Funeral Caskets – Important tips for buying a casket

Making the right choice of a funeral casket is not as easy as you think. There are so many things to consider.

Caskets - A bit of history

The word casket came into popular use in the 20th century. Before then, the term coffin was used. Eventually undertakers came up with a means to add sophistication to the burial process. They began to use more sophisticated wood, adding artistry and precious jewels. Caskets are now the traditional means for burying the dead.

FUNERAL PLANNING GUIDE: What everyone needs to know about funeral arrangements. This complete guide to saving money on funeral expenses is available for instant PDF download with a bonus funeral planning checklist.

What to consider when choosing a casket

For traditional funerals, the type of casket you choose is significant. It may be a way to honor your family member or as an expression of your love. The casket is the ultimate resting place. A final chance for you to show how much you loved and cared for them. You may consider the following in choosing a casket.

1. The purpose of the casket
   • –  Burial. The casket will be buried either in the ground or in a burial vault.
   • –  Cremation.
2. Casket size
   • –  Adult Casket
   • –  Child casket
   • –  Infant
   • –  Oversized
3. The casket material
   • –  Wood
   • –  Metal
   • –  Semi Metal
   • –  Biodegradable

Different type of caskets – Different composition

Caskets are categorized by:

1. Price
2. Thickness of metal
3. Type of wood or other construction
4. Type of interior
5. Color

The 4 Most Important tips for buying a casket

1. The seller must give you a written price list of all caskets, alternative containers and outer burial containers they offer for sale.
2. The seller must provide you a written statement identifying the caskets by price, thickness of metal, type of wood and type of construction
3. The price, thickness, construction and color information must be included on a tag conspicuously attached to each casket.
4. Prior to the sale of the casket, the seller must provide you with an itemized statement of all the costs involved.

Steps involved when buying a casket

Step 1 – Decide the type of material you want, metal or wood. Determine the type of lining you wish whether, satin or velvet and finally decide on the color. White or purple is common.

Step 2 – Once you decide on the different options in step 1, you can choose where you want to buy the casket. Yes, it is convenient to get it from the funeral home, but you don’t have to be limited to funeral homes. Online casket retailers offer viable alternatives and convenience of shopping online. The cost might be significantly less than buying a funeral home

Step 3 – After you find the place you want to buy the casket from, you should get a quote. This will help you determine if it meets your budget. You should get a detailed price list in writing so you can see all the costs involved.

Step 4 – Don’t forget to confirm the exact date and time of the delivery, if you did not purchase directly from the funeral home

Renting a Casket

You can lower the cost of the funeral by opting to rent a casket. This might surprise you. However, this is s simple way to have a beautiful casket at the funeral, yet avoid the high cost of buying one. In this case, the casket is used for display only, at the viewing. In the end, it doesn’t matter what type is used for the burial. Your funeral director should offer casket rental or when making funeral arrangements you can shop around and rent a casket elsewhere.