And get your surf or paddleboard lesson on the house....be sure to bring your flip flops as they are required attire:)

what is the best professional attire for real estate agents ?

I wish I could help but this is all I could come up with: Advertising: Appraisers/Attorneys/CPAs Bandit Signs Being Transferred Best Offer Billboards/Bus bench or stop Bird Dogs Brainstorm with Team Bring All Offers Brochures/Flyers Bulletin Boards Business Cards Car Signs - Magnetic Career attire Desperate - Must Sell Direct Mail Door Hangers Drive the Area Finder's Fee offerred Friends - Tell all you Buy!

Have your business cards ready, either go in your professional attire, or in your house flipping attire.. we go in our house flipping attire, cargo pants steel boots, smelling like ripe ape.. the women love it.. ahem... and you will be fine.Take the business seriously and have pride calling this YOUR business, and act like it.Show respect and you will be A OK

Also, does attire play a role?

I looked with in me 1st, so now I wear casual attire with my steel toe boots and tool bag. yes it is purple but its a TOOL BAG.

I safeguard my portfolio from legal or operational risks.I have talked to few attires and CPAs and I hear so many different opinions that it really confuses me.  

I agree with Joseph that screening well is crucial for keeping a nice home but we still have yet to find out how to screen for a "cleanliness" and "selflessness" factor since looking at a person's car or attire when they come to check out the house can be deceiving.

By this last statement I mean - if you have a relationship with a lawyer, accountant, or tax professional, ask them for a referral to another in their field who may be particularly experienced in real estate investing (best if they do it themselves) and suited to your personal situation and needs.I recommend that you seek business insurance from a local provider in a similar manner.And you should build relationships with one or more realtors - also in a similar manner.Hope to see you at an upcoming REI gathering - usually the attire is business professional and the atmosphere is casual - but the participants are highly focused on REI and success (theirs - and yours).  

I think your best bet is finding out who "needs" to sell versus who "wants" to sell, and not wasting your time on the sellers who are only kicking at tires.