Comparing Funeral Directors

Choosing the right people to care for someone you love

When someone dies, choosing a funeral director can feel like just another decision that has to be made at an already difficult time.

You may want to compare prices, and there is nothing wrong with doing that. Funeral costs matter.

But we believe there are other questions worth asking too.

A funeral isn’t simply something you buy. You are choosing the people who will look after someone important to you, support your family and help you make arrangements that feel right.

So before choosing a funeral director, take a little time to understand who you are entrusting them to, how they will be cared for and what the service you are being offered actually includes.

Compare like with like

Funeral directors present their prices in different ways, which can sometimes make straightforward comparisons difficult.

When comparing costs, try to look beyond the headline figure and establish exactly what is included.

Ask for a written estimate for the funeral you are considering. It should make clear which services are included, which costs are being paid to somebody else on your behalf and whether there are likely to be any additional charges.

At Larvin-Clegg, we provide a full written estimate based upon the arrangements we have discussed with you. Our aim is that you understand what the funeral will cost before you make your decisions.

No surprises. No pressure. Just clear information.

Ask where the person who has died will be cared for

This is a question many families understandably never think to ask.

When a funeral director collects someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will remain at the premises you have visited.

You are perfectly entitled to ask:

Where will they be taken?
Will they remain there until the funeral?
Who will look after them?
Where will they be prepared and dressed?
Can I visit the facilities where they will be cared for?

These aren’t awkward questions.

When you entrust somebody you love to a funeral director, we think they’re entirely reasonable ones.

Our care takes place here in Congleton

At Larvin-Clegg, the people entrusted to us are cared for at our funeral home on Antrobus Street in Congleton.

Our facilities include our own mortuary and dedicated preparation and embalming facilities. The care and preparation of the person who has died takes place here, under our roof.

And because we’re a small, independent funeral director, the people you meet are also the people involved in looking after your family.

There isn’t a distant central office or an unfamiliar team hidden behind the Larvin-Clegg name.

It’s us.

We think that matters.

Meet your funeral director

Price lists and websites can tell you quite a lot. They can’t tell you how you’ll feel about the people you’re trusting.

Talk to the funeral director.

Ask questions. Visit their premises if you’d like to. Find out who will make the arrangements with you, who will care for the person who has died and who will be there on the day of the funeral.

You should never feel uncomfortable asking to understand what happens behind the scenes.

A good funeral director should be happy to explain.

Understanding the Standardised Price List

Funeral directors are required to publish a Standardised Price List. Its purpose is to make certain specified funeral costs easier to compare between funeral directors.

It can be useful, but it doesn’t necessarily represent the funeral you have in mind.

Our advice is simple: use it as one piece of information, rather than the whole decision.

Look at the service being provided, ask what is and isn’t included, and request a written estimate based upon the arrangements you actually want.

You can view our Standardised Price List and our other pricing information here on our website.

What about reviews?

Reviews can be helpful because they tell you about the experiences of families who have already used a funeral director.

We’re enormously grateful to the families who have taken the time to leave reviews about Larvin-Clegg. But we don’t think you should choose us simply because somebody else says you should.

Read reviews. Compare funeral directors. Talk to them.

Then choose the people you feel comfortable trusting.

And finally, compare the price

Once you understand what you’re being offered, then you can make a meaningful comparison of cost.

We believe funeral pricing should be clear and fair. We won’t try to persuade you to add things you don’t want, and we don’t price-match another funeral director simply to secure a funeral.

We will explain the choices available, provide a written estimate and let you decide what feels right for your family.

If cost is a concern, please tell us.

There is no embarrassment in doing so, and talking about it early gives us the best opportunity to help you find arrangements that are both appropriate and affordable.

The questions we’d ask

Where will the person I love be cared for?

Who will actually look after them?

Can I see where they will be cared for?

Who will help me arrange the funeral?

What exactly is included in the price?

Will I receive a written estimate?

And, most importantly, do I feel comfortable entrusting this person to you?

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