Discussing costs with a funeral home is a critical part of funeral arrangements whether at time of immediate need or as advance planning for a cemetery burial, memorial or cremation. The funeral directors at Richmond-based, Can-Trust-Funerals offer tips to help you navigate the many options and ahead of you if you are looking at funeral services in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland including Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster and Coquitlam.
Ideally, you will be in a position to have a calm conversation when you review the myriad details and choices with a duly licensed and reputable funeral director. Yet, even if you feel an urgency with no time to research and compare or are too grief-filled – a good funeral director should be able to guide you with compassion and create clarity for you.
Here are some tips that may add calm and assurance to this process:
1.First ask yourself this question
Are you the right person to be making arrangements? Are you the one authorized to officially sign required documents after the decisions are made?
If you are that family member, bring ID as your identification has to be verified as correct. Otherwise, it is illegal and fraudulent to proceed with arrangements.
2.Start with the price list as it offers a structure to discuss all categories of choices
- Price lists must be provided to any consumer whether in person, on the website, by email request or in printed materials. They should be visible in the lobby and each arrangement room where funeral goods and service options are discussed.
- That is a licensing requirement for funeral homes and funeral services stipulated by the British Columbia Consumer Protection Act.
That price list gives you information about costs. It must show a range of samples from the highest priced options to the most economical ones.
A transparent fee structure is a best practice. A funeral director must also inform consumers that they have the right to choose the funeral goods and services they want and that they will not refuse or charge a fee to handle a casket bought elsewhere. If cremation is chosen, then a selection of containers should be offered.
Here is where you think about what you want. Is it cremation? Burial service? Memorial? Church, temple, funeral home?
Can-Trust-Funerals provides different service options that families require rather than go item by item to reduce becoming overwhelmed. Each service option naturally groups the basics of what you need for burial, receptions, funeral goods and funeral services. There is no real advantage to packaged costs over individual items, but it helps you envision what you need or might want without going one by one.
At a time of emotional and physical fatigue, grief or shock they can help tame becoming overwhelmed. A compassionate funeral director may even suggest you return another time, and take needed rest in the meantime.
3.Your funeral director should offer an itemized summary with all expenses discussed
- After the arrangement meeting – where the funeral director has explained each fee, purpose of the product or service discussed, a summary should follow. Naturally, in these matters, bargains are not always best. A conscientious, experienced funeral director will consider your budget, your wishes and your needs to create a custom solution with you.
- Since costs are more easily controlled when there is more time and less stress, you might like to consider a preplanned and prepaid funeral.
The intimacy and trust that exists between a client and funeral director is strong and sincere. A licensed funeral director is empowered to help you with all elements of funeral arrangements from people to paperwork. The goals and results can be far different when the ‘arrangers’ you are speaking with are actually a mortuary services sales team.
Always opt for an accredited, licensed and experienced funeral director with whom to build rapport.
You will feel this especially as you and the funeral director complete together – confidential details of the vital statistics of the loved one who passed. These must be recorded and becomes part of the critical administrative details that must be recorded and correctly filed. Read more on our previous blog: Pitfalls of paperwork.
Can-Trust-Funerals Ltd. provides reliable, straightforward and affordable service, and with compassion, always.
Before you engage with any funeral homes, please call Can-Trust-Funeral at 604-376-7975 or email to book a free professional consultation. You are never obligated.
Can-Trust’s team of licensed funeral directors, provide funeral services in Burnaby, funeral services in Richmond, Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland.
Phone: 604-376-7975
E-mail: can-trust-funeral@outlook.com
WeChat: Cantrustfuneral
Visit us online for more information.
