Choosing a Funeral Home: 3 Characteristics to Look For
Whether you are talking with funeral homes in Rockford, IL about preplanning your own services , or regarding immediate arrangements for your loved one, you want to select a reputable and trustworthy provider. With so many choices, you may not know which one is best. After all, this is most likely the first time seeking out a funeral home, so how do you even know what to look for? While there may be many funeral homes to choose from, they are not all the same. Here are some important factors to look for when making this choice.
1. Honest and Open About Pricing
When you are talking with a funeral home, they should be open and transparent about their pricing. If you are inquiring about pricing and they are dodging or redirecting the conversation, you may want to find another funeral home.
A reputable and honest provider will have no issues with providing you with the price information you are requesting. And, in case you didn’t know, this is actually required by law. The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule states that, when asked, the funeral home must do the following:
- Provide a general price list and on this list must disclose if the service is required by state or local law
- Inform the consumer they have the right to choose the goods and services they want (some exceptions may be included)
- May not refuse or charge a fee to handle a casket bought elsewhere
- Must make alternative containers available
2. Holds a Good Reputation
One of the best ways to ensure you are working with a good provider is to simply look at their reputation. You can find a lot of information about their ethics and character by the way they have treated other clients in the past.
Do they have a lot of good reviews? Are they in good standing with the community? This information is easy to find by doing an online search. You can look at their website, social media channels such as Facebook, and other local review sites. This information can go a long way in making you feel comfortable in your choice.
3. Offers More Than Expected
While most providers offer the basic services, exceptional providers will go above and beyond. These additional services may include providing resources for grief support , creating and designing items such as tribute DVDs or memorial programs, assisting in writing the obituary, providing options for guest funeral favors, and more.
While you may not need or want any of these extra services, funeral homes that offer them really show how they care for their clients by assisting with every aspect of the services and arrangements. These are funeral homes that truly want to help and be there for their clients.
Final Thoughts
Although talking about arrangements with funeral homes in Rockford, IL is not an easy thing to do, dealing with the right provider will make a world of difference. Choosing a funeral home that is transparent about pricing, possess a good reputation, and shows they care about their clients by offering additional services and resources can truly make the experience much less stressful.
