As they say, the two things that are inevitable in life are death and taxes. Death is unavoidable, but also uncertain, as death may occur at any time regardless of age, health or any other demographic factor. As you’ll never know exactly when your time comes, funeral pre-planning is an important process to work through while you’re alive and well. This minimizes confusion, disagreements and stress following your passing. Before you shop around for funeral services and burial headstones in Walterboro, SC, learn how pre-planning services work to avoid common pitfalls.
Determine Your Budget
Funerals cost money. There are many associated costs that people forget to include when determining their funeral budget. Data shows that funeral costs average between $7,000 and $9,000, although these numbers will vary based on your personal preferences and needs.
There are a number of ways to establish funding for your funeral while you’re alive. This alleviates the anxiety among your family of paying for a funeral after you’ve passed on. Trusts, payable-on-death accounts and whole-life insurance policies are a few options available for those pre-planning a funeral. These services will also help you determine your budget.
Shopping Funeral Homes
A quick Google search will yield dozens of results for funeral homes in your area. Pre-planning a funeral gives you the freedom of time to shop around and find the funeral home that offers you the experience you want. You have certain rights, and a reputable, accredited funeral home will protect you from overpaying while providing the services your loved ones will need as they mourn you.
As you meet with funeral homes, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask questions and expect reasonable, straightforward answers. Be sure to ask every funeral home about the following:
- The cost of goods and services you’re considering
- A written statement that includes all of the selected goods and services you’ve purchased, with prices
- A pre-need funeral contract
- Their licensing and those of their staff, along with membership in any professional associations
- Ownership (a small, local funeral home operates much differently than one owned by a national corporation)
- Service area and costs associated with transferring a pre-need contract to a different funeral home, in the event that you should relocate
You should feel comfortable working with the funeral home you’ve chosen for pre-planning. There’s a lot of unknowns and questions involved with funeral pre-planning, and you want to hire people who will ease your concerns and provide you with clear and concise responses to your questions.
Bid Farewell on Your Terms
It’s your funeral. How do you want mourners to remember you? Is there a song you love? What about a favorite quote or Bible verse? Favorite flower? As you pre-plan your funeral, consider the small details of how people will remember you at the end. Work with the funeral home you’ve hired to determine these personalized options.
Part of pre-planning your funeral also means deciding what your personal relations see when they visit your burial site. There are many businesses that make burial headstones in Walterboro, SC. None offer the level of care or craftsmanship provided by Steedley Monument Works. Learn how we can assist with the pre-planning process by contacting us today.