|
|
|
Can I interest you in buying a place for you to be buried? If there ever was a conversation stopper this would probably be it. After all, who wants to talk about dying and being buried? If you are like most people, you’d probably like to avoid this issue entirely or only talk about it when absolutely necessary. Because death is not something we like to deal with, most of us are caught off guard when issues like buying burial plots come up. It’s likely that there are only a few times when we have to deal directly with this. The first is when someone in our family dies. The second more likely time is when we get a solicitation phone call asking if we are interested in buying a burial plot. We are not at our best in either of these situations and because of this we don’t really know what are good questions to ask. So what are some good questions to ask when thinking about buying a burial plot in a cemetery?
What do I need? What can I afford? Our financial resources are an important consideration in buying grave lots and tombstones. You can spend a lot of money, many thousands of dollars buying a burial plot and monument. Often times, especially at the death of a loved one, the feelings of grief and love can lead us to spend money that we really don’t have. We can easily spend thousands of dollars for burial plots and tombstones. Spending lots of money does not indicate that we love a person more, any more than does spending less money indicate that we love a person less.
What is being offered to me? It’s easy to be enticed by an offer of “buy one grave spot and we’ll give you the second one free.” It’s good to ask just what is included in this free offer. Are there extra costs for opening and closing the grave? Is there a cost for using the chapel at the cemetery? Is there a cost for pouring the foundation for the monument? Are there extra charges for putting any plagues on the monument?
What about pre-paying the costs for burial plots? Will there be any additional charges when the actual burial takes place? Most pre-payment plans cover all the costs for the grave and related burial expenses, but it is always good to make sure this is the case.
Can you pay for burial plots in installments? Most cemeteries will allow for installment payments over a specific period of time. If you choose this option, you want to check out if there are any interest or finance charges for doing this. At St. Joe Cemetery, we give people the option to spread the payment for the cost of burial plots over time, with no interest rates or finance charges.
Are there different prices for burial plots in the cemetery? In some cemeteries, the cost for the same kind of burial plot will vary depending upon its location in the cemetery. It’s always good to ask if there are different prices for different sections of the cemetery. At St. Joe Cemetery all single and double burial plots are the same throughout the cemetery. Three, four and more grave lots are figured by the square foot and will cost the same anywhere in the cemetery.
Are there any costs for future upkeep of the cemetery? Some cemeteries, especially small rural parish cemeteries have a special collection each year for cemetery upkeep. Other cemeteries may require a specific amount of money to be paid at the time you purchase a grave. This cost is often in addition to the price for the grave itself. At St. Joseph Cemetery, the cost for the perpetual care of your burial plot is included in the cost of the grave itself. A portion of the cost of the grave is set aside in a special fund to ensure the your grave plot will be taken care of long after you have departed.
Whenever you are faced with the task of purchasing a burial plot, be sure to check around. Ask questions and compare prices. Before you buy, we encourage you to come and talk with us at St. Joe Cemetery. We feel confident that we will be able to provide you with the lowest prices and best service in town.
|