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Choosing a Funeral Home - 3 Mistakes
to Avoid
By Kim Gibson
Selecting the right funeral home to handle a loved one's
funeral (or help pre-plan your own) needn't be a
stressful process. It is, however, important to be aware
of three mistakes to be avoided when making your choice.
Keep these points in mind as you begin your search and
your dealings with the funeral home should be more than
satisfactory.
Mistake #1: The Most Expensive Funeral Home is Best
Although the costs for funeral-related services can be
substantial, cost isn't always an indicator of quality.
Even between funeral homes in the same area, you may
find a wide range of costs for the same types of
services provided.
Don't be afraid to ask for a breakdown of costs when
services are presented in a package. If a particular
service seems costly, ask if there is a less expensive
option. Unless you discover a substantial reason for the
cost of services to be more when provided by a specific
funeral home, opt for the one you can most easily
afford.
Mistake #2: All Funeral Homes are Basically the Same
As with Mistake #1, it's easy to make assumptions. After
all, how many times in our lives do we find ourselves
planning a funeral? It may seem that they all provide
the same basic services in about the same manner, but
that's not really the case.
One primary difference between funeral homes is the way
in which they provide services. Are they attentive to
customers' preferences, or do they steer them to the
same basic options? Are they respectful of your budget
or financial limitations? Are the funeral director and
staff courteous and accommodating? Are the facilities
well-maintained and the products offered of good
quality? By paying attention to the way you are treated
and the overall quality of the facility, you can select
a firm that will best help you plan the funeral service
you desire.
Mistake #3: My Options Are Limited When Selecting
Funeral-Related Services
When working with a professional funeral home staff, you
should be able to shape the funeral or memorial service
you're planning to best honor the deceased. While there
may be laws or ordinances that require certain funeral
elements (for example, a cemetery may require the
purchase of a vault, or embalming before burial) if you
feel you're being limited to what the funeral director
prefers, ask for more options or work with another firm.
Planning a funeral that reflects the life of the person
who has died includes adding personal elements like
favorite songs, an appropriate poem or scripture or
specially printed funeral programs and memorial
keepsakes. Don't settle for a "generic" service; choose
one that will work with you to personalize this unique
event.
Choosing the right funeral home isn't difficult, if you
keep in mind that the most expensive isn't necessarily
best, not all are the same and you should have options
when selecting funeral-related services. A funeral home
that reflects these three values will never be a mistake
to choose.
Kimberly Gibson is owner of Elegant Memorials Funeral
Programs. She also writes and publishes a wide range of
articles in funeral and memorial planning including tips
on selecting funeral poems. |
