Coming to terms with the death of a loved one is hard enough without the added stress of having to find a good funeral director. In Sheffield there are an overwhelming amount of Funeral Directors, so how do you go about choosing the right one? Read on to find out.
When you first begin to look, it can seem quite overwhelming, these days there are lots of Funeral Directors all seeming to offer similar things. However, there are a few things you can identify to help you find the best one to meet your needs.
Below we will explain everything you will want to consider when choosing a funeral director, as well as some of the most frequently asked questions.
What does a funeral director do?
A funeral director’s primary responsibility is to take on the weight of planning a funeral, of course, a good funeral director should do everything they can to follow the wishes of the family.
The last thing a bereaved person needs is the worry of ensuring that everything is arranged on the day of the funeral. A good Funeral Director can give you and your family space to breathe and reflect, without worrying about the details of the funeral.
To do this a funeral director will:
Collect the person who has died and take them to the funeral home
Prepare them for the funeral by washing and dressing
Arrange or for a viewing if you would like to visit your loved one at the funeral home
Support you and your family through the arrangements for the funeral
Complete all the paperwork required for a cremation or burial to take place.
Provide a coffin or urn
Organise the funeral service and burial or cremation
Arrange funeral transport, music, catering and flowers.
The funeral director may also offer services like embalming, repatriation and bereavement support after the funeral.
How to choose a good choose a funeral director
There are several things you can do to ensure you choose a good funeral director.
Research your funeral director and don’t feel the need to rush
There is no reason to feel like you must choose a funeral director instantly. Take some time to look at prices, reviews and services before settling on two or three to explore in further depth.
Compare prices
From your two to three directors you should compare what each of them offers. What they include within the price and importantly what is not included.
If one of your choices is a funeral director that isn’t transparent about pricing on their website, be sure to ask if you can see a price breakdown. Insist that the breakdown includes any additional third-party costs.
If a funeral director doesn’t give you a price without meeting you, be on your guard. This is a commonly used tactic as people are far more likely to commit in person.
Check out recent reviews to find a good funeral director
In years gone by families would always use the same funeral director. However, as with most things, times changed and this is no longer recommended. In recent years many of the traditional, family-run funeral homes have been taken over by huge national companies and franchises. They may look the same and even be called the same but it is always worth doing your research first to check the standard of service is of the same quality.
Recent online reviews, such as those on Google and other websites, can help you be sure the standard of service is of excellent quality. When looking at reviews be sure to get a well-rounded picture of the funeral director. Don’t be put off by one average review if there are many excellent ones. This can make the search more difficult and lengthy.
Where is the funeral director based? Can you get there easily?
It’s a good idea to find a local funeral home that’s easy to get to from where you live. If you do not have transport this is even more important.
You may need to visit the funeral home on a couple of occasions to finalise arrangements etc…
When you first make contact with a funeral home make sure to ask if they are willing to visit you at home. This can make things easier and less stressful.
Payment options and schedule
Ask your funeral director when payment should be made. Is this upfront or after the funeral? A good funeral director will allow you to defer payments or create a payment plan. However, you should be upfront about this and avoid any confusion in the long run.
Looking for advice on Funeral savings plans?
Choose someone you trust
The most important part of choosing a good funeral director is feeling comfortable with the person arranging the funeral. A good funeral director will be someone that is sympathetic to you and your family's needs and will respect your wishes. Reviews can be a great way to see if a person will have the characteristics you are looking for. Did they show empathy? Did they go above and beyond?
We hope this guide has been helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our friendly team here
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