A Good Headstone Dealer
November 30, 2008
Qualities in a Good Headstone Dealer
As a family begins to look for a headstone, families should be looking for key essentials to being a good headstone dealer. Below are a few KEY essentials to look for:
Understanding
Vast knowledge. A good dealer will provide information for you to make a purchase. Most customers have little knowledge of headstones and it’s the dealer’s responsibility to inform them on all aspects of headstones.
Sympathy
This is a very difficult process and a good headstone dealer will ensure time is not a factor. In a state of mourning, nobody likes to feel they’re being taken advantage of. As the grieving process is ongoing, please be sure there is no assertiveness when selecting a headstone.
Headstone Quality
Value and Quality. Excellence in granite is what a family should be looking for. High-quality headstones stand the test of time. Have an idea what you can spend. Remember, small companies can provide great high-quality headstones, outstanding personal and customer service.
Convenience
Your headstone dealer should be reached at a reasonable time, while always getting back to your email or phone call in a short period of time. Most headstone orders take two to four months to complete and this is reasonable because your headstone is customized. A good headstone dealer will always be able to provide a status report on your headstone.
Ensuring satisfaction
When you decide to make the purchase, how does the company follow through once the headstone order has been placed and throughout the production and delivery phases. Do they do everything they say they will? After the headstone is delivered, do they follow up asking for your comments? Are all problems corrected in a timely manner? It is very important for a headstone dealer to follow through with promises and to take responsibility for problems made by them; especially in the death care industry. Poor answerability on the headstone dealer’s part can lead to permanently losing the respect of the customer and ruining their trustworthiness. A good headstone dealer will genuinely want the customer to be satisfied with their purchase, even if the company ends up losing money on the sale. Remember; only make a purchase with a headstone dealer you feel comfortable with.
Headstones, Grave Markers, Monuments and Holidays?
November 25, 2008
Handling the Holidays during a difficult time
All of us have our own ways to celebrate the holidays and occasions that we honor as individuals, families and communities. Holidays hold countless memories of family, friends and special times. They are marked by traditions that are eagerly anticipated. Anticipation and planning may start months in advance. No matter how long holidays last they are over too soon. They are the signposts that mark our personal history. “The holidays” are different for each of us. There are days and seasons that mark religious occasions and historical events – the holidays we celebrate in our own communities. But there are also days and times that are special just to us. The weekend when we open or close the cabin, planting the garden, the sporting event everyone gathers to watch, even the first warm day of spring or cool evening in the fall can have a special meaning and create a flood of memories. The anticipation, the traditions and the memories that holidays and special occasions call to mind make these the times when the loss of a loved one can be felt most keenly. There is no simple way to make it easier to deal with the emotions and memories that are stirred by the holidays. We are all different. Remember that the right way to deal with your feelings is the way that works for you. Here are some thoughts that can help you plan the best ways to deal with the holidays.
Plan ahead
As difficult as it may be, think about upcoming holidays and occasions well in advance. Accept that this will probably be a difficult time and try to decide what will help you to get through it. Don’t assume that something will be too great an imposition on family or friends. Remember, the people who care about you want to find ways to help and support you, so don’t feel you’re being selfish if you consider your needs and ask something of them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with holiday and special occasion preparations. Tasks you could breeze through before may suddenly seem overwhelming. Asking family or friends to share the work can make your life a little easier.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help with holiday and special occasion preparations
Tasks you could breeze through before may suddenly seem overwhelming. Asking family or friends to share the work can make your life a little easier. No matter how long they last, holidays are over too soon. They are the signposts that mark our personal history. You may even find that getting together to decorate, fix a meal, shop or even clean your home become its own holiday tradition.
Don’t feel obligated to do things the way they have always been done
Perhaps you have always hosted a holiday meal or gathering. While doing things the same way may be a source of comfort to you, it is also perfectly all right to suggest a change. Don’t feel this is an imposition on your family and friends or that you are letting them down. This is a chance for them to support you and help you through a difficult time.
Consider creating new traditions to celebrate the memory of your loved one
It could be as simple as buying a new holiday decoration or symbolic item every year. It could mean a visit to your place of worship specifically to honor this individual’s memory. You might choose to visit a place that was significant to both of you every year and spend some quiet time reflecting on his or her life. You might make an annual donation to a charity or organization that was special to your loved one, or volunteer
your time. Coping with holidays and special occasions after losing a loved one may be one of the most difficult challenges any of us will face in our lives. Yet over time, you will find that the pain and sense of loss softens as remembering and celebrating the life of your loved one becomes a positive part of your “new” celebrations.
Pre-Planning of a Montana Monument
November 21, 2008
Today more and more people are making their monument choices ahead of time, as part of their estate planning process. There are countless good reasons for doing so.
A monument should be a joint decision. You’ve shared your lives together. You’ve made important choices together. Since a monument is the most enduring thing you will ever purchase, it should be a joint decision too. Your choice of a home, car or vacation spot reflects your personal preferences. Why let others select your monument? We can work with you to personalize your family monument so that it tells a story in stone - one that reflects your life, your interests, your beliefs and your accomplishments.
Monuments created by craftsmen are timeless expressions of family love and respect. In selecting a monument, you are making a decision that affects not only your present family, but generations of sons and daughters that are to follow. Selecting a monument together avoids placing the burden on family members during an emotional time when good decisions are often more difficult. However you look at it, planning your monument before it is needed makes good sense.
A pre-planned monument from us is now easier to afford than ever. You will be able to personalize your own monument and receive a warranty insuring its beauty for years to come. Most importantly, the price you pay will be today’s price - guaranteed not to increase.
Plan ahead with Montana Monuments
November 13, 2008
The idea of memorialization is not new, in fact, it’s been around for centuries. Now a new
concept in memorialization is gaining support and with good reason. More and more people are adopting the attitude that a memorial with Montana Monuments is just like many other things they can plan for during their lifetime, such as estate planning, life insurance, a retirement fund or funeral arrangements.
Planning your own memorial with Montana Monuments has many advantages. It’s an opportunity to work with your loved ones to tell your story, and to choose from a wide variety of memorialization options available today. Montana Monuments can plan ahead and save your family the stress of making these decisions during an already difficult time.
And there are also financial considerations – by planning ahead you can purchase your memorial at current prices and take advantage of financing options. Who knows your life story better than you? No one! Your life is a collection of experiences and memories that make you unique. Planning your memorial with Montana Monuments in advance gives you time to ponder about your most significant milestones, activities, and achievements. Scheduling ahead with Montana Monuments gives you time to think about what brought the most joy and meaning to your life.
Planning in advance also gives you moments to think about how you want to be remembered. Your memorial speaks best when you guide the choices for wording and design, creating your message for future generations. Your family will appreciate Montana Monuments guidance in the creation of your memorial. Later, when you are gone, your family will have enough to cope with without worrying about what memorial would be right and what should be put on it. They will appreciate Montana Monuments and an invitation to join with you in recalling and celebrating the things that meant the most to you and deciding how best to capture those things, forever etched in stone.
Purchasing ahead with Montana Monuments gives a person, or family, the advantage of purchasing a suitable monument at the current price rather than waiting into the future with the uncertainty of tomorrow’s inflation. Your family will not need to deal with the financial burden of a memorial. Montana Monuments is here for you and your family at all times. Remember, memorialization is not new and pre-planning with Montana Monuments will bring comfort to you and your family in a time of anguish.