Estate agents condemned for sending sympathy card to widower offering to sell his house

Family horrified by pitch to bereaved man, days after his wife collapsed and died at birthday party

The handwritten note found by Launi Smith Bowie in her father's rubbish bin soon after he was widowed

We’re sorry for your loss. Can we help sell your house?

That is the gist of a sympathy card delivered to a Canadian man by estate agents days after his wife’s death.

Launi Smith Bowie found the card in her father’s rubbish bin and took to Facebook to express her anger.

“My dad received this “sympathy” card in the mail from these two ambulance chasing vultures less than 3 weeks after my mom’s untimely passing,” she wrote. “They did not know my mom at all. It absolutely devastated him.”

In fact, she told The Toronto Star, her mother Audry Smith collapsed at a family birthday party three weeks earlier and died, leaving the Vancouver family to cope with a desperately unexpected loss.

The estate agents knocked on her father’s door and left a condolence card with their business cards and an offer to help.

“Absolutely disgusting and misguided in the worst way,” continued Ms Bowie. “On what planet does someone think this is ethical or even remotely acceptable???"

The estate agents have apologised for sending the message, which they said was heartfelt

Linda Shaver and Leanne deSouza, the two estate agents, have since apologised and insisted their offer was well-intentioned.

They said they met Ted Smith during a routine doorstep canvassing session. He had explained his recent loss and said he expressed interest in finding out how much his home would sell for, they explained.

“Our sympathy was heartfelt. It was very emotional to hear his loss,” said Ms deSouza, who said in future they would not send their business cards.

The episode has led them to receive hate mail and threats.

The Real Estate Council of British Columbia has launched an investigation.