15 things Funeral Homes
don’t want you to know
1. Don’t pay in advance for a funeral. Yes, you can pre-plan. But keep your money in a separate bank account. This way you are in complete control of it. You won’t be charged fees – especially if you decide to go elsewhere. It doesn’t make things simpler- it’s just a way of hooking you in.
2. Often funeral homes advertise low prices simply to get customers in the door. Then they subtly add services or options that end up costing far more than you intended.
3. You don’t need to be embalmed. Especially if you are having a cremation or burial within a few days. Often with a viewing after embalming the person doesn’t even look the same.
4. Be wary of these types of hard-sell phrases funeral directors use… “Given your position in the community …,” “I’m sure you want what’s best for your mother,” “Doing this or that will really honour your dad,” “You would agree that your mum deserves the best.”
5. Be wary of “professional fees”. They can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. It means nothing and is just another way of them upping their price.
6. If you are scattering the ashes you definitely don’t need a special scattering urn. Use the urn you get from the crematorium.
7. You don’t need to have a funeral service if you don’t want one.
8. You can have a funeral without the body present. And you can have a funeral any place. There are many other options than what a funeral home will offer.
9. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a very meaningful funeral. The more you spend does not represent how much you loved the person.
10. In the end coffins are either burnt or buried so paying for more expensive ones is simply a way for them to make more money.
11. You can shop around and see what each funeral home offers. It could save you thousands. They will always criticise the competition.
12. Just because a funeral director says, “This is the way a funeral is usually done,” doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. Do what is right for you.
13. Organising a funeral can be stressful and confusing. It is common for funeral homes to use this to up-sell products or services. So when you go be sure on what you want and watch out for the sales pitch.
14. Funeral homes are a business and as such are there to make money.
15. Ultimately remember what is truly important. It isn’t the flash coffin or flowers or hearse or how big the gravestone is (if you get one). What is most important is that the event of a loved one dying is meaningful and right for you and your family.
(Bonus: everything a funeral home does for you will cost money and every additional thing adds to the final bill. There are many other options they will steer you away from, because it isn’t in their interests).