Death comes when least expected. Making funeral preparations would give your loved one's peace of mind once you die. Choosing a funeral home is one of the most crucial preparations you can make when alive. The article below provides a few tips on how to choose a funeral home.
Location
Choose a funeral home located close to your final resting place. A facility located far from your home may inconvenience your family members when making funeral arrangements. For example, they may be unable to plan a wake since your body has to be transported from and back to the funeral home.
Funeral Director
The funeral director at the facility should be an experienced individual. The director will take charge of the funeral planning process; thus, giving your family adequate time to mourn your death. Below are a few tips to help you choose a funeral director:
- The director should be an effective communicator. Avoid people that have a controlling attitude.
- The funeral director must observe a high degree of professionalism. He or she should take you through every detail of the funeral planning process.
- Funeral directors affiliated to professional bodies follow a strict code of ethics.
- Some funeral directors provide extra services such as counselling. This would be of great benefit to your immediate family.
Service Provided
The funeral home should provide a wide range of services. For example, you may require transport services from your place of death to the funeral home and your burial site. The facility should provide embalming services to preserve your body before the burial. If you would want your body cremated, choose a funeral home with high-quality cremation facilities. If your family intends to perform cultural rites on your body before burial, the funeral home should accommodate such practices.
Pre-Paid Funeral Plans
A pre-paid funeral plan is a fund that caters for your funeral expenses. Typically, you deposit money to the account in one or several instalments. Once you pass away, the funeral home will use the funds to plan your funeral. When choosing a pre-paid funeral plan, inquire about the following;
- What expenses does the plan cater? Some plans do not pay third-party service providers such as caterers.
- Can you upgrade, downgrade or opt-out of the plan? The plan should be flexible enough to accommodate changing financial situations.
- How are the costs calculated? Choose a funeral plan that uses current and not future market prices.
When choosing a funeral home, consider its location, funeral director, services provided and the available pre-paid funeral plans. The facility should also be reasonably priced.
Call a funeral home near you to learn more.
