‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: Can Your Leasing Agents Have Visible Tattoos?

When I was 14, my mom took me to the doctor to get my ears pierced. The doctor pierced my right ear. After that, I got into the fetal position, put my hands over both ears, and with tears streaming down my face, screamed that I didn’t want the left one pierced because the first one hurt so much. My mom made them do it anyway though—she said I would look like an idiot with only one ear pierced. (In all fairness, she was probably right.) A few months later, I took out both earrings and let the holes close up. And that was the end of that.

Yay or nay?

I don’t handle things that are painful well. Obviously. (It’s why I have trouble watching Smash now. Zing!) So tattoos were never an issue for me. However, 36 percent of adults currently have at least one tattoo. And that includes a big chunk of Gen Y. So, chances are that at least some of your leasing agents and other resident-facing employees have tattoos.

Have you adjusted your employee dress code to reflect this?

What do you require of your leasing agents? Do you only hire employees with no visible tattoos? A lot of the real estate industry is based on appearances—nice looking apartments, beautiful facilities, etc. And for Class A, luxury communities, the brand that owners might want to represent is a more classic, streamlined look which might extend beyond the actual property to how the employees present themselves to potential renters.

Of course, regardless of your specific dress code policy, you want your employees to be presentable. After all, they’re representing your company and the building and should look professional.

Maybe dress codes could be adjusted based on the type of community. For example, the employees at a seniors community in a very conservative area might have a stricter dress code than the employees at a student community near an artsy campus. Or, maybe the location should determine the dress code—Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s population, for example, might feel that tattoos are the norm.

Then again, are people even shocked by tattoos anymore? Maybe it’s a non-issue.

What is your dress code for your employees at your community?

-Jessica Fiur, News Editor