Inflation for Funeral Costs

[WinoBlues]

I've been selling funeral for 20 years now. It's definitely regional on pricing. But in my town we sold a standard funeral all day long for $5,500 in 1997. That same funeral sells for $9500 today.

Funeral inflation has been low during that time partially because of increased competition (price advertising) and also the internal competition from direct burial and direct cremation.

Just got a call from a client that is dying of cancer. He had called me a couple of weeks ago to let me know he is terminal. I had gone over his Gerber policy with him and recommended he start contacting funeral homes and especially cemeteries in his area. As that was going to be the largest hard cost.

So far the lowest cost for the dirt? $14,000.00 for a double and $13,000.00 for a single. This is just for the dirt, not the funeral. I suggested he continue to shop. But that is not an out of the ordinary cost. One of my clients was just buried here. Final Arrangements | Oak Hill Memorial Park San Jose California Cemetery Listing

San Jose, CA

I had a similar conversation with another client in the Slidell, LA area. Huge difference in cost. A $10,000 policy goes a long way there. in San Jose, CA not so much.

I was wondering if anyone has covered the regional differences and inflation cost in a thread. Most of the ones I found do not go very deep.

 

[goillini52]

I was wondering if anyone has covered the regional differences and inflation cost in a thread. Most of the ones I found do not go very deep.

I'm sure you know about this site...I guess you could compare cities around the country on here.

Compare Funeral Homes | Parting

Won't help with the inflation question though.

 

[somarco]

So far the lowest cost for the dirt? $14,000.00 for a double and $13,000.00 for a single. This is just for the dirt, not the funeral. I suggested he continue to shop. But that is not an out of the ordinary cost. One of my clients was just buried here. Final Arrangements | Oak Hill Memorial Park San Jose California Cemetery Listing

San Jose, CA

If Kaepernick still lives there you might be able to pick up his home dirt cheap . . .

On a more serious note, how about cremation?

Or is that banned in CA because of pollution?

 

[WinoBlues]

I'm sure you know about this site...I guess you could compare cities around the country on here.

Compare Funeral Homes | Parting

I hadn't seen that. Thanks.

How accurate does it seem for your area? Seems close but on the low side to me. Maybe kinda how a car dealer will advertise base price?

On a more serious note, how about cremation?

Or is that banned in CA because of pollution?

Kaepernick?!? What's that?

Ha, Cremation is very popular.

 

[shonceman]

I hadn't seen that. Thanks.

How accurate does it seem for your area? Seems close but on the low side to me. Maybe kinda how a car dealer will advertise base price?

I use that site sometimes. The data they're using might be a year or two old if the particular FH is not an active advertiser. So it can run a little bit low, but not usually by much. It seems like the family owned funeral homes tend not to have as many price increases (and are usually less expensive) than corporate run homes.

 

[goillini52]

I hadn't seen that. Thanks.

How accurate does it seem for your area? Seems close but on the low side to me. Maybe kinda how a car dealer will advertise base price?

What Shonce said.

 

[Newby]

Just got a call from a client that is dying of cancer. He had called me a couple of weeks ago to let me know he is terminal. I had gone over his Gerber policy with him and recommended he start contacting funeral homes and especially cemeteries in his area. As that was going to be the largest hard cost.

So far the lowest cost for the dirt? $14,000.00 for a double and $13,000.00 for a single. This is just for the dirt, not the funeral. I suggested he continue to shop. But that is not an out of the ordinary cost. One of my clients was just buried here. Final Arrangements | Oak Hill Memorial Park San Jose California Cemetery Listing

San Jose, CA

I had a similar conversation with another client in the Slidell, LA area. Huge difference in cost. A $10,000 policy goes a long way there. in San Jose, CA not so much.

I was wondering if anyone has covered the regional differences and inflation cost in a thread. Most of the ones I found do not go very deep.

Wow that is crazy high for cemetery spaces. But California has crazy high property values. You could buy those same spaces here in Indiana for $1200 each. And veterans are free here at most cemeteries.

But no you are not buying the dirt. If you think you are just buy a plot and plant some tomatoes on it and you will find out real quick who really owns the dirt. You are just buying the interment rights. You still don't own the actual ground.

 

[WinoBlues]

You could buy those same spaces here in Indiana for $1200 each. And veterans are free here at most cemeteries.

Yeah, $1,200 will bury you shallow a puppy could dig you up. That would not even cover opening and closing. California is very large so the prices vary a lot. In my area, you are probably looking at $2k-$4k on average. However, you get into other areas and they make San Jose look like a bargain.

>>veterans are free here at most cemeteries.<<

That is awesome. Not here. Unless it is one of the National Cemeteries. Military Honors are rendered wherever of course.

 

[rousemark]

Yeah, $1,200 will bury you shallow a puppy could dig you up. That would not even cover opening and closing. California is very large so the prices vary a lot. In my area, you are probably looking at $2k-$4k on average. However, you get into other areas and they make San Jose look like a bargain.

>>veterans are free here at most cemeteries.<<

That is awesome. Not here. Unless it is one of the National Cemeteries. Military Honors are rendered wherever of course.

Commercial grave plots in my area run 1500-2000, however some church graveyards have a very nominal charge if any for non church members.. Church members are normally free.

 

[Life Hawk]

Most of the ones I found do not go very deep.

The standard is around 8ft, anything less then that would cause me to look elsewhere.

Sorry... couldn't help my self.

I'll stop digging now and go grill.