Wilkinson & Fox Guest Blog: The Best Advice We Ever Give? Sometimes It’s “You Don’t Need Us”

A Guest blog by Bill Wilkinson, Founder of Wilkinson & Fox

When charities and executors appoint professional advisers, there can often be an expectation that the answer will always be another report, another valuation or another piece of paid advice.

In reality, the best professional advice is not always the advice that generates a fee.

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Recently, we were approached by a client acting on behalf of a charity who asked us to prepare a report relating to a property within an estate. They had already gathered a significant amount of information and wanted our professional input.

Before accepting the instruction, we carefully reviewed everything they had provided. Having assessed the circumstances, we concluded that whilst we were perfectly capable of preparing the report, it simply wasn’t necessary. The information they already held was sufficient for their purposes, and commissioning another report would have added little value.

We explained our reasoning to the client and advised them not to proceed.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Rather than paying for a report they didn’t need, they received practical, honest advice that helped them move forward with confidence.

For us, that is exactly what trusted professional advice should look like.

As Chartered Surveyors, our role is not simply to produce reports. It is to help clients make informed decisions, identify risks, and ensure they achieve the best possible outcome for the charity. Sometimes that means preparing detailed valuation reports or advising on complex disposal strategies. On other occasions, it means giving straightforward advice that saves both time and money.

We firmly believe that long-term relationships are built on trust, not transactions. If the right answer is that you don’t need to instruct us, then that is exactly what we will say.

If your charity or organisation is dealing with a property or estate and would simply like an independent opinion, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Even where there may be no formal instruction, we are always happy to discuss a situation, share our thoughts and help point you in the right direction.

After all, adding value isn’t always about producing another report. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when one isn’t needed.