Happenings Podcast with Veronica: Four Years of Putting Clients First

What does it really take to be a good REALTOR® after the first few years? In this hour-long episode of the Niagara Real Estate Podcast, Joe Gonzalez sits down with Veronica for an unscripted one-on-one, four years after she joined Right Choice. They talk about caring for clients, being available when it counts, helping buyers make a decision, the trade-offs of a flexible career, and how creating content builds real relationships.

This episode was recorded in spring 2025.

Four years in, and every deal is still different

Veronica’s first deal at Right Choice recently celebrated its four-year home anniversary, and it doesn’t feel that long. Back then the market was just starting to pick up, negotiations sometimes happened on the front lawn, and Joe and Veronica spent nearly every day together while she trained.

Looking back, what stands out most is that no two deals are the same. There are patterns and familiar steps, but they rarely happen in the same order. Learning to go with the waves, and to stay calm when a deal takes an unexpected turn, is one of the biggest areas where she has grown.

Caring about every deal, maybe a little too much

Veronica is honest about the hard part: she takes every deal to heart. Even when she knows she is doing everything right, she will lie awake thinking about a client’s deal. That care helps her clients, but it can wear on her too, so she is learning to trust that she is doing the right thing and to save the worrying for when it is truly needed.

For Joe, that care is exactly what matters. The one thing he never has to worry about with Veronica, or with Kevin, is whether they are putting the people they work with first. Every deal teaches something, and looking back there is always something that could have been done differently. As long as the intention is right and the client comes first, the team gets better with every transaction.

A people business, not a sales pitch

Real estate is technically a sales job, but Veronica has never felt like a salesperson. Her focus is understanding where each person fits in the buying or selling process and helping them make the right choice for them. She has seen agents who come across as pushy, and that has never sat well with her.

Joe agreed that “salesy” isn’t the goal. Clients consistently say they love working with Veronica. But there is a balance between low pressure and leadership, and that’s where his coaching comes in.

Helping buyers get to a decision

Being no-pressure is a strength, but a good REALTOR® also helps clients reach the finish line. Joe’s example:

• You’ve seen 20 homes. Maybe 12 of them are the best on the market.
• Only four truly fit what you told us you need.
• You need to buy within a certain time frame. So it’s time to choose one of those four.

That isn’t pushing anyone. It’s knowing what the client is looking for and guiding them to a decision that matches their own goals. Without that, everyone’s time gets wasted and the client doesn’t accomplish what they set out to do.

Available when it matters

When buyers come to Right Choice after working with other agents, Veronica often hears the same thing: we care, and we’re available. During an active deal that can mean answering messages at 10:30 at night after starting at 8 a.m., because deadlines don’t wait.

Joe admitted that when Veronica was new he expected everything to be treated as urgent, because a new agent isn’t yet in a position to decide what can wait. Over time she has learned to tell the difference between a message that needs an answer right now and one that can wait until after a workout. Knowing which is which is part of becoming a seasoned agent.

Flexibility, purpose and the real estate lifestyle

Real estate gives you freedom. You can book a 2 p.m. dentist appointment or plan a trip without asking anyone. It also means late nights, opening a laptop at a friend’s kitchen island on a Friday, and thinking about work even when you’re not working.

Veronica would still choose this over a 9-to-5. Joe’s view is that finding work you have a purpose for makes the hard days easier. He loves helping people and working with his team, and that keeps the demanding parts in perspective. Veronica, at 30, is enjoying the work and keeping an open mind about what the future holds.

Building relationships through content

Veronica is one of the most consistent content creators on the team. Her current schedule:

• Tuesdays: gardening videos
• Thursdays: book reviews
• Every day: stories, which she rarely misses

She posts to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Her advice for anyone who wants to create content for their business:

• Make content about what you already enjoy. If you’re already gardening or reading, filming it is easy.
• Keep it simple. Most of her videos take one take. The first video doesn’t need to be perfect.
• Film ideas when you have them. She keeps an album of unposted videos so she’s rarely scrambling.
• Repeat your best topics. Like the biggest creators, you can keep coming back to a few core themes, because new people see them every time.
• Let it start conversations. At book club, someone recognized her from her videos. At garden events, her content gives her an easy way to connect with people who share her interests.

Joe’s take: when you create content around what you like, you end up around more people you like, and in a relationship business, that leads to opportunities.

Feedback goes both ways

Joe asked Veronica what he could do better. Her answer: more by-the-book broker of record guidance on paperwork and standards, so agents always know the official way of doing things, not just the team’s preferred way. Joe agreed it’s worth working on. Moments like this are why they plan to make these one-on-ones a regular habit, at least once a quarter.

On camera versus off camera

The episode wraps up with a fun question: how different is Joe on camera versus off? Veronica’s answer was “not much.” Joe holds back a little in his pizza reviews to stay respectful to the businesses, and Veronica pointed out that different content reaches different audiences, which doesn’t make it any less authentic.

Episode highlights

• 0:00 Four years at Right Choice
• 2:00 Growth as a REALTOR® and caring about every deal
• 5:00 People-first versus “salesy”
• 7:00 Helping buyers decide
• 12:00 Being available during a deal
• 16:30 Flexibility and the 9-to-5 comparison
• 22:00 Finding a purpose
• 28:30 Content creation and consistency
• 47:00 Feedback and getting better
• 52:00 On camera versus off camera

Questions answered in this episode

What makes a good REALTOR?

Putting clients first, being honest, being available when it matters and helping clients make confident decisions.

How do I choose between the homes I’ve seen?

Narrow your list to the homes that truly fit your needs and timeline, then lean on your REALTOR® to help you compare them and decide.

Is it hard to reach a REALTOR after hours?

At Right Choice, when your deal is active, we’re available, because timelines don’t wait.

Does creating content help a real estate business?

Yes. Content about what you enjoy builds an audience of like-minded people and starts conversations that turn into relationships.

Ready to start your home search?

We’ll help you get pre-approved, prepared and ready to move when the right Niagara home comes up.

Call 289-276-1716 or see our buyer guide.