In the last few years, funeral costs have skyrocketed significantly in Los Angeles. This matter has affected numerous families in more ways than one. In general, funeral services have never been affordable in any aspect.
One of the main reasons this issue prevails is due to people not taking a moment to carefully evaluate funeral costs. Losing someone can cause anyone to make unwise spending decisions. Unfortunately, many funeral service providers take advantage of this vulnerability. Since everyone will have a loved one pass away to a better life one day, being wise in funeral costs to never overpay is certainly a must.
How to Not Overpay for a Funeral in Los Angeles.
Choosing Family Home for Casket Viewing
Opting for a funeral home for casket viewing is not mandatory in Los Angeles. The body of a loved one can be kept in a casket at home for viewing for the permitted number of days or hours. This option is conducted at the discretion of the family.
A home funeral and casket viewing at home is not only a more affordable option than a viewing at the local funeral home but it provides a more intimate setting for everyone in attendance. In order to find the best casket price for the funeral casket, it is a good idea to check few online casket providers, since caskets online are usually offered at much more reasonable prices compared to the funeral homes casket prices. There are many beautiful options for the funeral caskets can be found at reliable casket companies like for example Trusted Caskets.
Cremation or Burying
After casket viewing, you can either cremate or bury a loved one. Cremation tends to be less expensive. It is not only often chosen due to its affordability but also due to allowing families to have a piece of their loved one forever. At the end of the day, it is all a matter of preference.
In some instances, cremation is not allowed by authorities in Los Angeles if the individual passed away in a questionable situation. As forensic science evolves in the years to come, more questions can be answered about inconsistencies found in a crime scene. This why there are times in which burying a loved one is the only option provided by authorities to some families.
Therefore, before any funeral service planning begins for cremation, it is imperative to know beforehand if cremation is permitted. This could save you money and time.
Avoid Sneaky Payment Plans
Numerous funeral service providers have a payment plan for individuals who cannot pay the asking price. A lot of people see this type of plan as an easy way out. It might appear that way, but this is not always the case. The reality will sink in the near future when payments begin if the chosen plan comes accompanied with a high-interest rate.
Remember that funeral homes want to make a profit at all costs. Carefully reading what a payment plan entails is highly recommended to not run into any surprises later on down the road. If you stop to think about it, it is always better to prevent than lament.
Obtain Several Quotes
Contrary to popular belief, funeral costs vary among funeral homes, even if packages are identical. This is why it is important to obtain at least three quotes over the phone.
Once quotes are obtained, comparing them side by side will allow you to evaluate the costs in order to then make a wise decision. Remember to always verify costs on the official website of the funeral home that has caught your eye. You might find fees present on it that you were not informed about.
Visiting a funeral service provider’s website can save you some money in certain times of the year. At the end of the day, funeral homes are present to make business, so it is not surprising to find an offer on their sites every now and then.
These offers are often not mentioned over the phone, hence why visiting funeral service providers’ websites is highly suggested before paying anything.
Avoid Paying Unnecessary Fees
There are times in which funeral homes charge fees that people are not aware of, such as a fee for embalming. In most cases, embalming is not required by law. Nonetheless, in some states, funeral homes do not have to inform about this fact and thus charge this fee unless you request otherwise.
Indeed, funeral homes in Los Angeles and elsewhere are taking advantage of emotional moments. Perhaps they will stop doing so when they realize people are no longer being naive about their sneaky tactics.
Unfortunately, a lot of people become aware of unnecessary fees after a funeral service has concluded. Even if they try to dispute them, the majority would not be successful.
Even though funeral service providers can be sneaky, everything that they are going to provide is stated in the paper that is handed to you to sign. It is your job to carefully read through it and ask questions.
Prepaid Plans Are Not Always Your Best Bet
Some men and women incorrectly believe that a prepaid plan can save them meaningful sums. This might certainly appear to be the case at first, but if you choose a prepaid plan that does not guarantee a price, then saving meaningful sums will not come to pass. If the price increases for the plan chosen, your total amount will increase. It is a non-ending cycle that should be avoided.
Increasing prices can be quite discouraging to say the least. Countless people have opted to stop making payments, only to end up seeing their credit reports with a damaging derogatory mark, respectively. This type of mark can take years to fall off your credit report. Therefore, your future can easily become compromised in several ways
Caskets Do Not Have to Be Expensive
Caskets are among the first things that people look into after losing a loved one. They are seeking the best of the best and often believe that in order to obtain a good-looking casket of great quality, paying a high price should be expected.
This is very far from the truth. Also, you do not have purchase the casket from the funeral home you want the service to be held in. You can bring in the casket that you want. As a matter of fact, to save significant sums, more families in Los Angeles are choosing to do this.
There are numerous high-quality cheap caskets for sale on the market in Los Angeles; you just have to know where to find them.
There are some websites that provide cheap caskets for sale at extremely low prices, including trustedcaskets.com. This website provides discounted prices on burial and cremation caskets.
You will find metal caskets, wood caskets, cremation caskets, oversized caskets, and even coffins. This website can save you up to 80% off retail prices.
By federal law, funeral homes have to accept a casket brought from trustedcaskets.com which it why it has become the go-to option for people in Los Angeles.
Plan Your Own Funeral
Have you stopped to think about how your funeral should be like? This might sound a little daunting at first, but once you being your plan, it will turn into a fun experience.
Over the years, more and more people have jumped on the bandwagon of planning their own funerals.
Even though your family and friends love you and know a lot about your likes and dislikes, only you know how you want to leave this world.
Planning your funeral can bring some relief to your loved ones when the inevitable comes for you as it will one day come for them, as well. Why let somebody else choose your casket when you can choose it yourself!
Be wise and do not overpay for any funeral, not even yours. Go ahead and start your planning today by visiting trustecaskets.com and by taking the aforementioned information into account. By doing so, you and your loved ones will never become an easy target for any funeral home in Los Angeles.