4 Steps to Choosing the Right Funeral Home

Selecting a funeral home for yourself or a loved one allows you to plan a unique end-of-life celebration.

There are many steps to follow when choosing the right funeral home before or after a death occurs—from selecting the location to touring facilities. Without proper planning and research, it may be challenging to find the right funeral home.

Keep in mind you don’t have to make this decision alone. Consider asking a family member to make calls on your behalf or accompany you to meetings, if this will make you more at ease.

Below are four helpful steps to finding the right funeral home.

1. Start with Research

With an array of options for your life celebration, the easiest way to begin your search is with research. Narrow your options down by choosing the city where you would like your funeral to take place.

Next, create a list of funeral home options within your chosen area. Ask friends and family to share positive experiences or recommendations.

Also, consider searching funeral home websites. As you browse these sites, look for reviews that can help eliminate ill-fitting options before making calls and visits.

2. Narrow Down Your Selection

Once you have come up with a list of potential funeral homes, call each location to determine which are worth a visit. Below are some general questions to consider asking over the phone before visiting in-person.

• What type of special experiences can you create?
• How many people can your facility hold?
• What accommodations do you offer for elderly and disabled individuals?
• Do you own a crematory?
• How can I obtain your pricing?
• Do you have separate pricing for caskets, urns, and other products?

Funeral homes are required by law to provide you with a general price list for goods and services. The funeral home staff will either walk you through the pricing via phone, or you can request a list be sent in the mail.

3. Tour Funeral Home Facilities

Meeting with funeral directors and touring each facility is extremely important when selecting your funeral home. Use these meetings to assess the facilities, learn more about pricing and service options, and understand the capabilities of each.

As you tour each facility, pay close attention to:

• Cleanliness and appearance.
• Helpfulness of the staff.
• Your personal comfort level.

While you may have already asked questions about services, products, pricing and other considerations over the phone, touring the facility and meeting with funeral directors will help narrow your focus to the finer details. Some in-depth questions to consider include:

• What type of religious, cultural, or veteran services do you offer?
• Do you have customer testimonials you can share?
• Does this facility have technology onsite and offer online obituaries?
• We recommend giving these some thought and adjusting questions based on your personal wishes.

4. Get Started

If a death has occurred or you’re interested in funeral preplanning, Busch Funeral and Crematory Services can help answer your questions. Our compassionate staff offers the highest level of services and we’re available at any time day or night. Contact us with questions today.