An agent committed suicide after a bad day at work and with fears that the branch was closing.
An inquest was told that Adam Reed, 28, worked for Smart Estate Agents at its Torbay branch in Devon.
Coroner Ian Arrow noted that Mr Reed’s partner, Jason Boddy, had received a phone call from him on the afternoon of May 29 this year, saying that he had a bad day at work and that “it wasn’t the end of the world but the end of Smart”.
The two men had been due to meet at Mr Reed’s mother’s house that evening.
However, Mr Boddy was left waiting and then drove home.
There, he found Mr Reed. Paramedics were called and tried to revive him, but Mr Reed was confirmed dead at the scene.
A post mortem revealed he had died by suspension.
A number of messages had been left for family members intended to be read after his death.
The coroner noted that the estate agents in Torbay was closed, which was confirmed by police.
Mr Arrow concluded that Mr Reed had taken his own life, and offered his condolences to Mr Reed’s partner and family.
On the Smart Estate Agent website for Torbay, a message still reads: “It is with the saddest regret that we announce the Smart Estate Agents franchise in Torquay, Smart Estate Agent Torbay Ltd, will be closed until further notice following recent events.”
Smart Estate Agents in Exeter declined to comment, the local paper reported.
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/torquay-estate-agent-took-life-3558298
- Anyone going through a tough time and needing support with mental health issues is urged to seek help. Confidential support is available at any time via the Samaritans on 0116 123. Help is also available via email, at jo@samaritans.org
Comments (15)
I have unfortunately experienced a colleague doing the same thing a few years ago and still today I ask myself if there were signs I should have spotted etc.
I pass my sincerest of condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Adam.
I used to work with Adam, so I was shocked to hear this news.
This industry is stressful but its definitely not worth killing yourself over, an experienced guy he could have got another job anywhere,its never as bad as it may seem at the time.
such a waste
Awful.
As a society we have become more and more aware of mental health/depression issues.
More people than ever understand and are there to talk to.
If you have these problems, talk about it. I did and it helps!
Utterly tragic. My heartfelt condolences to Adam’s family and loved ones.
At the best of times, our industry is a challenging one where we handle one of the most basic human requirements…that of shelter. At the worst of times, it is an all-consuming way of life.
For every ”bad” day, there will many more good days ahead (so many you’ll lose count!)…Don’t deprive yourself and your loved ones of future happiness, because of today’s circumstances…
Such sad news and regrettably not the first agent. For many agents, particularly the independents the job is a vocation and extremely proud of their business’s. The pressure is immense for owners, carrying the full weight of responsibilities and happiness for employees. Often the first people to notice the signs of depression is the staff, please don’t ignore.
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am a diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
We had a bit of a know it all landlord/bully boy landlord (Mr Shite) who came into our offices checking on if xy or z had been done as he has expected it done by the next working day. Comes in just starts talking to my collegue – jist of it was – Jackie (mid 30’s) you don’t look very busy today, I asked you 2 days ago to do xyz and expected it done yesterday. have you done it yet as I wanted? Jackie – Sorry Mr Shite -no I wasn’t in yesterday. Ive diaried it to do today.
Mr Shite – in not very happy about this, what were you doing having a day off yesterday? down at the beech? Jackie – It was my husbands funeral yesterday.
Some clients don’t understand that Agents are just normal people with the normal ups and downs in their lives as everyone else has. It appears easy to moan at agents and we have to sit and take it as professionally as we can. I took great pleasure in after Mr Shite had left to call him and tell him we no longer wish to have him as a client. ( I did not want my colleague having to talk ever to him again) The same goes for us be nice to others – they may well be having a really bad day/week/year.
How distressing for Jackie. What a horrible man! You did the right thing in removing him as a client. He might have been having a bad day himself, but no need to take it out on others. I hope he apologised to her.
Tragic.
Only yesterday TPFG updated with a very frothy headline which doesn’t tell the true story of what is happening at the street fighting end
Buried in the headline was “The sales market has softened further in the second half, ”
This has resulted in many franchisees withering on the vine,bearing the full brunt ,.many throwing in the towel Some suffering crippling losses and all the resultant misery and devestation that follows
The forgotten statistics
My heart goes out to Adams partner, family and friends.
I think its all been said above… Be kind to each other peoples, you never know what sort of day someone else is having.
Such sad news. RIP
Awful news. Thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues. As some of you may remember, I’ve blogged about my battle with depression and how I live with it. Please, please, please, remember that nothing is so bad that ending your life is a solution. You have a place in this world, you have a wonderful future ahead of you, but, it is at the end of the tunnel you are in. Keep going. People do care about you, they do love you and they won’t think less of you because you are not currently earning/ earning as much. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness! Talk to yourself in the same voice as you would to a friend who was thinking dark thoughts.
Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/
A Final thought. A former colleague of mine was suffering from terrible anxiety and depression but was terrified of going to the Doctors because he didn’t want the stigma (as he saw it) of being put onto anti-depressants. If you have a broken leg, you take painkillers and have your leg in plaster until it heals. Mental health is no different. Talk to your Doctor and be kind to yourselves folks.
So very sad to hear this.
Sending compassionate thoughts to Adam’s family and friends.
Having experienced the suicide of a close family member myself, I have some understanding of how complex this issue is.
A therapist friend of ours – who also sadly took his own life – told us that “The first time you will know someone is suicidal is when you get the call that they are dead”.
I say this, because the people left behind often beat themselves up for years afterwards, that they didn’t notice the signs or do anything to stop the person making this decision. Friends and relatives need to accept that they were powerless to do anything.
I urge anyone feeling that they have no hope and nothing to live for, to reach out to others, and ask for help. There is a lot of support out there if you ask. I recommend CALM https://www.thecalmzone.net/
So tragic. For all the banter and jibes we throw around, be it agent to agent and / or even at the portals, this just reminds you how serious it is to look out for a sign, don’t ignore what might seem a throw away comment or message and to just ask everyone at work or anyone anywhere for that matter now and again, “is everything OK, and if you every need to chat the door is open”.
Heartbreaking. RIP Adam.
Hope everyone on here is ok…
Unsurprisingly they’re not. There are bosses getting up and going to work, putting on a brave face and keeping the lights on but for the past 31/2 years there has been uncertainty in the market and competitive pressure on fees
There are people financing their business with money they haven’t got and paying bills they cannot afford.
If you’re one of those who is struggling to pay their bills, let your staff know early , it give them chance to move on. Choose your creditors carefully but don’t go out of business or consider a permanent fix to a short term problem worrying how to pay a dividend to someone else’s shareholders.
There are a lot of people on here not OK, but thanks for asking Ric, it helps a bit.
Very sad. Condolences to Adam’s partner and family