Funeral Planning - Burial Expenses
So you are probably reading this because you have lost somebody or will soon lose somebody to death. I recently had to go through this and wanted to share my experiences to help you through it. Here are the main things you will probably deal with during this ordeal; finding a cemetery plot, getting a headstone, the foundation for that headstone, and the burial vault.
Finding the cemetery plot:
Get quotes from a few different cemeteries if you don't already own a plot. Besides the cost of the actual plot, the cemetery has many other charges and additional purchases that are mandatory in some cases.
Getting the right headstone for the right price:
The cemetery will have headstones for sale, but they often can cost a bundle compared to what you can find elsewhere. The headstone from our cemetery's recommended place was around $2,300 whereas our online headstone was around $800 for the same stone. A cemetery must take a headstone from any source, when they take delivery they sign for the headstone verifying it is not broken. We found a good place that ship out of Texas. http://www.burlesonmonuments.com You can also go to other local places or even online sites. This is where you can really save a lot of money in this whole process.
The Vault:
The vault is the concrete box they lay the coffin into when the cemetery buries it. It is meant to protect the casket and the ground around the casket from becoming too friendly. In most cases the law states that you have to have a vault or container. Be sure to ask both the funeral home and the cemetery what their vaults cost. We saw a range from 300-900 for a concrete vault.
Headstone foundation:
This is a new gimmick the folks at the cemetery have to make more money off your loss. Whether you buy the stone from the company the cemetery works with or your own, they will probably charge you up to $1,000 dollars to lay the foundation for the stone. The cemetery we worked with had a $600 charge which seems a bit much for a small slab of concrete, but who am I to judge.
Hopefully, these few things will help not get taken advantage of during the difficult times you are facing. The best thing you can do is to ask the questions prior to death when you are all thinking clearly.
Published by Matt Hobbs
I received a BA in Music from Bethel University. I have remodeled 3 different houses doing a variety of work on them like siding, windows, kitchen/bath remodels and unfortunately much more. I currently work... View profile
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