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A.  Call your cemetery. Ensure that you have permission to sell your cemetery property on the open market. Some cemeteries do not allow the resale of interment rights on the open market. Some states require first right of refusal. Ensure with the cemetery that your paperwork is in order. We will require a copy of your deed or certificate of ownership in order to list with us.

B.  Ask the cemetery what they are selling like properties in your garden/section/mausoleum/columbarium for today. This is the current value of your cemetery property. Once that value is known, our sellers will usually start their pricing at a minimum of 20% below cemetery retail. Be sure to mention the current value in your comments.

C.  Ask the cemetery what the availability is for property in your garden/section/mausoleum/columbarium. This can be very important if there is limited to no availability. Buyers could have family/ancestors in your property area and have not been able to purchase from the cemetery. If this is the case, be sure to put this in your comments.

D. If you are selling ground burial property (grave space(s) - ask if your spaces can be made double depth or companion). Only the cemetery can provide this answer. It is based on the topography of the cemetery and where your spaces are located within the cemetery. If they do allow, the buyer would make those arrangements directly with the cemetery.

E. Ask if the cemetery will allow one casket and one urn in your space(s) or two urns. We are in a very high climate of cremation so this is good information to add to your listing description. Again, if they do, the buyer would be responsible for the 2nd right of interment to the cemetery.

F. If you are offering any services and/or merchandise (i.e. Opening & Closing(s) or Vault(s), Markers, etc.) Ensure from the cemetery that these services and merchandise is transferrable to your buyer.  Do not assume that they are. We are getting a lot of feedback from sellers that some cemeteries are not allowing services and merchandise to be transferrable. All of a sudden they are having a 'change in policy'. It is causing a major disruption with sellers trying to sell their property and many sellers have lost their sale.

G. If you are selling cemetery property in a specific garden or section such as Veterans, Masonic, etc. Ask if your cemetery property is open to all. This is also information you want to add to your description.

H.  If you are no longer near your cemetery or it is not feasible to go to the cemetery when you do secure a buyer, ask the cemetery for paperwork that you can complete ahead of time. Each cemetery will have different requirements but can usually be handled via courier or fax.

I.  Ensure that you have the necessary paperwork the cemetery requires in order to transfer your deed to a new buyer.  You don't want to go through the effort of securing a buyer and then find out that you cannot complete the transaction because your paperwork is not in order. Ask the cemetery if they need anything from you that they need to transfer deed.  Also ask what the current transfer fees are. Ask if there is a difference between PreNeed (future planning) and Immediate Need (a death has occurred). Some cemeteries will charge more if there is an immediate need.

J.  Immediate Need - be sure to ask the cemetery: If you have an immediate need buyer, can they accommodate them so they can make burial arrangements in a reasonable time - usually between 24 and 72 hours.  If they cannot, do not offer for Immediate Need.

Grave Space:
A grave space is the most common of traditional burials or internment. It is an inground burial used to bury remains and is usually marked with a bronze or granite marker or headstone. The majority of cemeteries will require an outer burial container or vault. Check with your cemetery to see if you have already prepaid for this item.
If you have, you will want to include this information in your listing as this will transfer to the new buyer.

Most cemeteries will allow a casket and urn burial in one space or two urns. Check with your cemetery to see if your space qualifies. If so, you will want to add this information to your listing.

A grave space can be single depth or double depth (companion). Check with the cemetery to see if your grave space can be made a double depth with the buyer paying a separate fee to the cemetery.  If your grave space can be made a double depth, you will want to include this information in the description section of your listing.
 

Lawn Crypt:
A lawn crypt is considered an underground mausoleum or crypt. Chambers are preinstalled by the cemetery prior to sale and usually are placed in an area of the cemetery designated to lawn crypts.  Chambers can be single depth or double depth (companion).  An outer burial container or vault is not needed in this type of burial as the chamber(s) are the outer burial container or vault. If you have a double depth (companion) lawn crypt, the first person to pass is placed in the lower chamber. The second person to pass is placed in the top chamber. (the illustration to the left is a double depth (companion) lawn crypt.




 

Community Mausoleum:
A community mausoleum is a free standing building that houses the casketed remains of many people. It is in itself a monument to the deceased. Caskets are placed in chambers located on walls either outside (garden mausoleum) or inside (chapel mauoleum). Community mausoleum buildings can also house niches for cremated remains.

The level that your crypt(s) is on is important: Level 1 (Prayer Level) Level 2 (Heart Level) Level 3 (Eye Level) Level 4 (Touch Level) Level 5 + (Faith & Heaven Levels). The lower the level the more value it may have. Ensure that you check with the cemetery for them to verify what level your crypt is on.
(photo credit Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens).

Single Crypt

Couch Crypt

Tandem (True Companion) Crypt

Side-by-Side Crypt

Westminster or Abbey Crypt

A single Crypt entombs one casket.

A Couch Crypt is considered a single crypt for one casket however there is a difference in the orientation of the casket. You can also have a Couch Crypt Companion for two caskets laid back to front.

A Tandem Crypt is also called a True Companion crypt where the caskets are entombed head to head.

A side-by-side crypt is also called a companion crypt or Deluxe Companion crypt. Caskets are entombed side-by-side with no 'wall' or divider and usually there is only one crypt plate that covers both caskets.

A Westminster or Abbey Crypt is unique as one casket is placed below floor level and the other casket is placed at floor level.

Private Family Walk-In Mausoleum:

A private mausoleum is a stand-a-lone walk in family walk-in building. These are usually custom made based on family requirements and can house multiple family crypts and niches. They can also contain sitting areas inside the mausoleum for family members to reflect. (photo credit Cold Spring USA).

Private Family Non Walk-In Mausoleum:

A private family non walk-in mausoleum can be for a single casket, 2 side by side caskets, or multiple stacked caskets. (photo credit Cold Spring USA).

Cremation Niches:

Cremation niches house cremation remains or urns of the deceased. Niches can be glass front or granite front. They can be in the interior of a mausoleum building or exterior of a mausoleum building. Niches can be single, double (companion) or more. (photo credit Cold Spring USA).

Columbarium:

A columbarium is a stand-a-lone structure that houses many cremated remains (niches). Their structures can come in many shapes and size and are usually built to make a beautiful feature within a cemetery. (photo credit Cold Spring USA).

Private Family Columbarium:

A private family columbarium houses the cremated remains of family members. They can be a single, companion or more. (photo credit columbariumusa.com)

Cremation Benches

A cremation bench can be for a single urn or multiple urns. They come in many designs and sizes. (photo credit clear stream monuments)