Catherine Pabatao-Heichman remembers sitting at open houses almost every weekend early in her real estate career. “Sometimes it would be my own listing, but other times I would volunteer and ask agents if they needed help because it provided me the opportunity to experience different types of properties in various neighborhoods,” Pabatao-Heichman recalls. “Today I can honestly say I have either done a transaction or hosted an open house in that neighborhood.”

A broker and team leader at Coldwell Banker, Pabatao-Heichman assists buyers, sellers and investors with single-family homes and condos in the Chicagoland area. With an MBA and a background in network and communications management, she has always been interested in real estate but leaned more toward the investment side of the business. “When I purchased my primary residence, I decided I wanted to do residential sales,” she shares. “But I still love technology and business, which definitely helps in leveraging my business.”

Pabatao-Heichman leads a team of three other women, describing the group as small but powerful. “Having a team is important because it is like hiring three agents for the price of one,” she explains. “We have different strengths and weaknesses, but I feel we balance each other.” Many sellers choose her after reading positive reviews online, and they appreciate the breadth of her experience, acquired from nearly two decades in the industry.

Pabatao-Heichman believes in earning her clients’ trust early in the process. “Buying and selling real estate can be a very emotional transaction, so it is crucial for me to balance being empathetic and at the same time staying professional,” she points out. “I never want to lose that human connection.”