1 How do you put into words the work, trust, and relationship that goes into an 11-month journey?
What started as a simple phone call to have someone come look at my father-in-law’s home — a house he had owned for 57 years — turned into the sale of that home and the beginning of a completely new chapter for our family.
When we first started looking at our options for how to provide for my father-in-law long term, we were torn between renting and selling. I made several calls and scheduled appointments with different real estate agents, trying to find someone who could guide us through what was going to be an incredibly difficult decision.
Then there was Heather Pruiksma .
Heather kept showing up on my Facebook feed, and there was actually a special family connection that made her stand out. Her family owned a very well-known restaurant back in the day, and that restaurant happened to be the place where my father-in-law took my mother-in-law on their first date after sledding at Goffle Brook Park. When Pop heard that Heather was the agent we were considering — and learned about that family connection — he simply said, “This is who needs to work with us on this adventure.”
And he was absolutely right.
Selling the home where my father-in-law had lived for 57 years was emotional. It wasn't just a house. It was memories, history, and a lifetime of moments. Moving Pop into the next safe chapter of his life was the right decision, but getting there was not always easy.
I honestly cannot count the number of calls, texts, questions, unexpected fires, and moments where Heather pulled my backside out of situations I never anticipated. She answered every call. She answered every text. She gave us advice, guidance, reassurance, and — perhaps most importantly — her expertise.
She connected us with skilled craftsmen and professionals who helped us prepare the house and achieve the best possible result. Every single person she recommended exceeded our expectations. That network of trusted professionals is something I believe is incredibly undervalued when people are searching for “their person” in real estate.
I listened to Heather and followed her advice because I had 100% confidence in her expertise. And she earned that confidence every step of the way.
But here's the thing: this was never just a transaction.
This became personal.
Over nearly a year, Heather became someone we trusted, someone we could lean on, and ultimately, a friend. I felt the genuine care she had for our family in every conversation, every interaction, and every person she connected us with.
Heather didn't just help us sell a house. She helped us navigate an incredibly emotional transition and helped our family move forward knowing we had done the right thing for Pop.
And I can't finish this without giving a very special shout-out to her amazing husband, who somehow transformed the yard into something straight out of House & Garden — before apparently giving up that career to become Heather's husband. 😂
Heather, thank you doesn't begin to cover it. We are incredibly grateful for the time, patience, expertise, kindness, and friendship you gave our family throughout this entire journey.
If you're looking for a real estate agent, you're not just looking for someone to list a house. You're looking for someone who will stand beside you when things get complicated, answer the phone when you need them, surround you with the right people, and genuinely care about the outcome.
For our family, that person was Heather. And we couldn't have asked for anyone better.

Pam Sytsma