instill confidence in your abilities to perform the task.
Browse our blog for more tips and tools to help launch your real estate career. Not licensed yet? Earn your real estate license online at one of the top real estate schools in the country – Colibri Real Estate. We have helped more than half a million real estate agents earn their licenses, and we can help you, too.
Editor’s note: this post was originally published on May 20, 2024 and updated on May 30, 2024.
