Did you know that Americans are shifting from traditional burial to cremation? After all, back in 2016, about 50% of Americans chose this method of internment instead of getting buried. It’s a gradual increase from 5% in the 1970s.
Losing a loved one is a difficult situation, but as the ones who remain, you need to honor their wishes. If they wished for cremation, you need to give them the best. That’s why you should look for the best cremation urn for them.
That way, you can put it in your home and remember your loved ones by. If you’re ready to learn, read on and find out more.
Getting the Best Cremation Urn
In our current society, there are a lot of options to choose from when you’re buying an urn for the deceased. The sheer variety can get overwhelming since you’ll want the best for your loved one. But if you’re looking for some good cremation urn designs, you can check Green Meadow Memorials for some ideas.
You can also use the following tips to help you get started on your search:
1. Do Some Research
Beginning the search is always a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time. There are so many options on the market that it could take you forever to find one that fits your needs. This becomes an even more tedious task if you have no idea what to look for.
That’s why it’s important to have an idea of what you or your loved one want for the urn design. Doing this, you’ll have the means of narrowing down your choices within a reasonable time. If you’re struggling to know your preferences, check the sizes, material, design, and your intended use.
Here are some tips when you’re researching your urn options:
The Origin Country of the Urn
The quality of the urn will depend on the place where it originated from. Most urns made in the country have premium quality, assuring you that they’ll last for a long time. You can also get imported urns, but watch out for the low-end ones.
To avoid getting ripped off, look at the price. If it’s too low, you might not get the right level of quality for your intended purposes.
The Size of the Urn
It’s worth noting that the average adult urn will support about 200 cubic inches. This is enough to hold the ashes of a person weighing about 200 lbs. You’ll need larger urns if you or your loved one exceed this maximum.
If you don’t mind holding only a small portion of the remains, you can go for Keepsake urns. They’re smaller urns designed for this purpose. Otherwise, you can choose Companion urns since they’re big enough to fit two people’s remains.
The Resting Place of the Urn
The appropriate urn also depends on where you’re planning to put the ashes. For example, if you’re displaying the urn at your home, your best bet is to use urns with both thoughtfulness and aesthetics in mind. For ground burials, some cemeteries will allow the urn into a protective urn vault.
If you want the urn buried without the need for an additional urn vault, your material choice can affect it. Most cemeteries will only allow an urn made from cultured marble or granite for ground burials. Another option is to use eco-friendly, biodegradable urns that help your loved one’s remains return to the earth naturally.
Do you intend to put the urn into a niche? If so, make sure that you have the dimensions of the niche to make it fit. The easiest method of knowing this is to ask your funeral home.
Once you know this information, you need to do some comparisons. Check whether the exterior dimensions of the urn fits the niche. But if you’re looking for a specific size, you should try using wood urns that can fit into the niche.
2. Read the Product Reviews
Did you know that the average cost of a funeral with viewing and cremation is $6,260? Out of this, you’ll pay around $275 for the urn. That’s why it’s important to keep this figure in mind when you’re searching for the right urn.
As soon as you narrow down your search, take some time and read product reviews. Doing this helps in weeding out the cheap, fragile urns as well as sellers that give poor customer service experiences. It’s also a great way to ensure that you get your urn on time and avoid shipping delays.
The first thing you need to look for is the online reviews of the product. This is helpful if you’re trying to separate a gorgeous memorial from the sea of nice but mediocre urns. The seller’s reputation is the most important measurement of whether you’re getting a great product.
You can also check the manufacturer’s website and check their products page. The reputable ones will always allow user-generated reviews on each urn they sell. A great indicator of a great urn is that the majority of the reviews are positive.
3. Get in Touch with the Seller
To ensure your peace of mind, it’s best if you talk to a professional on the phone. This will allow you to express your concerns and get your order right. Remember, there are a lot of factors to consider when getting an urn, like the delivery time or the spelling of the personalized inscriptions.
It’s always better to talk to people that can answer your inquiries or confirm your orders. They can even clarify the details involving the urn’s production and delivery times. No matter what your needs are, the most important aspect of buying an urn is the peace of mind.
A good urn manufacturer will have an excellent customer service team. They’ll give you the assurance needed to make you feel confident about your choice. With this, you’ll feel like you found the perfect urn for your loved one.
4. Always Ask Questions
Regardless of the medium you used to contact your seller, you’ll need to ask a lot of questions. Ask them about the urn you’re interested in—the dimensions, the delivery policy, personalization options, and more. The smallest details, such as the way the urn opens, can become a big deal later on, so always inquire.
You can also ask for help on the size of urn you need to properly house your loved one. It’s also worth noting that some urns might not be sturdy enough to last an airplane flight. Knowing these facts beforehand can help you make a more informed decision.
5. Check their Return Policy
This is an important part of buying an urn, especially if you’re ordering the product through the internet. The goal is to ensure that your seller will take care of any order issues on time. It’s also a good indicator of their repute since it will show how efficient and professional they are when handling unforeseen problems.
A good rule to remember is that most return policies won’t accept returns when certain conditions arise. For example, you can’t return the urn if it’s personalized with laser engraving. Otherwise, most companies will take care of issues related to quality or damage in transit, regardless of its personalization features.
6. Think of Your Loved One’s Personality
It should also reflect the personality of your loved one since it helps everyone remember them fondly as they lived. A loved one who loved the scenic beauty of nature can call for a nature-themed urn. The design and theme options are almost limitless, no matter the type of personality.
That’s why you need to have a concrete idea of what your loved one was in life to pick the best urn for them. Always consider your personalization options such as engraving Bible verses or putting artworks. You can also consider urns that have frames where you can insert your loved one’s photos.
No matter your choice, you need to think about your budget when picking the shape and style. These factors can have a huge effect on the price of the product. Without a budget range, you’ll end up getting a generic urn with unnecessary features instead.
Get the Right Urn Today!
Buying the best cremation urn can become a distressing and overwhelming task. It’s especially the case when you’re still grieving for your loved one’s loss. If you aren’t sure how to start your search, these tips can help you get the one best suited to all the important factors mentioned above.
If you aren’t sure how to pick the right urn, you can always seek the help of professionals. With the internet, you only need a simple message to get more details about possible products that can suit your situation.
Don’t hesitate to ask around—more people are willing to help than you think. You can also read more of our posts and discover more tips today.