Home » News » Agencies & People » Covid will help kill off suit wearing among agents, claims former senior director
Agencies & People

Covid will help kill off suit wearing among agents, claims former senior director

Mike Dibble, who until retiring was a high flyer at Bradleys, says pandemic will change many things in the industry – including business attire.

Nigel Lewis

business attire

A former senior director at one of the UK’s largest independent estate agencies has said Covid will accelerate the adoption of more relaxed business attire within the industry.

Mike Dibble, who until retiring two years ago was a manager at 30-branch SW estate agency Bradleys for 26 years, has made the comments within his regular column for his local paper in Sidmouth.

In it he also predicts that the safety requirements forced on house hunters and agents during the pandemic will stick, and that virtual viewings and online planning will become a normal part of moving home after the pandemic dies away.

He also says months of online meetings with clients via Zoom or Teams while working from home mean many clients are becoming more relaxed about agents wearing suits.

business attire dibble“With far fewer face-to-face appointments, the trend of agents dressing in formal business attire has declined,” he says (pictured).

“This has also happened with other professions such as solicitors and accountants.

“My guess is that the wearing of suits and ties will continue to diminish. In London ties have been a rare sight for many years.

“I think the majority of customers aren’t too concerned about what people wear.

“They say you only have ten seconds to make an impression and that is what is important. Therefore, being smart and presentable is key.”

He also said Bradleys recently held its annual sales awards online and that several former colleagues said management thought it was ‘as good’ as the usual head office gathering.

Read more about business attire attitudes within the industry.

January 26, 2021

What's your opinion?

Please note: This is a site for professional discussion. Comments will carry your full name and company.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.