Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be a traumatic enough experience without having to organise all of the arrangements for their funeral as well. For this reason, most people choose to hire a funeral director to look after all of the necessary preparations and make sure everything runs smoothly.
With more and more competition in the industry and a lengthy list of expenses to take care of, it can be difficult to know where to begin looking. This handy guide should give you some pointers on how to find the right funeral director for your unique circumstances.
Services provided by a funeral director
The vast majority of funeral directors will provide very similar services, although certain companies may offer different packages and options, or allow you to only choose certain facets of the service. In general, you should expect your funeral director to take care of or help with:
- Storage, handling and preparation of the body up until the day of the funeral
- Supply of the coffin and coffin bearers
- Planning of the funeral ceremony itself, including sourcing a location
- Handling all legal documentation
- Coordination of the events of the funeral on the day to make sure everything runs smoothly
While almost all funeral directors will offer the same services, the quality of that service can vary greatly from one organisation to another. It’s therefore important to make sure you find a funeral director who understands your particular needs and can help make you feel comfortable and confident with the arrangements for the big day.
How to find a funeral director
Many families have “regular” funeral directors who they use every time their services are required. It might be worth talking to older members of the family and other friends to see if they can give you any recommendations. Even if there is a go-to option, it’s still a good idea to look into other possibilities to see if you can get a better deal and a better service elsewhere.
If you live in a small town or village, it might be tempting to simply go with the local director; however, it is again worth shopping around to make sure there are no superior alternatives further afield. If you live in a big town or city, there is likely to be plenty of competition. This is when it can become tricky to whittle down the shortlist and make a decision, but our funeral director comparison tool can help to make your decision that little bit easier.
One thing to keep in mind when searching for a funeral director is to check whether they are affiliated with either the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) or the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD). These official bodies have codes of conduct with which the directors must comply, ensuring quality levels of service.