Choosing Cemetery Gravestone: Some Helpful Tips

By Author: Todd Dawson
Total Articles: 42

A proper burial is the greatest gift a family can give their loved one. Quite naturally, they would want the gravestone to excel both in design and in quality. But, with the vast array of options available here, making a choice may not be an easy job. Do the following to avoid taking wrong decisions.
1. Know your options
The number of options available is sure to confuse you when buying a gravestone; especially if you are a first-time buyer. You can get it from a funeral home in your area or from a local retailer. If you wish, you can also approach an online retailer for the purpose. But, the recommended option is to get it from a local firm. It would be aware of the rules and regulations cemeteries in the region have in place for memorial monuments.
2. Be aware of your rights
Cemeteries may require you to pay for the various services they offer. Make sure that you are fully aware of your rights in this regard. Do not believe if they tell you that they are the only ones with the right to install a headstone in a particular cemetery. In fact, this is against the law in most of the States in the US. You have the right to decide who would install the gravestone for your loved one.
3. Do your homework
Your friend or family member may have a firm to recommend. But, make sure that you do your own homework. Explore the websites of the headstone retailers in your locality. You can also visit some graves with friends and enquire about the firms which designed them.
4. Have an idea of the design you want
Discuss with your loved ones and prepare an idea of the type of headstone you want. Visiting retailers and taking photos of the designs they have too would help you make wise choices here. Remember, the pattern you choose should reflect your family’s feelings towards the deceased.
5. Decide the material
Grave markers are available in the material of your choice today. Discuss your requirements with your favorite headstone designer. Granite is generally preferred to the others because it lasts long. Here too, you are offered numerous options. Do your own research before making a choice. If affordability is what you want, you can even opt for bronze.
6. Request a computer rendering
If your choice company is reliable enough, it will definitely give you a rendering of how your memorial would look like when completed upon request. If the firm refuses this right, approach its competitor. You should also have an understanding of the facing of the monument. This applies specifically to those installing it for two persons.
7. Go online
If budget is a concern, the best option is going online. Search on Google for reputed headstone designers. You would get hundreds if not thousands of reputed dealers. Know your needs and choose one accordingly. Experience informs that you can save up to $1,000 if you make a purchase online. Choosing gravestone is not that difficult; you should know how to do it right.
Consult Old Mission Cemetery Staff regarding funeral organizing and choosing headstones. All info you need can be found at this link http://www.sanluisrey.org/cemetery/