Ive been in business since Jan 31st of this year and I am out of WV. When I went through my home inspection training theough AHIT. Our instructor felt that the professional appearance is the typical khakis and polo. Why are shorts unprofessional? I just would rather wear shorts and polo in the spring, summer and fall but I dont want to look un professional. Thanks for the advice in advance.
2 Likes
It depends on what type of shorts you plan on wearing. There is a huge difference between a nice pair of dress or cargo shorts and a pair of cut off jorts.
I would say to pay attention to how the local agents show up to inspections. If you see them wearing shorts, then I would say that it would be acceptable for you. At the same time, I have seen agents show up in gym clothes or dressed like they are headed to the lake. I think the “professional” image has changed significantly over the past 10 years.
4 Likes
I ware Bermuda shorts, walking shorts, basketball shorts with a nice dress short sleeved shirt and white running shoes. Looks and feel cool. I keep long pants, pull overalls and mud boots in the truck all summer.
1 Like
I believe pair of pants or jeans are in order. No one wants to look at your ugly knock knees. In addition your legs are much more prone to injury without pants.
When up a ladder you made show your nuts to everyone below.
7 Likes
I have what should be a 3.5 to 5 hour inspection today and it’s going to be in the low 80s. I wear shorts. You won’t see anyone around here wearing pants until December.
4 Likes
I do,year round. When inspecting.
4 Likes
Nobody cares if you wear shorts during an inspection. Hopefully they care about what you write not what you wear.
5 Likes
Personally, it depends on the inspection and the weather. Nothing good about a crawlspace in a pair of shorts.
When it’s hot, a nice house, basement, I will sometimes wear a pair of cargo shorts. Just make sure they are decent. You can still look professional in shorts and an oxford shirt or nice polo.
1 Like
I think I’ll start wearing flip-flops, speedos.And a tank top
3 Likes
It depends on the type of shorts I suppose. I wear cargo shorts with a logo’d T-shirt in the summer. This can be a dirty, sweaty job if you are doing it right. It is not a desk job. I think clients like to see that you worked up a sweat and got dirty.
1 Like
If you ain’t throwing a pair of coveralls on when you go into a crawlspace I don’t care what you’re wearing you’re doing it wrong. Work smart not hard.
2 Likes
Thank you, to me that looks professional. I guess just being a new business owner, I am a little over cautious with some things.
Thanks everyone for your advice and thoughts. I understand there can be many factors into this but with the answers i have recieved i believe that to have answered my question. Again, thank you all very very much.
1 Like
I agree there.
I’ll just say that in Florida from about the end of February until the end of October, no one wears long pants during the day except roofers; They wear long pants, long shirts and big hats. Ugh.
2 Likes
Since I am in NE Ohio, I do not see the long stretch of hot days you guys down south do. Regardless of the temperature, I always wear cargo pants, because I like all the pockets, and either my long sleeve Logo shirt or my short sleeve one.
I do a lot of high end homes, so I like to at least look professional.
5 Likes
Please don’t! 
2 Likes
He’s Vito Spatafore from the Sopranos. “It was just a joke!”
1 Like
This is one of those region and market specific questions and good to be thinking about. An old standby piece of business advice is to dress one step better than your client would expect. The way an inspector is dressed says a lot about them to the buyer (and to the agent). You can be the inspector Bob who wears jean shorts, but it’s a sloppy look and not what a lot of people will expect. In Florida that likely means cargo shorts instead of cutoffs. Around here though light weight long pants are the summer standard, they just look more professional in this market. When doing a multi million dollar house everyone is in non-jean pants.
Personally I like the 511 ABU pants a lot. They are light weight, better cut than many other baggy cargo pants, and still very durable. Walmart and Target both sell light weight hiking pants with decent pockets in tans, greys, and other “work colors”.
2 Likes