The Appraiser did not do a good job at all on my client's Appraisal. Shorted me, $135,000 on a New Build Home. He came out to Appraiser a Dirt Lot, using a Plan, Design Addendums and Cost to Build Budget Form required by the Lender. This was a New Construction Home in Sussex County, and he unfortunately disregarded information provided to him prior to the Appraisal that he would need to complete his Appraisal, and then formally documented in the report "He had no idea the cost to build the home." This information was provided to him via email and paper trail to prove its conveyance. Not to mention it took him weeks to complete this VA Appraisal. He stated he could not use certain comps based on certain reasons documented in his report, and decided to take 3 and nearly Average the Price Per Sq.Ft. to get our average. How is it even possible that a New Construction Home today, cost "LESS" this year to build than last year? He valued this home at $47 Less Per Sq.Ft. this year than 1 Year ago, when the Builders built their last two homes and other builders are currently building as well. We also noticed, and figured out, that the Appraiser who took the Appraisal order was NOT the person who did the Site Visit, and was not the person who completed the Appraisal. David Hoffer of Hashem and Hoffer is the Appraiser who took the Appraisal Order from UWM, but we are certain Mendel Hoffer (son) came out to the site. He stated to the Builders "So how do you want me to do this?" (Showing he was unfamiliar with the VAOTC Appraisal Process. I have submitted a Complaint to DCA in New Jersey to address my concerns. I have also reviewed the two public Disciplinary Actions against this Appraiser from 2013 and 2021. Very interesting facts to read, and in fact I had this same Appraiser last year, and the very same thing that was an issue on his 2021 Disciplinary Action happened to my other Military Client in 2024. I am sharing both Appraisals with the Appraisal Board in NJ and DCA to address both concerns with this Appraiser. After reading these other reviews, it's quite concerning to see new training has resulted in the same actions again. Both of my issues are with Military (VA) Loans. Hopefully the state of New Jersey Appraisal Board will look in these Appraisals and address same with these two Appraisers. We did achieve $39,000 from the Veteran Affairs, and since this particular Buyer is putting $100,000 Down on a VA Loan, the deal can now work, HOWEVER, this is an unfair and inaccurate Appraisal Completed. We would have done a 2nd ROV with the VA and taken it up to Supervisory, but the Lender confirmed we will still have a Post Build Appraisal, so we will address that later should need be. But wow! These Appraisers need more training, ethics, and accuracy. read more

This appraiser and his partner are the the absolute WORST appraisers in the business! Refinancing my mortgage to a VA refi, they were automatically assigned by the bank "per VA guidelines". Upon initial phone contact, HELEN, decides to have a "scream at the customer session" as if she hates her job and is completely miserable. She further asks for photos of my home top to bottom and list of everything done in the home since purchase. Furthermore, receipts, estimates and contractors work that I have completed in the past 2 years! Basically she wanted me to do her work for her! Reason being "due to covid-19, appraisers are not visiting residence" I asked her how is this fair that I have to do all of your work and still have to pay you (on top of her unprofessional manner). She said "what can I say, it's what VA requires!" David showed up to do an external appraisal. He pointer out a few things that needed to be fixed in his report and devalued my property SIGNIFICANTLY! Last years appraisal was 100k more than what he appraised my propert for. I am upset. I look this guy up and noticed he had a revoked license, somehow got it back but has board actions filed against him!!! Why is Rocket Mortgage using him? Rocket mortgage valued the home based on the external appraisal only and assigned a resolution officer (whose name happens to be David also). Upon speaking with the this officer, there was NO resolution. First he said I could get another appraisal done which would be QUITE expensive (eye roll) and the appraisal was good and gave me the best comparisons in the neighborhood! Excuse me? What happened to the internal of my home!? Is that not of value?!? He said no VA only look at external appraisal. I've never heard of this! Secondly, I looked into the Realtor Property Resource site (RPR) and noticed the appraiser did NOT pick the best comparisons for my home, he purposely picked homes that did not have the same square footage, rooms and value. He said he would check a few things and would call me back. His call back was even more disappointing! He said we're either going to go ahead with the appraised value or he can cancel the loan!?? For what reason can you cancel the loan?! I was frustrated! And still frustrated going through the process! Now I have to do extra work, get a lawyer, call VA and complain about this horrendous appraiser, and now probably look for another lender, because something here just doesn't add up! Beware! Do your research before you hire these folks! read more

I'am a builder in Sussex County . Don't usually take time for reviews but this is the exception -the appraiser HOFFER will make no attepmt to produce an accurate appraisal. Comps submitted in areas he doesn't know he will come up with excuses not to use them. If you'r unlucky enough to get him assigned by your lender you can kiss you mortgage commitment good bye. Probably scared he will loose his license again.FYI - know who's coming out to do your appraisal - he will never be allowed on any of our properties again. read more

I may have just started Yelping a few weeks ago, but I'll never be able to write a review as negative as this one. In short, the appraisal company Hashem & Hoffer are an incredibly biased, irresponsible and unprofessional firm. If you live in central/north NJ- I urge you not to let these guys do your home appraisal. You're letting snakes into your house. After this whole mess unfolded, I looked up our appraiser (David Hoffer) on the NJ Department of Consumer Affairs. David, who did our appraisal, had his license revoked in 2012 for falsifying his Continuing Education certificates. In a random audit, he got caught lying and had to pay a fine, in addition to losing his license for an undisclosed amount of time. But somehow, he got his license back and is still allowed to conduct appraisals!!? If he lied about something trivial like CE credits- what else is he hiding or falsifying!!?? Anyway- skipping most of the boring details- we were selling our condo in cedar grove, NJ about a month ago. Our buyer agreed to buy our house for $185K and everything was good to go, pending our home appraisal. Their mortgage company (Weichert Financial) "randomly" selected Hashem & Hoffer and a disaster unfolded. First off, the appraiser canceled his first appointment and could only see us on Presidents' Day. We were away for the weekend, so we had to leave the heat on all weekend (coldest weekend of the year!) for this guy. He then doesn't give us our appraisal report for 3 weeks! As if delaying our sale for 3 weeks wasn't bad enough, he appraised us for $165K ($20K below the agreed upon buying price). He claimed our condo was 723 square feet- but keep in mind we pay taxes on 900 square feet (assessed for $189K). The Cedar Grove tax assessor even gave us the layout of our condo, which is clearly 30x30. Just over a year ago, our neighbors' unit sold for $185K and they have the EXACT same unit that we do. (Unfortunately, we couldn't use that comp for our sale because it was more than a year old.). I should also mention that my unit was appraised in 2011 (for a refi) and it appraised for $209K. How this guy appraised us for $165K in a stronger housing market blew all our minds. My favorite part of this story is that the buyer asked Weichert to re-measure our unit because they also felt the appraiser did us a major injustice. Remember- this is the buyer who is willing to pay MORE than the appraised cost because they recognized the appraisal was complete garbage. The same guy (David Hoffer) came back to re-measure and he ADMITTED to my wife and realtor that he indeed made a mistake on the square footage of our house. He initially measured the unit at 27' wide, but acknowledged that it was really 29'. That said, he somehow kept the appraisal price the same. In the end, we still sold our house to the buyer because they volunteered to pay $13K MORE than the appraised price. (I still lost more than $7K!!). This simply illustrates how everyone involved knew the appraisal was garbage. I have since written Weichert Financial's head of underwriting about our experience with Hashem and Hoffer. Hopefully, they will remove their contract with Weichert after our situation is reviewed. At the very least, Weichert Financial will not get the chance to handle my mortgage, because they selected this irresponsible appraisal company in the first place. Please learn from my experience- and don't patronize these snakes. Have a good day! read more