|
Frequently Asked Cemetery Questions
What cemetery should I choose?
The choice of a cemetery is an important one which requires
thought and careful consideration. Philosophies are different
in this land of ours. Some families will visit the cemetery 12
or more times a year. Some families will visit the cemetery 6
times a year while others will visit the cemetery once every
year or so. The frequency that you visit the cemetery is going
to have an impact on your decision as to where to buy your lots.
If you visit the cemetery often, it would be wise to choose a
cemetery close to your home. If you visit the cemetery only a
few times a year, it is not as important that the cemetery be
close to home. Discuss the possible choices of a cemetery with
family members. If this is your first time and if you have little
or no experience with the cemetery industry, seek advice from
your funeral director, friends, family members and from your
local memorial dealer. Get help! You will make wiser decisions
and you will make better financial
decisions.
There are basically four types of cemeteries. The first type
is the small church cemetery. These cemeteries are owned and
operated by small local churches. They are usually located next
to or behind the church. In order to purchase lots in the church
cemetery you usually must be a member of the church. These small
church cemeteries are very desirable because the acquisition
price is usually very low and there are generally few restrictions.
Lots in church cemeteries are my number one choice and should
be your number one choice if you have the option to purchase
these lots.
The second type cemetery is a large cemetery owned by the church
but operated as a for-profit cemetery. These cemeteries vary
greatly. Some of these cemeteries are reasonably priced while
others are very high priced cemeteries. Some of these cemeteries
are actually operated by the church but many are operated by
other outside companies for the church. Ask your funeral director
or memorial dealer for some information about any particular
cemetery your are considering.
The third type cemetery is a privately owned large cemetery.
These cemeteries are usually not as high priced as the corporately-owned
cemeteries but their numbers are diminishing. Corporate America
has gobbled up most of these cemeteries across the country. Those
that are left often operate at an advantage because they can
price their lots lower than corporate cemeteries but still higher
than they would have been priced if corporate America was not
in the picture. Lots in these cemeteries will not cost as much
as they will in corporately-owned cemeteries. Costs for opening
and closing graves will also be less expensive.
The fourth type of cemetery is the corporately-owned cemetery.
Expect to pay high prices for lots in these cemeteries. Expect
to pay high prices for opening and closing graves in these cemeteries.
I personally would avoid these cemeteries if at all possible.
Many of the large cemeteries across the country are owned by
corporate America. In your area it is possible that all of your
local cemeteries might be controlled by corporate America. This
makes decisions difficult at times. However, remember that you
can still shop and compare prices from cemetery to cemetery.
You also can present any cemetery with a counter-proposal. Thedy
might accept it.
Cemeteries can also be classified as traditional parks or memorial
parks. A traditional park is a cemetery which has traditional
upright memorials . A memorial park is a cemetery which has lawn
level memorials in either bronze or granite. Look at both types
and as a family decide which you prefer. This is a personal decision.
Be sure that you know the difference before you purchase your
lots.
My cemetery called and said that it is urgent
that I visit the cemetery to verify records being transferred
to microfilm. What should I do?
Do not worry! You do not have to go to the cemetery. This
is a typical marketing strategy intended to get you in to the
office so that they can make a high pressured sales pitch to
try to get you to buy vaults in advance or to pay for pre-need
grave openings in advance. Your lots are safe!. The best thing
to do is to say thanks but no thanks!
We had a death in the family and the cemetery
insisted that we go to the cemetery before they would open the
grave for us. Why?
This is another tactic on the part of many cemeteries to
get you in to their office so that they can sell you something.
If they absolutely insist, tell them that you will be in to sign
an authorization to open the gravesite. Tell them that you are
not interested in any sales pitches whatsoever.Make it clear
that you do not want to be subjected to any attempt to sell anything
at this time. In the state of Maryland, there is a 15 day grace
period during which no one is allowed to sollicit business from
members of a family in mourning. The family can initiate inquiries
about possible purchases of memorial goods. However, the no one
is allowed to try to sell you anything until 2 weeks has passed
from the date of death.
The cemetery we have selected insists that
they will only sell us lots if we buy a package deal which will
include the graves, vaults and a memorial. What should we do?
No package deals please! Cemeteries lead you to believe
that you will save money by purchasing their package deals. You
are not required to purchase lots which involve tie-in arrangements
for other cemetery and/or memorial products. Find another cemetery.
Our cemetery sales representative keeps calling
and calling everyday. He is really a high-pressured sales person.
What should we do?
Tell him politely but firmly that you value your privacy
and that you insist that he stop calling. When and if you are
interested, you can initiate a call to him. Make it clear that
you do not want him to call again. He msut respect your wishes.
Our cemetery sales person told us that
we have to purchase our memorial from them. If we purchase a
memorial from someone else, we will lose care rights. What can
we do? Their price is double the price of the local memorial
dealer.
It is illegal for any cemetery to require you to purchase
a memorial from them. You have the right to purchase your memorial
from anyone. You do not lose any perpetual care rights. This
cemetery should be reported to the Cemetery Oversight Committee
for action. They have violated the regulations and rules of the
state. Do not allow them to pressure you in a such a manner.
Stand up for your rights. If you need further help call me.
We have decided to purchase our memorial
from a local memorial dealer. The cemetery says that only they
can install the bronze memorial. Their charge to do so is very
high. What can we do?
Call me. The cemetery has the right to offer the service
of installing a bronze memorial or installing a foundation for
a memorial. However, they cannot require that your purchase their
service. As an authorized memorial dealer, I install memorials
and foundation in all cemeteries. The cemetery is required to
stake-off the site so that installation can be accomplished.
They are entitled to be re-imbursed for their time to perform
thestake-off. The average fee is approximately $75.00. There
are some cemeteries which require additional care fees. These
fees may or may not be applicable. Call me for further information.
Our cemetery is trying to convince us to
buy a bronze memorial from them. Their prices are high, much
higher than a local memorial dealer. They insist that the reason
is that they use better quality materials than memorial dealers.
What should we do?
The cemetery is using another one of their many tactics
to convince you that you should pay their higher prices. The
quality of the bronze memorial will not vary. There are 6 or
7 bronze foundries across the country. Memorial dealers and cemeteries
buy from the same suppliers. After the cemetery the foundry they
use. Ask the memorial dealer. Chances are they will be the same.
Different foundries have different designs. Your decision should
be based upon the design you like at the price you can afford.
We are planning to make pre-need arrangements.
We already have our cemetery lots. Should we buy vaults now?
Should we pay in advance for our future grave openings?
Please check out our Pre-Need information for more details. In
general, if you are making pre-need arrangements I do not advise
anyone to purchase a vault from the cemetery. You can include
the purchase of the concrete liner or vault with your pre-need
arrangements with the funeral home. In Maryland all monies for
pre-need arrangements through funeral homes must be escrowed
which means simply that your investment is protected fully. The
same is not true with cemeteries. I also do not advise pre-payment
of grave opeings for the very same reason. That money will not
be fully protected. You can include these costs in your pre-need
arrangements with your funeral director if they are willing to
do so. If not, you can create your own escrow with specific instructions
left in your will as to how the money is to be spent.
|