Looking the part. How to present myself in the RE investment business

[Tom Walther]

Hello,

I must admit that I have been much of a non conformist most of my life, and I have not really followed the path of prim proper or clean cut. The past few years I have been dressing and grooming better in order to maintain a level of appearance that meets the criteria for the work that I do as a representative of the companies I have worked for. This is all fine and good, but yet a compromise that I have made to fit the role that I have agreed to play.

One of the biggest parts of why I have chosen this path is so that I can live the way that I chose to live, and to not conform to other people's standards. Then again, I would not want to hinder my success solely because of the way I present myself. I don't mean that I'm going to not shower and never change my cloths and name my business "Dirty Hippy Real Estate", I just don't want to really buy fancy clothes that I don't need and that would make me feel phony. Not because people who wear nice cloths are phony, but because it's just not me.

I've heard the saying that you need to "look the part" if you want to be something. Like the people who dress like managers because they are striving to be managers. This is a whole different ball game though from what I can assume. I know that people choose to do business with other people that they like and trust, and it is my most fundamental intention to be genuine and honest about who I am and who they are dealing with. So it seems to go against the grain to present myself differently than who I am.

I guess this all comes down to whether or not I should go buy some dress shirts and some ties, or if I should just go with a more casual look as is more suited to who I really am? Does it make sense to show up in a fancy car and wear expensive clothes when making deals, or does that make ordinary people feel hesitant to do business with you since it looks like you're making a killing? It really comes down to psychology when you really think about it.

Any thoughts, comments, jokes?

Thanks!

[Bill Gulley]

Dress for the occassion. Depends on who you are seeing and what you are doing. I wore a coat and tie at banks, when I opened my mtg co. I began business casual, rarely wore a tie.

If I knew I was going to talk about a ranch or mobile home park in a rural area, boots and jeans, same at construction sites. Carried boots in the car/truck.

Jeans are fine too, if that's common in your area, no holes or threads, frayed look is a little to casual, I know it's a fad for the younger folks, but it's not business like.

Be who you are, be neat and clean, pressed clothes, your shirt shouldn't look like you pulled it out of a dirty clothes pile. They say you can wear about anything, just wear nice shoes. Your shoes say alot about you. Not expensive, but leather shoes should have polish if that's the style, suade or unshined leather by design need to be free of scuffs, stay away from that worn look of old broken down shoes, IMO. I wouldn't wear tennis shoes to an appointment but they could be appropriate.

I'd think Portland would be what I might call "yuppie" an occassional polo shirt and kaki slacks and loffers is what I'd do. You don't need to wear $125 shirts, but not a $7 shirt at K Mart I guess. Depends, a farmer won't care what you are wearing if you need to get out in the woods and fields, a teacher or manager type may notice if you say you want to buy thier house.

A professional appearance doesn't need to be expensive or stuffy, a relaxed look is fine, IMO. But, never wear even a nice T-shirt with writing on it, some slogan or picture of a cartoon, you don't want to look like you are going to mow yards...and never know who you could offend. A Budwiser hat would also be a no, no.

I'd say no shorts, unless you're at the lake or some recreational area, and well dressed in them.

Walk into a Realtor firm, talk to some Realtors, just notice thier dress, an investor dealing in residential and small multi probably ought to dress like most of the local Realtors.

If you look like a bum people might think you're a bum, OTH, one of the richest men in town wore overalls and old boots, but then everyone knew who he was too! :)

BTW, I said I carried boots in the car/truck, also had light weight overalls to put on over casual clothes, might need to crawl under a house, get in an attic or walk through brush. This was in a leather carry-on bag, had a small first aid kit, flashlight, tape measure and a tape reel (100' engineering tape) and an old hat and work gloves. Had other personal items as well. My real estate 'go bag'.

You mentioned a car, you don't need a new BMW or any new car or truck, it needs to be clean, with paint, dent free (not crashed) in good order, no loud muffler and don't pull up with a 10,000 watt stero blaring and clean inside, no trash. IMO, it shows attention to detail. If it looks like you can't afford to fix your car you probably can't afford to buy my house. :)