Cremation is sweeping the nation. By 2040, nearly 80 percent of Americans will choose cremation over traditional burials. It is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than burying a body underground.
But with popularity comes competition. You may have many cremation provider options in your local area. It is hard to start choosing cremation providers, especially after someone close to you passes away.
What are the things you should look for in a cremation provider? How can you assess experience and service options?
Answer these questions and you can expedite your decision process. Here is your quick guide.
1. Positive References and Reviews
Visit business review websites like Yelp and see what other people’s experiences are like. Read the reviews marked “most helpful,” then find positive and negative ones.
You should also read their page on Glassdoor. Glassdoor compiles employee reviews, giving information for potential job applicants. If employees say they had a bad time working for the provider, you should not hire them.
Talk to your friends and relatives about providers that they have hired. If they vouch for one, in particular, consider it.
2. Experience With Cremations
Experience is multi-faceted. At the simplest level, you should check to see how long the provider has been in business. Visit their website and check their profile with the Better Business Bureau.
But you should go further than that. Ask a representative for cremation info. If they are unable to give you good material, they don’t have knowledge that matches their experience.
3. Additional Services
Most cremation providers do more than cremate a body. They may plan a memorial service. They may offer grief support as a family moves forward past a death.
You should select a provider that has a lot of services. But don’t just select the one that offers the most.
Find one that has services that you will need. If you are planning a non-Western memorial service, you can find a provider that caters to that.
4. Willingness to Pre-Plan
Many people do not make a plan for their memorial service or remains. Cremation providers can help people form a plan after their loved one passes away.
But they should be able to make preparations in advance. They should give you suggestions for memorial services, urns, and burial sites. If they cannot, they don’t have expertise in the industry.
5. Close Proximity
You shouldn’t hire a provider just because they are down the street from you. But you should limit your choices to providers within a few miles of you. Some family members want to witness the cremation process, and that is difficult if the provider is far away.
If you plan on depositing the ashes somewhere, the provider should be close to that site. Find a location that is close to where relatives live and where the ashes will go. Being close to one or the other is not good enough.
Five Essential Factors for Choosing Cremation Providers
Choosing cremation providers is difficult. Yet there are a few things you should look for.
Read review sites like Yelp and Glassdoor and get references from your friends. Ask a provider for information about cremations to assess their experience.
See if the provider has services like grief support and accommodates non-Western cultures. Make sure they can make preparations in advance. When in doubt, pick a provider close to family members and the deposition site.
You don’t have to rush any decision you make. Get the facts first. Follow our coverage for more lifestyle guides.
