Bob Hertzog

Blessed Husband & Father of two amazing women| 27+ Years Selling Real Estate, specializing in 85028 |Bob Hertzog-Your Real Estate Dad at The Brokery

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #101- What you see at a showing is the best version of the home.🏠
Sellers prepare for showings. Lights are on, candles are lit, everything is cleaned and staged.
That's not deception, it's presentation. But it means you're seeing the home at its peak.
Ask questions. Read the disclosure. Look past the staging and evaluate what's actually there.
Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

@GuntherEagleman They did the exact same thing for us a few years ago when we lost our dog, and we will forget it.

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

📷Real Estate Dad Note #100 — The house you grow into is often better than the house you grow out of.📷
Buying a little more space than you need today can serve you for years.
Buying more than you can comfortably afford today can make those years stressful.
There's a difference between room to grow and reaching too far.
Know where that line is for your situation.
Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #99 — A slow market doesn't mean a bad market. It means a different one.🏠

When the market slows, buyers have more options and more time. Sellers have to be sharper.

Neither is the end of the world. Both just require a different approach.

The mistake is using a fast-market strategy in a slow market, or vice versa.

Know what kind of market you're in and adjust accordingly.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #98- The goal was never just to sell the house. The goal was to get you to the right next place.🏠

A transaction closes in a day. The decision lives with you for years.

My job isn't done when the papers are signed. It's done when you look back and feel good about where you ended up.

That's the standard I hold myself to, and have for over 27 years.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #97 — A second opinion on a major purchase is never a bad idea.🏠

Real estate is one of the largest financial decisions most people make.

If something doesn't feel right, or if you're genuinely uncertain, ask someone you trust to take a look.

A good agent won't be offended by your questions. They'll welcome them.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #96 — Flexibility on closing date can be worth more than you think.🏠

Sellers are people. They have timelines, stress, and logistics of their own.

An offer that gives them a little room to breathe — an extra week, a flexible close date — can make your offer stand out even when the price is similar.

Negotiation isn't always about money. Sometimes it's about making things easy.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #95- Don't let a low appraisal catch you off guard.🏠

Appraisals are part of the process. When they come in low, it creates real decisions for both sides.

Understanding what affects appraisals (comparable sales, condition, upgrades) helps you price smarter and prepare better.

The appraisal isn't the enemy. An unexpected one is.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #94 — Buyers who sleep well after signing are the ones who did the work before.🏠

The confidence you feel at closing is built in the weeks leading up to it.

Research, preparation, honest conversations, and clear-headed decisions are what get you there.

Peace of mind isn't luck. It's the result of doing things right.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #93- The right buyer for your home exists. Your job is to make it easy for them to say yes.🏠

Price it correctly. Present it well. Make showings accessible.

The buyers who are looking for exactly what you have should be able to find it, see it clearly, and feel good about making an offer.

Remove the obstacles. The right buyer will do the rest.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

@EmbSpainUK @zerohedge “Practically”

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

@TPostMillennial Can’t read it, too many pop-up ads

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #92- A weekend in the neighborhood tells you more than a week of online research.🏠

Zillow can tell you the price. It can't tell you what it's like to live there.

Spend time where you're thinking of buying. See the streets at different hours. Talk to people.

Data is a starting point. Experience is the answer.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #91- The value of a home isn't just what it sells for. It's what it costs you to stay.🏠

Deferred maintenance, high utility costs, and ongoing repairs are part of the true cost of ownership.

A home with lower upkeep can be more valuable in real terms than a higher-priced home that constantly demands your money and time.

Run the full math, not just the mortgage.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #90- Closing costs are real. Plan for them.🏠

A lot of buyers focus on the down payment and forget about everything else at the closing table.

Escrow fees, title insurance, lender fees, prepaid taxes. It adds up.

Know your full out-of-pocket number before you make an offer. Surprises at closing are never fun.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #89- Don't confuse being busy with making progress.🏠

I've seen buyers tour dozens of homes without getting any closer to a decision.

More showings don't create clarity. Clearer criteria do.

If you've seen ten homes and nothing is sticking, the problem usually isn't the inventory. It's the search.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #88- Relocation is more than a move. It's a lifestyle decision.🏠

People relocating to Phoenix from out of state aren't just changing addresses. They're changing everything.

Climate, community, culture, traffic patterns, and daily rhythms are all different.

The best relocations happen when people invest time understanding where they're going, not just finding a house once they arrive.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #87- Lighting changes everything, and it's one of the easiest things to fix.🏠

Dark rooms feel smaller. Bright rooms feel bigger, cleaner, and more inviting.

Before you list, walk through your home at showing time and see how the light actually looks.

Add bulbs, open blinds, and make sure every fixture works. Small effort. Big difference.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #86- A home that needs work isn't automatically a bargain.🏠

Renovation costs add up quickly. Labor, materials, permits, and surprises almost always exceeds the budget.

Before you fall in love with the price of a fixer-upper, get real estimates on what it will take to bring it up to where you want it.

The purchase price is just the beginning of the math.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad

[Bob Hertzog @Bobhertzog]

🏠Real Estate Dad Note #85- Open houses are for buyers. Showings are where decisions get made.🏠

Open houses have their place. But serious, motivated buyers typically book a private showing.

Don't judge buyer interest by open house traffic. Judge it by showing activity and feedback.

Traffic is nice. Offers are the goal.

Bob Hertzog, Your Real Estate Dad