| Few people want to think about | | | | family papers in order to see if this is the case. |
| death—especially the death of their loved ones | | | | |
| or even their own death. While pre-planning a | | | | |
| funeral is always a good idea so that you’ll be | | | | 2. After all, your loved one might want to be |
| prepared when the time comes (and it eventually | | | | buried but might prefer a more environmentally |
| comes for all of us), most people haven’t | | | | green burial or might not want a burial at all and |
| given much thought to death and dying. | | | | would prefer to be cremated. |
| | | | | |
| In these cases, unless there’s an already | | | | 3. Remember, overall, purchasing a grave plot in |
| purchased gravesite set aside for an individual or | | | | advance will generally be advantageous both |
| family, part of the funeral planning process will | | | | emotionally and financially should that be the route |
| need to involve the purchase of a cemetery plot | | | | you or your loved one wishes to take. And, if |
| should the family of the deceased want to have | | | | there is a change of heart the plot can always be |
| the remains buried. | | | | sold, and, can even prove to be a good |
| | | | | investment yielding a nice profit. |
| Grave plots can vastly range in price depending | | | | |
| largely on the location of the plot within the | | | | One economic option in purchasing cemetery |
| cemetery and the overall pricing of the cemetery. | | | | property is to buy a pre-owned grave. Yes, that |
| Some cemeteries have “first class” | | | | does sound strange. But, despite the awkward |
| locations which carry a higher price. For example, | | | | name, a pre-owned grave plot isn't actually a |
| plots in “exclusive” areas of cemeteries | | | | grave that’s been previously used. Instead, |
| such as scenic hilltops, near a fountain or reflecting | | | | it’s a plot that the previous owner has |
| pond, next to a sculpture garden or other similarly | | | | decided to sell because they won’t no longer |
| high-tone areas will be more expensive. On | | | | need or want it. For example, a family may |
| average, plots start around US$1000 though | | | | decide to move from the area. Needless to say, |
| some cemeteries may offer less expensive | | | | they’d prefer to be buried where they’ve |
| options. As cemetery space becomes | | | | settled, and, so, they look to sell the unused plot |
| increasingly scarce, the cost of cemetery | | | | they no longer require. This is one of the best |
| property will continue to rise. | | | | ways to get a bargain when purchasing a plot. |
| | | | | Most sellers only want to recover the price they |
| If you think about it at in its simplest form, | | | | paid when they initially purchased the plot. Most |
| purchasing a grave plot is psychologically no | | | | people would consider it distasteful to try to |
| different than buying real estate. Much as you | | | | make a profit on a pre-owned grave plot. And, |
| would when buying land or a home, you’ll | | | | so, they’ll seek to charge you what they |
| want to shop around not only for price but to find | | | | paid. If the plot was purchased several years |
| a location that best suits your finances, your | | | | (or, in some cases, decades) earlier, the asking |
| family and the person who has recently passed | | | | price could be quite low. |
| away. | | | | The cemetery will be able to tell you if anyone is |
| | | | | offering a pre-owned plot for sale. Also, |
| Remember, as with all parts of funeral planning, | | | | remember that you can do an Internet search |
| you’ll need to remind yourself of what the | | | | for either pre-owned or new grave plots in your |
| deceased would have wanted and what would | | | | area. Many more people are finding cemetery |
| best match the personality that he or she had in | | | | property for sale online at very reasonable |
| life. | | | | prices. Make sure that if you do purchase a plot |
| | | | | over the Internet that you go in person ahead of |
| While some may not have pre-planned their | | | | the purchase to look at the property and make |
| funeral, it’s not uncommon for a plot to be | | | | sure you have your legal representative make |
| bought in advance. Some families even give | | | | sure the purchase is legal in every way. Some |
| cemetery plots as gifts! | | | | services that handle the resale of cemetery plots |
| Before you purchase a plot consider these things: | | | | are brokers who receive a fee or commission for |
| 1. You may need to consult your loved one’s | | | | the transaction just like a real estate broker |
| Last Will and Testament or go through important | | | | buying/selling your home or lot would. |