Find a Funeral Home

When a loved one dies, what are the reasons the family use in the selection of a funeral home? Years ago, the decision may have been based solely on “family tradition”. They may naturally turn to the funeral home which was involved in the burial or cremation of earlier generations of the family.

Things have changed. Thanks to the Internet, today’s families have immediate access to the information they need to make different choices, based on their needs (not on those of their parents or grandparents). But, as everyone knows, sometimes too much information can cloud your thinking–especially when emotions run rampant after the loss of someone dear to you.

Determine if your loved one already has a pre-arranged funeral plan. If so, that document will guide you in the selection of the funeral home.

If no such document exists, it’s time to use the resources you have, including:

•    The Internet
•    Friends, Co-workers, and Extended Family
•    Social Review Sources: Yelp, Google
•    The Telephone

Get connected to the Internet, and complete a search for funeral homes in your community. Use a basic search string such as “funeral homes in…” (naming the location). Write down the names of the funeral homes in the top search results.

Check with your local Better Business Bureau to determine if there are any complaints against these firms.

Visit each of their websites. Review the information there closely. Get a feel for their approach to funeral service. Check for images of their facility to see if the funeral home is a place you’d like to spend time in. Read staff biographies, if provided. And if pricing is a major concern for your family, review the details on funeral costs, if provided.

Complete a check of social review sites, including Yelp, Merchant Circle, and City Search among others. Does the funeral home have a listing? If so, are there consumer reviews of their services available?

Check in with your network. Online, Facebook is a fine place to ask for recommendations. Offline, you may benefit from calling those you know who have had dealings with a funeral home recently. Listen to, and write down, everyone’s recommendations.

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