How to Find Fair Funeral Pricing When You Don’t Live in San Diego
One of the benefits of belonging to the San Diego Memorial Society is access to clearly defined, pre-negotiated prices through our participating mortuaries. But what if you or a family member lives outside San Diego County?
You may not have a funeral consumer organization nearby that negotiates prices for its members, but you can still take steps to find a reputable mortuary and avoid paying more than necessary. The key is to plan ahead, know what you want, and compare prices before you need the services.
Check the Funeral Consumers Alliance list of affiliated Societies
Start with Several Independently Owned Mortuaries
Identify several locally or independently owned funeral homes or mortuaries in the area where you will need the services. Independently owned establishments can often provide more competitive pricing than large corporate funeral-home chains, although prices vary considerably from one provider to another.
Look carefully at funeral-home websites to determine ownership. For example, funeral homes operating under the Dignity Memorial network are part of a large corporate organization. Don’t assume that a familiar name or impressive facility automatically means better service—or that a higher price means better care.
Make a list of several providers and contact each one. You’ll learn a great deal simply by comparing how they answer your questions and how willing they are to discuss prices openly.
Know What You Want Before You Call
Before contacting a mortuary, have a basic idea of the arrangements you want. Are you considering direct cremation, cremation with a memorial service, direct burial, graveside services, or a traditional funeral and burial?
The clearer you are about your wishes, the easier it will be to compare one mortuary with another.
When you call, be straightforward. Tell them exactly what you’re looking for and ask for the complete bottom-line price, including required fees. You won’t want to discover later that the quote didn’t include transportation, permits, refrigeration, crematory charges, containers, or needed services.
Ask each mortuary to provide its General Price List (GPL). Federal law requires funeral providers to give consumers itemized price information when they begin discussing funeral arrangements, and consumers have the right to select many goods and services individually rather than automatically purchasing a package. This GPL should be listed on their website. By law, they are required to have that on their site.
Compare the Same Services
Funeral pricing can become confusing because different providers may describe or package services differently. That’s why simply asking, “How much does a funeral cost?” won’t necessarily give you useful information.
Instead, compare the same arrangement at each mortuary.
To compare options, request from every provider the total price of direct cremation and what that price covers. If you want burial with a graveside service, ask each provider for that same arrangement.
Note the quoted price, what’s included, any additional charges, and the name of the person you spoke with. A simple comparison sheet can make the differences surprisingly clear.
Remember That Funeral Homes Are Businesses
Most funeral professionals genuinely want to help families, but it’s also important to remember that funeral homes are businesses. Some employ salespeople or arrangement counselors whose job includes presenting additional products and services.
That’s another reason to decide what you want before sitting down to make arrangements.
Do not feel obliged to purchase something simply because someone offers it or because it sounds customary. Ask questions. If you don’t understand a charge, ask what it is and whether it’s required. If you don’t want a particular product or service, say so.
Planning ahead allows you to make these decisions calmly rather than during the emotionally difficult days immediately following a death.
Visit Your Top Choices
Once you’ve narrowed your list to two or three mortuaries with reasonable prices, visit them in person if possible.
Meet the owner or funeral director. Look at the facility. Ask questions about how they handle the type of arrangements you want. Pay attention to how you’re treated. Do they answer your questions directly? Are they comfortable discussing prices? Do you feel pressured to purchase more than you requested?
Price matters, but so do trust, transparency, and professionalism. You’re looking for a mortuary that offers fair pricing and makes you feel confident that your wishes—or those of your family member—will be respected.
Consider Making Arrangements in Advance
Once you’ve chosen a mortuary, ask about making pre-need arrangements. This allows you to document your wishes before the services are needed and, depending on the arrangement, may allow you to fund those services in advance.
Before signing or paying for anything, make sure you understand exactly what you’re purchasing. Ask whether prices are guaranteed, what could result in additional charges later, what happens if you move, and whether the arrangement can be transferred or canceled. Get everything in writing and keep your paperwork somewhere your family can easily find it.
Most importantly, tell your loved ones what you’ve done.
A beautifully organized pre-need plan isn’t very helpful if nobody knows it exists. Give the appropriate family member or representative the name and telephone number of the mortuary and tell them where you’ve stored the paperwork. That helps ensure that when the time comes, your family contacts the mortuary you’ve already selected.
Planning Ahead Can Save Money—and Make Things Easier for Your Family
Making funeral arrangements in advance isn’t something most of us particularly enjoy thinking about, but taking care of these decisions now can be a tremendous gift to the people you leave behind.
If you live outside San Diego, take your time. Compare several mortuaries, request their price lists, know what services you want, visit your top choices, and get your arrangements in writing. You don’t need to accept the first price you’re given, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you’re a San Diego Memorial Society member who is moving away or you’re helping a loved one make arrangements outside San Diego County, you’re welcome to contact our office with questions. While we can’t negotiate prices with mortuaries outside our participating network, we can help you understand what to look for and what questions to ask.
And if you’re taking care of this ahead of time, good job. You’ve made an important decision that can make things considerably easier for your family later. Call if you have questions: (858) 391-1267
