Dealing with the death of a loved one or family member is tough and the last thing anyone needs is the stress of finding the right funeral director in Barnsley to meet your needs.
When you first approach this it can seem like a huge task but there are a few things you can do to help find the director that matches your budget and requirements.
This guide will detail everything you need to think about when choosing a funeral director.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a funeral director?
A funeral director’s goal is to take the weight of planning a funeral away from the family's shoulders. The best funeral director will do everything they can to accommodate the wishes of the bereaved.
A grieving family does not need the anxiety of ensuring everything is properly arranged on the day of the funeral.
The best funeral directors will give you and your family peace of mind and time to grieve without having to worry about the finer details of the funeral.
To accomplish this a funeral director will:
1. Receive the person who has died and take them to the funeral home
2. Get them ready for the funeral by washing and dressing
3. Plan your viewing if you would like to attend the funeral home
4. Assist you and your family through the plan for the funeral
5. Perform all the paperwork required for a cremation or burial to take place
6. Provide a coffin or urn
8. Orchestrate funeral transport, music, catering and flowers.
9. The funeral director may also offer services like embalming, repatriation and bereavement support after the funeral.
How to choose the best funeral director to meet your needs
There are several things you can do to ensure you choose the best funeral director.
Do your research
There is no reason to rush this choice. Take some time to consider all the elements of a funeral, costs and requirements before settling on a couple of directors to research in greater detail.
Compare prices
Compare the costs of each director and what they include within the price. It is also a good idea to look at what is not included. If they have price plans on their website. Compare what is missing from the cheaper plans. Are these important to you?
Do your chosen funeral directors have prices on their websites? If not, why not? Be sure to ask if you can see a price breakdown of what is and isn’t included in the final price and Insist that the breakdown includes any third-party costs.
Be careful if a funeral director insists on meeting you in person before giving at least a rough idea of the cost. This is a tactic employed because people find it harder to say no in person.
Looking for guidance on how to pay for a funeral in 2021? This post can help
Read recent reviews to find the best funeral directors
listening to friends and family's recommendations can be a great pointer but a word of caution. 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 the quality of service could be very different.
To contend with this you should take a look at recent online reviews. Google can help you be sure the standard of service is high.
When looking at reviews be sure to get a balanced opinion. Don’t be put off by one average review if there are many excellent ones. This can make the search more difficult and lengthy. On the same note be wary of funeral directors that have consistently bad reviews. If you have concerns about a review there is often a response from the owner that may be worth reading.
Where is the funeral director based? Can you get there easily?
Try to choose a local funeral home that’s easy to get to from where you live.
On occasion, you may need to visit the funeral home to finalise arrangements and for viewings.
Does the funeral director make home visits? This can make things easier and a lot less stressful for you and your family.
Payment options and schedule
Your funeral director should be clear and upfront about when payments should be made. The best funeral directors in Barnsley will create payment plans and support during difficult times. Be honest with your director from the beginning. This will ensure a positive working relationship moving forward.
Choose someone you feel at ease with
The key part of choosing a good funeral director is identifying someone that is sympathetic to you and your family's needs and will respect your wishes. You need to be happy that this person will arrange and attend the funeral.
Reviews can be a great way to see if a person will have the characteristics you are looking for.
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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