Funeral Home

Published: 03/15/2010 by Funeral Home Resource Team

Many funeral homes will shy away from telling you that you can have a perfectly legitimate funeral, complete with a nice casket, for under $2500.



When it comes to funeral home expenses you should definitely shop around and find the best prices. You might want to find a trusted funeral home to help you with your decisions.



Be willing to go outside of tradition. Is it necessary to have a visitation and a graveside service? Could you combine the two services into one? Or perhaps you could have a visitation and service at the same time in the funeral home and have family members only at the grave. Think about what is comfortable for you and your family and don’t be afraid to step outside of the norm.




See if a military funeral is an option. If the deceased was a military veteran or married to one they may qualify for veterans’ funeral benefits. Burial at a veteran’s cemetery is less expensive than at a public cemetery.



Use your church membership privileges. Many churches have cemeteries on their property. Due to space limitations, some churches limit their burial plots to church members and their immediate family. Using the church auditorium/sanctuary for the funeral services should be much cheaper than renting a funeral home.




Consider cremation. While some people are religiously against cremation, if this is not an issue, it saves quite a bit of money and is becoming quite popular.



Funerals are expensive. There’s no getting around that fact. When ever possible, always try and get more than one estimate from a funeral home for the cost of the funeral service required. Prices can vary greatly between different funeral homes. Locally owned funeral homes are usually more affordable, and give better service than national franchises. All funeral homes in America are required by Federal Law to provide everyone with a written price for all services and funeral related products which they offer. This is known as the General Price List, or GPL. The cost of the funeral will depend on the type of funeral service and options you choose.



Making decisions following the death of a loved one, or while pre-planning your own funeral arrangements can be difficult and stressful, so selecting a funeral home that you trust, and feel comfortable working with is an important step that can help you through the funeral planning process.




The funeral home's relationship with the community is important, especially at a time when you need the comfort and support of friends and loved ones. Quite often, a family owned funeral home has been in business in the same community for decades- and sometimes a hundred years or more!



It is convenient if the funeral home is in a convenient location. But if the funeral home is in all other aspects perfect, having it be slightly out of the way should not be the determining factor in your choice of funeral homes. Key things to consider when visiting a funeral home include:


• The facility should be clean and neat and have a respectful appearance. The grounds should be free of litter and the building should be well maintained.


• Poor decor will feel inhospitable and will give the impression that the funeral home is not of good caliber. There should be adequate and comfortable seating. It's important to have pleasant surroundings for paying your last respects.


• The parking lot should provide adequate space and proper maintenance, including identification of entrances and exits and lighting.

• The funeral home should be located in an area where attendees will feel safe and will not feel threatened by the neighborhood. Inquire about security and safety precautions if it is in a neighborhood that has known safety issues.