I want to talk about the cost of funerals these days. It is something that we all need to talk to our clients about.
I found this from the Wall Street Journal in 1996. This was the avg cost of a funeral in 1996.
COST OF FUNERAL
$1,025 Professional Service Charge
$343 Embalming
$129 Other Prep (Cosmetology)
$292 Viewing
$125 Transfer to Funeral Home
$155 Hearse
$76 Service Car
$25 Acknowledgement Cards
$2,146 Casket
$497 Burial Vault
$689 Single Cemetry Plot
$462 Grave Digging and Refilling
$5,964 was the total for the funeral home. This does not include things like the flowers and other things. Just the Funeral Home bill.
I just lost a family member about 6 months ago, and it was a simple funeral. She didn't want anything other then the cheapest funeral she could have. That was her wishes. The funeral ended up being around $13,000 with the head stone. I'm not including any extra's like flowers which were $550 bucks. She had a 10,000 life insurance policy that she had bought in the 1970's which should have been enough, so she thought back then.
The point I want to make, is the cost of funerals have really doubled in the last 10 years. I bet by 2020 a funeral will cost $20,000. Most clients are not buying enough insurance.
I think this is a good door opener. I'm going to make up a survey and let the client fill in the blanks to what they think a funeral cost, and then show them, what an avg funeral does really cost in 2008.
These days it seems to be a secret that the funeral homes don't want to share with anyone. One reason why our clients need to pre arrange their funerals before they die and while no one is emotional.
Does anyone have a current break down of what an avg funeral cost today? Please Share.
It is very easy to start talking to anyone about the cost of funerals these days, and I think this can be used to prospect new clients.
Mark Rosenthal
www.realfastservice.com
I found this from the Wall Street Journal in 1996. This was the avg cost of a funeral in 1996.
COST OF FUNERAL
$1,025 Professional Service Charge
$343 Embalming
$129 Other Prep (Cosmetology)
$292 Viewing
$125 Transfer to Funeral Home
$155 Hearse
$76 Service Car
$25 Acknowledgement Cards
$2,146 Casket
$497 Burial Vault
$689 Single Cemetry Plot
$462 Grave Digging and Refilling
$5,964 was the total for the funeral home. This does not include things like the flowers and other things. Just the Funeral Home bill.
I just lost a family member about 6 months ago, and it was a simple funeral. She didn't want anything other then the cheapest funeral she could have. That was her wishes. The funeral ended up being around $13,000 with the head stone. I'm not including any extra's like flowers which were $550 bucks. She had a 10,000 life insurance policy that she had bought in the 1970's which should have been enough, so she thought back then.
The point I want to make, is the cost of funerals have really doubled in the last 10 years. I bet by 2020 a funeral will cost $20,000. Most clients are not buying enough insurance.
I think this is a good door opener. I'm going to make up a survey and let the client fill in the blanks to what they think a funeral cost, and then show them, what an avg funeral does really cost in 2008.
These days it seems to be a secret that the funeral homes don't want to share with anyone. One reason why our clients need to pre arrange their funerals before they die and while no one is emotional.
Does anyone have a current break down of what an avg funeral cost today? Please Share.
It is very easy to start talking to anyone about the cost of funerals these days, and I think this can be used to prospect new clients.
Mark Rosenthal
www.realfastservice.com
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