AllowUs Appraisal Services

RUN don’t walk from this company, and in particular Dan Oliva!!! Don’t use his services!!! He is uneducated, pompous and uninformed about the housing market. We had no choice in his services since our credit union (cough cough Patelco) contracted with him, and his analysis was crap. I agree w/​other reviewer about his photos (of our furniture and corners) and for example, he discounted as «not affecting market value» an office full of windows that opens to a backyard garden with ½ bath. He also «forgot» to mention or take pictures of our beautiful backyard with fruit trees, bricked patio, etc. REALLY POOR QUALITY APPRAISAL. After agreeing with his terrible analysis of our property, they refunded our payment (luckily) but won’t agree to another appraisal. Totally sucks! His appraisal totally sabotaged our entire refinance with a credit union. I hope he and Patelco are happy that we’re now working with a private mortgage company and will end up refinancing with the big banks. What a waste.

I just had (2) horrible experiences with this company, user beware of Don Oliva.
This appraiser was sent to my house by the lender, I did not pick him. The first time he came over, he took the most horrible pictures and turned them in to the lender. When they requested he come back and actually take pictures of the whole room, not just the items IN the room, he called me to reschedule. For example, in the living room he took a picture of the fireplace, in the family room he took a picture of the couch, and in the master bedroom, he took a picture of the ottoman and the rug. Hardly a fair representation of the house.
Upon rescheduling, I told him that I had no more time allowed off work and would need to meet him at 4:30pm to let him in again to redo the photos. He called me back shortly and scheduled for 4:30pm the next day.
When he arrived, he rang the doorbell. I opened the door and extended my hand with an introduction. I was letting this person in to my home after all. He pushed passed me, not even introducing himself, and said «I have a job to do. I just want to take the pictures and get out of here.» He proceeded to tell me that he’s been doing this for 12 years and that his report was sufficient, and the photos adequate. He was hostile from the second he walked in the door.
When I asked him to see the photos he was taking, he belittled me and asked me if I was a licensed appraiser. Of course I answered no, and told him that I don’t appreciate the tone he was using with me. He responded with «well then how do you think you’re going to know what you’re looking at. My report was correct and I don’t appreciate you dragging me out here at 4:30pm in the afternoon to redo something that was right the first time.» Mind you, I did not call this man out here — the lender did, and I did not pick the time, he called me and scheduled for 4:30pm the next afternoon.
After taking some heat from this man for about 5 minutes, I started to get upset and told him that he was in my home and that the tone he was using needed to stop. We don’t speak like that in this house, and he is supposed to be a professional, its best he start acting like one.
Long story short, it did not get better. He began to raise his voice and I had had enough, and asked him to leave. On this way out he started yelling that I was not going to be approved and that he was going to call the lender and tell them I would not allow him to continue and finish the job he was here to do. Clearly trying to turn the situation around on me.
I reported this appraiser to the broker, who in turn reported him to the lender who contracted him. He had already phoned them and said I would not allow him to continue, which I suppose is true. No one deserves to be treated like that, so I asked him to leave. He is not allowed back in my house, and I suggest you don’t allow him in yours either… Next report will be to the State Board of Real Estate in charge of his certification.