Dress code

[Anonymous]

I believe that a professional should dress like a professional. I always wear a dress shirt, pants and hard shoes on an inspection (except construction). I carry a tie and sport jacket in the car.

 

[David S. Roberson]

A tuxedo, of course. Ascot for double-wides, bow tie for single wides. We must look professional while stomping around in the mud, sticking our heads in crawl spaces & attics, and checking toilets for HUD work.

 

[Jeff Horton]

Man I have had a good laugh out of this. I have agree with one point. It depends on your area. I think I am going to have the T-shirts made up anyway. Will just used good judgement on when to wear them. Jeans and a T-shirt are a bit casual for some places. But when doing a Double Wide they are totally acceptable. I appreciate all the input and the laughs!

I did look into having Shirts embrodered with my logo. I will probably at some time have that done too. But the point of the T-shirts is the large logo on the back. Its like a walking Billboard. People who are not looking will probably still notice. And advertising is all about making people remember you when they need your service 2 year down the road.

A neck tie around here is liable to get you shot at. YOu must be from the bank trying to collect or worse yet the from the Guvment. LOL

 

[Caterina Platt]

Bob,

Often run into that quandry myself. I tend to be a bit sarcastic and the majority of the delivery is in the tone of voice and facial expressions. How in the heck do ya type that??? The emoticons help a bit, but there can't be an emoticon for something that needs to be said in a silly or mocking tone of voice.

BTW, what is a Jap Flap? When I read that, all I could picture was one of those hats the WWII kamikaze pilots wore. :?: :?:

 

[aprazer]

BarbaraNJ-

I'm with you. Jeans are not appropriate. In this area-Northeast-never. I was beginning to think I am the only one who wears a tie. Dress shirt and tie always-sport jacket for multi-million properties.

Yes I do get my clothes dirty, but they have this great invention called a washing machine. Getting dirty is part of the job. Its unavoidable.

If you want to be considered a professional-dress like one.
I was recently at a high end home, and another appraiser was just leaving. Dressed very casual. Wife let me in and husband was on the phone to the lender asking if the appraiser was qualified to do the job. His exact words were "he didn't look very professional-and he is your representative." Ouch.

But, there are different "standards" for different areas. If I wore overalls, I would be as out of place as a rural appraiser in a suit. It's my impression that in a rural area, a person in a suit is not warmly welcomed. Golf attire does seem to be acceptable for most southern and western areas.

In the northeast, 95% of the homes have a full basement or slab. Most of the basements are finished. Most attics are walk-up or drop stair.
My first job in this business was for a bank, and all appraisers wore suits/jacket and tie every day. No matter where you were going.

 

[wyecoyote]

I work in the Northwest. When I first got started (Rural area) it was jeans, boots/hiking shoes and a T-Shirt or button up long sleave during the winter. Vehicle was a pickup 4X4 to many cat roads on inspections. If you showed up in a suit and tie and/or kahkis you were not very well received and people tended to think that you were way to uptight and had no idea about the area.

Now that I live in a more Urban market it is Khakis and collared shirt and a car. I had my pickup for the first few months here but not really that neccessary so I got a car.

As others say it trully depends on your area. Though around the office (home) the work attire really does vary and is even optional sometimes.

Ryan

 

[bobburnitt]

Caterina,

Jap-Flaps are those rubber "shower shoes". Some people down here call them "thongs" or Flip Flops. They used to be very, very popular in Japan.

BB in Texas

 

[Caterina Platt]

Gotcha! Flops here. Hubby is one of those rarely barefoot folks and wears his all the time. With socks in the winter :?: :!: I call him 'Wierd Mr. Wong'. God help me when he's old and senile and tries to leave the house looking like that :!:

 

[Dee Dee]

It depends on where the appraisal is. We have an interesting mix of people in my area. There's the real Colorado people and the newer transplants.
Most mountain people are suspicious of anyone who looks too 'formal'. Stout boots with good treads are a must since a good percentage of the homes are built into hillsides. At this altitude anyone who is out of shape or dressed like a 'flatlander' is a prime candidate for a heart attack or a good tumble just trying to take photos or measure. They'll also be considered a joke to the homeowner.
If I'm going to a higher end home where the odds of a human Barbie doll answering the door are better than 50%, I might wear a nicer blouse with my jeans and maybe a touch of makeup with nicer jewelry.

 

[Rick Neighbors]

When we "work" here in Texas, we wear work clothes. Thats not to say that you can't look good. Starched bluejeans, boots, starched shirts and a hat ( for shade from the sun ). Dockers and golf shirts look more casual to us than starched jeans and shirts. Besides, dogs, barb wire fences, rose bushes, etc are awful hard on thin material, and the skin underneath. When it's 95-100 degrees in the summer and 20-30 degrees in the winter, you wear durable clothes. ( And we just might get 90degree days in Feb and 35degree days in April).
If you feel comfortable for the area you work, go for it. I suppose in Hawaii you could dress like Magnum PI., but not here. By the way, anyone need an appraiser in Hawaii???
Oh, and Bob, you keep stirring the pot, it's fun to see how many Appraisers still have a sense of humor!!