By: Kate Merrihew – Director of Education and Marketing
I first met Cesar Delcampo at one of our Field Trip classes in 2015. I could tell from the first that he was someone I’d love to know. He was eating a ceasar salad at the lunch break and made some joke about his name. That hearty self-awareness has continued to shine through the years and he certainly did not leave it at home for this interview Cesar has been an appraiser for almost 20 years and with DS Murphy for 7 of those. If you have read other Team Member Spotlights, you will know that they are written from my perspective. In this situation, however, I thought you might like to hear it from Cesar himself. As he said in the interview, “I used to be shy as a kid but once I opened my mouth I never shut it.”
Here are the words of Cesar…
Mom and Dad are from Cuba and all Cubans move to NY. Mom and Dad didn’t like NY so we moved to Connecticut but it was too cold in Connecticut for a bunch of Cubans. Finally we moved to Orlando. Most of my childhood was spent getting family out of Cuba. In my family there were 4 of us and one time my cousins came to live with us – 11 people living in 3 bedroom house. My brother asked me semi-recently if I remember ever being upset that I had to wait for the bathroom and I said no. All I could remember of that time was being together and being surrounded by family.
I played football and basketball in high school. My high school football coach would say “Cesar, put in your mouthpiece!” because I would always make too many suggestions. I was actually very shy until I realized I was too cool not to let everyone meet me. I have a stutter as well but decided not to let that keep me down. I graduated high school in 1976 and went to the University of N. Alabama. After that I worked in Data processing for Disneyworld – 4 years. In 1984 I got a job with airlines in ATL doing IT. I worked for a computer supply company and built up clientele then company went bankrupt. I took the initiative to call my customers and they wanted to stay with me so I started my own company – C&E computer supplies.
My second daughter was born at home. I delivered her with 911 on the living room floor. My wife comes down the stairs and says “my water just broke.” We had just bought an area rug so naturally I had to move the rug. “Let’s go to the hospital,” I said. She responded “I ain’t gonna make it!” Ambulance shows up and I came out holding a baby. She went to the hospital but there was nothing they would let me do so I left to play a round of golf. After 4 holes I just started shaking and had to stop – it caught up to me.
My wife says I should also tell you about my first child, so I will. My friends threw a baby shower in Huntsville AL and we enjoyed it thoroughly. That night at 2am Elaine says “baby is coming”. I was not in a great place to drive from the shower but I made a big thing of coffee. It was “chunky” coffee – I shouldn’t have been in charge of the coffee. My friend was there and I remember saying, “Hey Howard, you can drive as fast as you want because we are having a baby.” Shortly after that the Doctor says “it’s a girl.” I lost it.
Y2K changed everything in terms of purchasing decisions. I was self-employed for 11 years so I couldn’t go back to the 9-5. Elaine and I went to Dsineyworld. We ate at a Bennigan’s and the waiter told him he was an appraiser. He said “I set my own schedule,” and I was sold. I came back to Lawrenceville and became appraiser in 2003. In 2008, the business changed a lot with the crash when the admin felt that everyone deserves a house whether you can afford one or not. I got a job working with Paul Hammond initially and saw an ad to work with Vicki Thompson. They fired me because I made my boss cry – I don’t sugar coat anything and she was by the book. I wasn’t making her happy or making her enough money. Her company had division made appointments FOR you.
This was when I found Kaiser Mitsch and was with them until the merger in 2015. Scott is a good guy to work for. The company expanded but he gave us all the tools we needed and made sure he was available to answer any questions. I wish I would’ve started working here 10 years ago. The GPs and the relationship you build with agents in unmatched. Overall in the appraisal business there’s been sometimes when it’s a pain and sometimes it’s really rewarding.
My favorite part about the business itself is those times when you’re taking pictures at a house and you end up getting to know a family. I’ve even stayed to eat lunch. You get to meet different people – nationality and races – everyone smiles in the same language – everyone is happy in the same language. I wish I could’ve started working at DSM when I was younger. I’ve been given the necessary tools to be a better appraiser. I could always call another appraiser at the firm if I didn’t understand something and that makes a big difference.
I asked Cesar the following questions…
Q: What made you want to be an appraiser?
A: I was a stay at home Dad so I couldn’t leave the house until after school drop off and had to be home by 2:30 so I could take care of the girls. Side note – Cuban men are seen as “macho” and I did it all – diapers, baths etc. Becoming an appraiser gave me more of flexible schedule and more time to be a dad. Elaine had a good job at Home Depot and we are thankful for that.
Q: What would you like to do when you are no longer appraising?
A: Play golf, fish, travel and meet new and interesting people.
Q: What the weirdest thing you have come across when inspecting/appraising?
A: I was in a house in Dekalb, new construction where there had been stealing/looting. I came out to 2 cop vehicles and a helicopter overhead. Luckily I’m armed with my clipboard. The house had an alarm system that was triggered – everyone was doing their job but it was still scary to walk out to.
Q: Something no one knows about you?
A: I’m a sentimental wuss. I’m a fun-loving joking kind of guy. I talk a lot so most people know everything about me. I love to cook and my favorite thing to cook is grilling – ribeye and vegetables.
Q: What words of wisdom can you share with the team?
A: Don’t take life too seriously – there’s only a few times in your life where seriousness is warranted. People put too much weight on things that aren’t important. The most important thing is being a good person and your family. If everyone followed the golden rule, that’s the only commandment you would need.