Are you thinking about buying your own grave marker? It's not as crazy as it sounds. Many individuals and couples buy their own memorial grave markers long before they pass away. It relieves their loved ones of the cost and burden, plus it ensures that they get the type of marker that they want. There are plenty of services out there that can provide you with a grave marker. However, it's always best to do some research and due diligence before you make a commitment. Here are a few things to consider when you're shopping for your marker:
Get your cemetery plot first. A common mistake is to buy the grave marker before you buy the cemetery plot. The problem with this is that each cemetery has its own rules and regulations about the types of markers that it allows. Some cemeteries want a uniform look, so all markers have to adhere to strict criteria in terms of size and style. Other cemeteries have few rules and allow you to use almost any type of marker that you want. There's no right or wrong way. However, you need to know the rules of your cemetery before you purchase your marker.
Leave some room on the marker for your family's thoughts. It's great that you're picking out your own marker and your family will likely appreciate the fact that you did this. However, they may have some special thoughts or quotes that they want to add to the marker. Leave some space available so they can do this. Funeral services are often as much for the living as they are for the dead. Giving them the option to contribute to the marker may help to ease their pain. Also, consider using a service that can do inscription on-site. That way, your marker can be installed on your plot and your family can still add wording later.
Get insurance. Although it's not likely, it is possible that your marker could be vandalized or otherwise damaged. Considering you may spend thousands of dollars on the marker itself, it may be worth it to pay just a bit more for insurance. Then, if your marker is damaged, your family doesn't have to worry about coming up with the money to repair it. The insurance will cover those expenses. Most funeral homes, cemeteries, and marker companies offer this kind of insurance.
Talk to a funeral home or a grave marker company, like An Thiel Monuments, for more information. These services can provide more advice on purchasing the best marker for your wishes and budget.
Share7 January 2015
When was the last time you went to an optometrist? If you are like most people, you only go when your glasses break or you run out of contact lenses. Very few people actually follow the guidelines of having their eyes checked each year. Not sure why it is necessary to visit your optometrist each year? You can learn all about the different exams and tests that your optometrist runs and why they are done. Knowing what can go wrong with your eyes and what can be done if the ailments are detected early could help to encourage you to get to the optometrist more often.
