The DS Murphy Newsletter

By Kate Merrihew – Director of Education and Marketing

If I told you that this month’s spotlight hailed from Rochester, NY, you might think I was referring to Scott Murphy or Mark Caffiers.  I am, in fact, talking about Olivia Blasioli, our recently certified appraiser in Florida.

A self-proclaimed cat lady, Olivia grew up in Rochester and only moved to Ft. Myers after high school.  Her mom is a nurse and dad is in the health safety industry.  Olivia has an older brother who helped to shape her sporty and adventurous nature.  She was captain of the basketball team and played throughout middle and high school.  She mentioned that it taught her a lot about teamwork and relying on others. Olivia also played piano and thought for a while that she might want to pursue music therapy; an idea that was quickly squashed when it seemed that college would be nothing but practicing piano. 

Olivia has fond memories of growing up and noted that she always loved school.  Since elementary school she would come home and do her homework immediately.  She noted, “I would do my work and then put everything back in my backpack and put it by the door so I could enjoy the rest of the day. I get anxious if I have anything lingering.”  She referred to herself as the “anti-procrastinator.” 

Anti-procrastination or quick decision making seems to run in the family.  Olivia’s parents knew they wanted to eventually move to Florida and went to an open house while visiting on a whim.  They put an offer on the house that day and moved her family to Florida, surprise!  Olivia attended Florida Gulf Coast University (not majoring in music therapy) and received a degree in Community Health.  She changed her major 20 times and decided just to finally stick with something. After college, she spent some time serving but got her first taste of the appraisal business when her parents sold their house.  She spoke with the appraiser and was intrigued by their day-to-day.  She reached out to the Appraisal Institute and inquired about a supervisor.  Olivia had been making cold calls and was coming up short.  The Appraisal Institute gave her 3 names and the first one was Steve King.  She started with D.S Murphy Valuations about a month after her interview.

Currently, Olivia lives and works in Florida with DSMV and has 2 cats.  Gaston (Russian Blue) acts like the story character.  Berlioz is a black cat (Bombay) and got his name from The Aristocats.  She grew up with cats and always had them around.  Olivia commented that she finds cats fascinating.  That they are wild animals we have domesticated but still have that wild presence.  She is still loving the appraisal world and seeing the variety of homes, from the small homes in bad condition to the home of the Tampa Bay Bucs co-owner.  She continues to “do her homework” as soon as she gets home from appointments.

I asked Olivia the following questions…

Q: What made you want to be an appraiser?

A: It was the first job that sounded interesting to me. I always wanted a job that had a decent salary but didn’t want to be a doctor or lawyer.  I pursued it immediately when I found out what it was.

Q: What would you like to do when you are no longer appraising?

A: Nothing. I want to be appraising forever. When I’m older and want to retire though., I’d like to travel a lot around the U.S. Road trip style across the country.  International too but definitely the U.S. first.

Q: What the weirdest thing you have come across when inspecting/appraising?

A:  One time I was doing an appraisal on a 10-acre farmhouse.  They had 25 baby goats jumping all around me and biting my pants.  Just recently I was doing another appraisal on acreage and the owner and I almost stepped on a coral snake.  I had never seen a snake before and it had really beautiful colors. That was eventful.

Q: Something no one knows about you?

A: I am extremely terrified of bugs, roaches, spiders and bees.  Basically, any type of bug and I will go into a full-on panic attack.  The grasshoppers are bigger than my hand here and the wasps in Florida are everywhere.  It’s not ok.

Q: What words of wisdom can you share with the team?

A: Sometimes I can get overwhelmed with work or life and in the moment, it feels like I am never going to figure it out.  If I take a step away, even for 10 minutes, and do something else, I can come back with a clear head.  Even if it’s the most challenging appraisal you’ve ever done, you do have to eventually turn it in and it will be finished and you can move on.