Theresa Hahn’s referral network has grown so large during her 14 years as a broker that it has completely sustained her business for the last five years — but after all this time, she still gets a thrill from a random client who saw one of her signs or found her online.

“But, generally, I think it’s my friends and clients who see me enjoying my career, and liked our time working together, who pass my information along to new clients,” she says. “I think this is truly the best way to start a call: ‘Any friend of x is a friend of mine.’”

Hahn, a broker at Compass, says she loves the job because she values getting to know people. Her goal is to exceed their expectations and demonstrate her commitment through actions not words. It’s not just her love of meeting new clients that sustains her, though. “I love seeing properties — I could tour homes all day,” she says. “I like making schedules and collaborating with colleagues … and my favorite part of the deal is negotiating.”

That personal touch she brings to every deal has served her well as a broker. Hahn was a recognized in the Real Producers Top 500 in 2020 and as a Top Producer by the Chicago Association of Realtors in 2016, 2019 and 2020.

She earned a BFA in interior design and was working in the industry when she made the leap to real estate. “I felt it was a natural progression of my skillset; I love that I get to bring that perspective when helping clients find their home,” she recalls.

Of all her successes, though, Hahn says that her two sons — Everett, 6, and Jasper, 3 — are her greatest accomplishment. “In the past year, during the pandemic, I’ve stayed in sync with them, and we grew together. In hindsight, I’m so grateful for the ‘forced’ together time to appreciate what is the same and different about each of us.”