For complete transparency I am posting an updated second review of my experience to date with Mr Parkin of Cubed Property Advisors, as I have been unable to reply directly to the response left on my original review.
This relates to a construction dispute in which Mr Parkin acted as the appointed expert. I am setting this out to correct a number of statements he made about me and my work in his reply to my original review, and to give a balanced account of my experience, so others can form their own view.
In his response, Mr Parkin stated that I was “sued for poor workmanship” and that the court made findings against the quality of my work. That is not correct. I do have the judgment, and it is clear the court made no criticism of the workmanship itself. The costs decision related to advice given to the client, not the standard of work carried out. This is separate from any differing views expressed in the expert report and reflects the court’s position on the workmanship itself.
Mr Parkin has also seen the full court-approved transcript, which I provided to RICS as part of my complaint. With that in mind, it’s not clear to me how some of the conclusions in his response are based on what is recorded in the judgment.
He also stated that I have “posted reviews all over social media”. That is not accurate. My feedback has been limited to these 2 reviews on google and one review on Yell.com, and is based on my direct experience of this matter.
The suggestion that my communication amounted to “harassment” does not reflect my experience. My contact has been limited to raising specific questions about the expert report and asking for clarification on technical points. These were reasonable questions in my view, and I do not consider they were properly addressed. References to police involvement and legal action in response to that level of communication appear disproportionate to the nature of the questions raised.
I would also note that parts of his response include personal remarks, including references to mental health and threats of legal action. I do not consider that to be an appropriate or professional way to deal with legitimate technical questions in the context of an expert instructed under professional standards.
I fully accept that professionals can hold different technical opinions. That is normal in construction. My issue is not that there is a differing view, but whether that view can be clearly explained and supported when reasonably challenged.
In his response, Mr Parkin stated that RICS had rejected the complaint. For clarity, my complaint to RICS remains open and ongoing as of the date of this review, with all matters raised still under consideration.
While I understand Mr Parkin has reviewed the court judgment, the documents are available in full through the appropriate official channels. I would encourage anyone interested to review them directly so they can form their own view on the case based on the evidence presented in court. His response to my original review is also available and sets out his position in relation to the points raised, and further correspondence is available through appropriate channels if necessary.
I have also followed his complaints procedure as set out on his website in relation to my concerns. His response to my original post reflects, in my experience, the way those concerns have been dealt with to date.
I also note the suggestion in his response on my other post that his report “benefited” my position. An expert report should be impartial by nature, not something a party is expected to be grateful for. Where I have disagreed with aspects of the report, I have raised those through the appropriate professional routes.
I would simply encourage anyone considering instructing this firm to take into account not just initial impressions, but how questions, scrutiny, and professional disagreement are handled, as can be seen from his response to my original post.