The role of funeral home personnel in fulfilling your final wishes or those of a loved one cannot be overstated. The overwhelming majority of planners — almost 77% — attest to their value. It’s these people who you must trust to give their utmost care and attention to your plans and to your family. But with many funeral homes to choose from, it may be hard to know how to find the right funeral home for your needs.

The guide below can help you find the best place and people for the send-off you desire.

Know what type of funeral service you want

One of the most important things to consider when selecting a funeral home is the type of funeral service you want.

Most providers offer a traditional, full-service option. This generally includes embalming, a viewing or visitation, funeral service, and help related to the burial site or other resting place.

For a lower cost option, you may choose a direct burial or direct cremation. With either, you forgo a viewing, eliminate the need for embalming, and use a simple container for burial (or urn for cremation). These options usually exclude a funeral service, too, unless you opt for a graveside service. But you may wish to have a memorial service, celebration of life, or ash scattering ceremony at a later date.

For the growing number of people who want more eco-friendly options, some funeral homes offer a green burial or natural burial. These alternatives also forgo embalming and use a biodegradable container for burial in a dedicated “green” site.

No matter your preference, you should choose a type of funeral before you contact a funeral home to ensure they provide the services you’re requesting. For example, not all funeral professionals provide green burials.

Make a list of your priorities

Listing your end-of-life wishes helps you know what to look for when shopping for a funeral home. If you’ve yet to consider your priorities, ask yourself these questions:

• Is the location of the funeral home important? Do you need it be close to a final resting place, near a church, or convenient for loved ones?
• Do you expect a large gathering that would require ample seating and parking?
• Do you need a funeral home to accommodate your religious or cultural customs?
• Do you envision a simple funeral or an extravagant service with options for caskets, flowers, and other details?
• Do you want to display photos, play videos, set up digital signage, or use high-definition screens?
• Do you have other requests for personalization, such as military funeral honors or live music?

Set a budget

Of course, cost is a significant factor in how to decide on a funeral home. If you have yet to plan a funeral for a loved one, you may be surprised by unexpected funeral costs.

At a minimum, you should expect to pay a basic services fee for the funeral home to secure permits, order death certificates, and coordinate with third parties, such as the cemetery. You may also have costs for embalming or cremation, transportation, funeral and graveside services, the casket or urn, and other services and needs.

A good strategy is to have a budget. For reference, in 2023, the median cost of a funeral with burial was $8,300 and funeral with cremation was nearly $6,300.

You may be able to adjust specific wishes to minimize your expenses. The good news is a reputable funeral home will be transparent on cost and present solutions that fulfill your wishes, while being mindful of your budget. When advance funeral planning, you may consider Preneed Funeral insurance, which is a prepaid funeral plan, to lock in current pricing and ensure no surprises for your family.

Conduct a search

Now that you have your funeral planning list, you must decide which funeral homes you want to contact. You may:

• Ask family and friends about their experiences with funeral homes they’ve used or visited. But remember, what makes a great funeral home for them might not be the same for you.
• Search the National Funeral Directors Association or the Cremation Association of North America directories. Their lists include businesses that adhere to professional standards for conduct.
• Read online reviews, such as those on Google or Yelp, to learn pros and cons of funeral homes in your area. Note the ones that mention compassionate staff and excellent service.

Get price quotes

Before you contact funeral homes to get funeral expenses quotes, familiarize yourself with the Funeral Rule by the Federal Trade Commission. This rule serves to financially protect you and your loved ones. It does so by requiring funeral homes to give you a price list upon request and allowing you to choose the services and items you want. When you’re required to buy a particular item, the funeral home must state that on the price list.

Once you understand your rights, you can call funeral homes on your shortlist and ask for quotes. Be sure to get estimates for the same arrangements across all funeral homes so that you can make a fair comparison.

Visit the funeral home

As you navigate how to choose the right funeral home, prioritize an in-person visit to narrow your decision. You’ll want to go over your price quote in detail and get any questions answered. You can take a list of questions, such as:

Is the funeral home family-owned or corporate run? How long has it been in business?

Both establishments can offer great service. But a family-run business may be able to provide more personalized service. When a funeral home has been in business for many years, it may be more involved with your community and have a greater stake in caring for the people. A corporate chain may have stricter processes in place for their personnel’s licensure and certifications. You can verify these details with your state’s licensing board for funeral directors and embalmers.

Can you fulfill what’s important to me?

Share your list of priorities when asking this question to ensure your wishes can be met. The discussion can range from their technology availability to their ability to support your religious or cultural norms.

What can I expect from the funeral director?

Besides working with you to plan your desired funeral services, the funeral director should fulfill tasks to ensure their completion. This includes helping you choose a casket or urn; coordinating with the cemetery or crematory; and working to get legal documents, such as death certificates. They should also offer a level of grief support to your loved ones.

What is the process of working with the funeral home at the time of need?

You’ll want to know who your family should contact the funeral home and how at the time of death. Remember to ask if the funeral home is available 24/7.

Does the funeral home own a crematory?

When the funeral home owns a crematory and doesn’t have to use a third-party service, you may see cost savings. You can also have peace of mind knowing that your funeral director has oversight of the cremation process.

Do you offer packages?

Many funeral homes offer packages of the items and services that are most often purchased together. This can help simplify your funeral planning and pricing. However, ask for details. You may want to select individual goods and services to ensure that you don’t overspend.

Am I able to get any discounts?

A funeral home may be willing to negotiate a discount, if you ask. This is especially true if their prices are higher than other funeral homes despite offering similar goods and services.

Do you offer payment options?

Not all funeral homes offer payment plans, so if paying in installments is important, this may narrow your choices. Burial insurance may be a solution.

I’m interested in burial insurance. Will you work with my insurance company?

Burial insurance — or Preneed insurance — may allow you to pay for funeral home goods and services in one lump sum or over multiple years, while securing today’s pricing. Better yet, many funeral directors also serve as preneed agents so they can provide the best quality of service to their families.

Once you leave your visit, consider not only the answers to your questions but also your feelings about the funeral home and its people. All these things should guide you in choosing the right funeral home.

Get a plan in place

Once you’ve finalized your funeral plans, document them. Whether you decide to relieve your family of the financial burden by paying for the funeral up front or securing a Preneed insurance plan, place a copy of your funeral agreement with your other estate planning documents. That way, your family has everything they need in one place when the time comes.

Get started

Do you need help getting started? Download a free copy of our funeral planning guide to organize your thoughts or call 800-995-9010 to connect with a funeral home partner near you.

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