8 Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Funeral Home in Singapore

Finding a funeral home is difficult whether you are planning a funeral after the death of a loved one or pre-planning ahead. Death is a truth of life and people have become more accepting of that fact. Thus, more and more people have started planning for their funeral in advance.

It is challenging to choose one from a plenty of available funeral packages when almost every event planner looks promising and reliable. Most of us don’t know much about the funeral homes and it becomes even more difficult to make a decision when grieving. Thus, it is a good idea to pre-plan your funeral services. Here’s a look at important questions to ask when choosing a funeral home:

1. How long have they been in the business?

You need to find out if the funeral home is locally owned or an independent business. Usually, funeral homes are family owned and may have been in the business for generations. An old business that has been around for decades is a good indication of the success of the business, implying that they are good at meeting client’s expectations and have long running expertise on funerals. Furthermore, if local ownership is also important to you, you should ask.

2. Part of any association/ organisation

It is important to find out if the funeral home is a part of any organisation or association. The authorised organisation sets professional standards and offers continuous education, certification, and training programs.

3. Are the services handled in-house or outsourced

You should ask if the funeral home services are taken care of by in-house staff or outsourced. While a few funeral homes handle everything on their own, others outsource the services which might be an expensive option for you.

4. Type of available funeral packages

A funeral home must offer everything from basic options to an all-inclusive plan at varying prices. Irrespective of the option you choose, every funeral package will include a fee for overhead and professional services.

5. Personal beliefs

Options such as embalming, viewing, cremation, and burial should be available to you along with the ones based on your faith and personal beliefs. Embalming is the process of cleaning and preserving the body. It is not required by the law though a funeral home may need it if you request a viewing.

6. Customisation of funeral services

The funeral home should be able to take care of any requests you might have in terms of memorial service for the loved one.

7. Payment options

You also need to find out if the funeral home works with your insurance company and if they can help in arranging for financial assistance. The funeral home should be able to work with an insurance company regarding life insurance policies. 8. Customer service team availability

The funeral home must be available 24/7 at your service. You should ask how long they take to arrive when called. Also, you should connect with them to know details about how will they respond to your queries about the funeral event and what arrangements they can make to maintain a close contact with the family of deceased for any emergent situations?

Explore the web for more information and suggestions on choosing funeral pre-planning services and packages in Singapore.

Edwin Yap is the owner of a private firm and is engaged in offering a wide range of funeral pre- planning services. His company specializes in planning Buddhist funeral in Singapore and can deliver optimal services, if booked in advance.