Losing a loved one means a lot of complicated emotions. The last thing that grieving families need is the additional stress that can come with arranging a funeral service. At Basic Funerals, we guarantee transparency and firmly reject the ‘upselling’ approach.

In order to help you understand how to protect yourself at the time of need, we’ve put together a few helpful tips.

Casket Costs 101
Often, funeral homes will display their most expensive caskets in a selection room and keep the more economical models out of sight. Always ask for a price list and inquire about options other than what’s displayed. There is also the possibility of purchasing a casket from directly from the manufacturer or a low-cost provider, don’t feel pressured to purchase from the funeral home itself if you don’t want to. There should be absolutely no additional charges or equipment fees if you decide to purchase your casket elsewhere.

Understand Embalming
It’s extremely important to understand that embalming is not required by law unless special circumstances exist. For instance, if you intend to ship a body internationally, embalming becomes a legal necessity. That being said, in the majority of cases, there is no need to embalm unless it’s something that you want to do.

Beware of Hidden Costs
A lot of funeral homes like to talk about low prices, but as soon as you read the fine print, the costs start to add up.  At Basic Funerals, our price lists are entirely comprehensive- what you see is what you get. Whether you’ve pre-planned your funeral or are making arrangements at the time of need, you should be confident that no additional charges will pop up after the contract has been signed.

Protect Your Pre-Arrangements  
When you pre-arrange a funeral, the understanding is that there will be no additional costs at the time of need. Unless you personally choose to make a modification to the contract, we guarantee that there will be no extra charges . Under no circumstances should a funeral home ask for more money than was initially paid.

Understand Funeral Fallacies
Despite what someone might tell you, expensive add-ons like rubber seals on caskets don’t actually do much at all. Regardless of how much protection you add, a body will decompose no matter what. If you’ve chosen direct cremation, you do not need a casket. A simple cardboard cremation container is all that is necessary and at Basic Funerals, this is provided at no cost. If you’re offered a feature that comes at an additional expense, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You should know exactly where your money is going.

Is It Necessary?  
In order to keep costs low, avoid needless expenses. Go through the itemized list with the funeral director and ask if there’s anything that can be omitted. For instance, if your loved one never cared for flowers there’s no need to get a casket spray. Don’t want an urn? You don’t need one. Don’t hesitate to ask questions- a good funeral director will go out of their way to make sure that you have the answers.

Take Your Time
As a final note, be sure not to let anyone take advantage of you when emotions are running high. Granted, time can be of the essence but you should never feel pressured into making a decision you aren’t comfortable with.

Basic Funerals is proud to provide low-cost services without compromising on quality, care, or compassion. We’re here to answer any questions that you may have and invite you to contact us at any time.

The post What Most Funeral Directors Won’t Tell You: How To Protect Yourself Against Unfair Sales Practices appeared first on Basic Funerals.