Buying memorial lots and other funeral services can be hard, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. There will be doubts and uncertainties that make the customer’s buying journey quite challenging. You must buy a memorial lot strategically yet wisely while also considering what would be appropriate in honoring your loved one. It is indeed a challenge, and unfortunately, it’s much harder now that we have to buy it online.

Before the pandemic, we had the chance to ease up on those uncertainties because we get to see and assess what we will be buying physically. But it’s hard to buy a memorial lot and other funeral products now that everything switched online. It’s not easy to compare our choices and assess them thoroughly. And even though you probably had many experiences buying products online, it will still be a lot different from buying a memorial lot. We cannot assess it as we would’ve had before. If we were not in quarantine, so we have no choice but to adapt digitally.

With that, whether you are buying for family preparations or someone you love passed away, lay out every options. Here are some tips and ideas that every first-time virtual memorial lot buyer needs to know.

Tips and Ideas for an Online Memorial Lot Buyer

• Set your budget.

The first thing you should consider is your budget. Remember that setting your budget does not mean necessarily mean buying what the cheapest is. Consider that you are purchasing the piece of land because you love and honor your loved one. Then, you should know your financial capacity so you can properly weigh in the “brand”. You should also know the memorial park developer and the type of memorial lot you will be buying. There are many memorial parks available, but you can classify them through their location, amenities, products, and services. It’s okay to reserve an estimated amount. There will still be other factors you have to consider along your memorial lot buying journey. Explore your options and set your final budget later.

• Do your homework.

Products and services are at the tip of our fingers. It’s just one click away, so why not seize that opportunity, right? So, here’s a tip – do some research.

There are so many factors that you should consider before buying. Make a list of these factors to make it easy for you. Here are the most important things you must consider:

1. Location

2. Inventory (Memorial Lot) Types

3. Prices, Payment Schemes, and Payment Channels

4. Amenities

5. Services

Your basic list of priorities is now settled – but also assess your personal or familial situations to help narrow down your preferences. And now that you have made your list, it’s time to dive into the internet.

Following the list, if you have a certain location in mind, search for the nearby memorial parks in the area of your preference. Visit their websites, Facebook accounts, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms that may give you an idea about these memorial parks and what they offer. Staying attuned to digitalization, Golden Haven Memorial Parks offers a top-notch online service for the customers. From regularly updated inventories to fully immersive 3D site tours and even online interments, Golden Haven makes it accessible for everyone from any mobile device. Golden Haven offers their services online. The company is also presently available in 32 locations across the country with its 35 developments.

For a first-time online buyer, it’s hard to assess it properly because you cannot see the area physically. You might have questions about flooding, ventilation, accessibility, safety, etc. However, in terms of the location of a memorial lot, it would be best to put first the possibility of land development within the area. Would you consider having your loved one buried in a possible urban area? Do you want them to rest in a more peaceful place (rural)? Lastly, you should also consider the exact location inside the park. Would you like your dearly departed in the center of the park, along the garden paths, or near the entrance? These are just some of the things you should think of when choosing for location. It will help you narrow down your choices.

Other Lot Options

Would you want to buy a lawn lot, companion plot, family plot, garden plot, or family estate? Don’t know these things? Research on the types of memorial lots that your researched memorial parks offer. Are you buying to use immediately, Assuming a single lawn lot? Would you be open to secure perpetual care for your loved ones in the future by considering family lots or estates? In Golden Haven, we offer 4 basic memorial lot packages. We have lawn lots, garden niche, family patio, and family estates. Match it with what you need, whether it is needed now or in the future.

After researching all the offered types of lots and their location, let us now compare their prices. Go back to your estimated budget and see what works best. If available, you may also gather the payment schemes for your preferred lot.

However, in accordance with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), memorial lots are NOT exempted from the 12% VAT (Value-Added Tax) imposition. Memorial parks fall under the real estate category, thus following the regulations also mandated by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). This will help you finalize the budget that you will need with considerations to down payments, interests, discounts, and other additional fees. If you cannot gather payment schemes for some of the memorial parks, it would be better to get someone to help you (which will be discussed in the next tip).