Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
I have a half sleeve shoulder to elbow and was considering making it into a full sleeve. Curious BP members opinion on this? I am a top realtor in my market (18 million in 18/19) and focus exclusively on 2-4 unit properties I feel like I am good enough in my niche that a full sleeve wouldn't lose me much if any business. Chicago market realtors dress pretty casual in a t-shirt buy side and dress shirt with sleeves rolled up a few inches in summer when sell side. My tattoo already shows in a t shirt so its not hidden most of time anyways. High end black and grey work nothing trashy/offensive. Would love to hear other investors thoughts?
You will always have people that will judge books by their covers regardless of one's ability. There's nothing you can do about that. I personally don't care if I had an agent with a full face tattoo so long as this person is bringing me deals, which in turn brings me money.
You just need to put yourself into the shoes of the clientele you're working with. Rule of thumb I adhere to is to have my image and demeanor reflect that of the person I'm working with. Some people will see me in shorts and a t shirt, some in jeans and a button up shirt.
We all have our own ways of doing things so do whatever makes you happy (and of course makes you money at the same time).
You will always have people that will judge books by their covers regardless of one's ability. There's nothing you can do about that. I personally don't care if I had an agent with a full face tattoo so long as this person is bringing me deals, which in turn brings me money.
You just need to put yourself into the shoes of the clientele you're working with. Rule of thumb I adhere to is to have my image and demeanor reflect that of the person I'm working with. Some people will see me in shorts and a t shirt, some in jeans and a button up shirt.
We all have our own ways of doing things so do whatever makes you happy (and of course makes you money at the same time).
@Henry Lazerow, I personally have a full sleeve on my left arm (Non-offensive, Architectural themed, black ink only). I did the lower half about 2 years ago, and then finished the sleeve about 1 year ago. I can say that in our Chicago area, it is continuing to become more and more accepted, and if anything I have received more compliments compared to bad looks...
That being said, I do agree that there are still some people out there who would be bothered by it, and it is their right to do so. I have heard stories (elsewhere on this forum) of people saying "they wouldn't work with someone who had a lot of tattoos" and regardless of how some people may feel about it, that is their choice, and if you are trying to earn someone else's business, its their decision whether or not they want to work with you; even if they would let tattoos sway them away from you and toward someone else who may not do as good of a job!
In the end, I try to be respectful to people and would wear long sleeves, unless I have a closer relationship with the client and know they are not bothered by it; however, I have been growing more and more comfortable with leaving it uncovered, even when meeting potential clients for the first time, and so far I do not think it has swayed any clients away from me.
Let me know if you need any recommendations for a tattoo artist, my guy in Ravenswood does great work!
@Henry Lazerow Yes it was! Showing up on a Ducati with a full sleeve tattoo(Ha!). Things have been going great, I sent Avery my final pricing after viewing the property and the detailed discussion on the scope of work. I told him no need to rush signing any contract with me until everything gets worked out and finalized with his closing; this way he at least has accurate pricing for his project. I actually sent a follow-up earlier today just to check in; hope things are going well.
It will bother some people. You need to decide what you are comfortable with. You can always wear long sleeves (I don't understand all the tattoos, but to each their own-all I'd care about is if you did your job and were professional).
I have a half sleeve shoulder to elbow and was considering making it into a full sleeve. Curious BP members opinion on this? I am a top realtor in my market (18 million in 18/19) and focus exclusively on 2-4 unit properties I feel like I am good enough in my niche that a full sleeve wouldn't lose me much if any business. Chicago market realtors dress pretty casual in a t-shirt buy side and dress shirt with sleeves rolled up a few inches in summer when sell side. My tattoo already shows in a t shirt so its not hidden most of time anyways. High end black and grey work nothing trashy/offensive. Would love to hear other investors thoughts?
How long have you been a realtor? Do you have established clients? Would you get a better return on putting that Tattoo money somewhere else?
Wouldn’t bother me. Don’t judge a book by its cover, especially in real estate. It’s all about the potential and what something can be. If you’re a hard worker and have great results your reputation will shine above the tattoo.
@Henry Lazerow Since you work in an industry where the more clients you have, the better you're able to financially perform. A part of that equation is being able to have access to all available clients, if having a full sleeve reduces that pool of clients, I would just not roll-up the shirt sleeves, to have that access.
The tattoos are a part of your personal life, and lifestyle, leave them out of your business dealings so they do not have a chance to be a negative impact.
I'm someone with zero tattoos, and don't see the need to ever get one, I wouldn't hold it against you, I would probably just think you showed up to a million dollar +/- business deal not looking professional if you presented yourself showing off the sleeve.
It may bother some people. But having tattoos won't define you as a realtor. It's how you carry yourself and how you interact with your clients are more important. It's about the service.
@Henry Lazerow - if you want the full sleeve, get it. You won't go to your deathbed thinking "man I regret getting this, I could've gotten that one extra deal" (or if you do, then you lived an insane life without any real regrets).
@Henry Lazerow I don't care if you have horns and a tail as long as you can close! One of my closest friends works in C-suite sales and always goes sleeves rolled up and ink out.
Henry, as a 27 year old, we don’t give a crap what you look like, all we care about is how good of an agent you are! As long as you instill confidence in your clients and be a reliable resource then you could be blue for all we care!
@Henry Lazerow I wouldn’t mind as long as you are very efficient and helpful. Unfortunately the world we leave in we are found of judging others by how they look and usually relate to stereotypes around tattoo. I say have your tattoo as long as it makes you happy and don’t let it define you but rather your work. Don’t settle for society, be exceptional.
@Bob Okenwa I think that's a great way to look at things man appearance is a choice and you should be yourself as long as you're being beneficial to yourself and others and operating with integrity who cares what you look like just hustle
I don't generally use an agent, but here's my $.01
Back when I got my first tat, they meant something and it was for a reason.
These days most young people have whatever and I see it more as look at me vanity.
I have never seen a full sleeve where I can even tell what it is. Usually I'm like that's too bad. That dude is buff or she is fine otherwise, but what's all that crap on her arm?
I have a half sleeve shoulder to elbow and was considering making it into a full sleeve. Curious BP members opinion on this? I am a top realtor in my market (18 million in 18/19) and focus exclusively on 2-4 unit properties...
I think I have something useful to say here.
There are certain ethnic groups that are raised not to have tattoos. I belong to one of them, Greeks. Historically in classical Greece, only slaves and criminals were tattooed. So you'll see that most Greeks tend not to get any tattoos at all. My wife is Russian. In Russia, again, you see tattooing mostly in a criminal context. Ordinary citizens find it deeply questionable. That being said, one of my closest friend's father is a tattoo artist, and my friend has extensive tattoos. Fine for his cultural background, not fine for mine. The way I was raised doesn't blind me, and I think most people worth dealing with in your business will be pretty much the same way.
But you mention that you market 2-4 unit properties, duplex, triplexes, quadplexes that qualify for residential financing. Many of the investors you work with are likely to be be specialized hands-on, self-managing landlords working in C-class portfolios. That's what I am as well. And in that role, tenants with extensive tattoos, especially young tenants, are often trouble. As that kind of landlord, it's kind of difficult biting back the hard things you'd like to say when talking to somebody who's obviously spent at least $2K in decorating their arm, as they tell you that they don't have the rent. Tattoos represent frivolous money investments for that reason. Extensive visible tattoos represent poor employment decisions. If you're living in C-class and you have a full-sleeve tattoo, you're cutting yourself off from a number of possible jobs you might apply for if you lose your existing job.
So you might lose some money if you tend to deal with this kind of landlord in your job.
This is real estate business. There are ALWAYS going to be "bigger fish to fry".
In each deal, with all of the different moving parts, if someone is more focused with what is on "your arm", than the deal in front of them they need to wrap "their arms" around, then they are taking their eye off the ball and probably not seeing the whole bigger(pockets) picture. Do great work - get great rewards. Your skin should not matter. But only if you have "skin in the game."
Being said, my background is graphic design and illustration and I alway enjoy a great ink job. I personally do not have ink, not a fan of needles after a bad car crash decades ago. But when we "screen residents" that have ink, I always ask to see the ink if it is in an appropriate place.
Every two or three years, we have the Massachusetts State Police Gang control unit give a presentation to our Landlord Association. Very informative and terrifying all at the same time. They teach us to recognize gang ink and what to look for across the several different gangs. We want as little drama as possible after we sign the lease and this includes gang activity in the building.
I would not be offended by the ink so long as it was not intended to be offensive.