The Manitoba Home Builders' Association is celebrating 75 years.
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/692961
JUNE 2016 ❖ 11 A R R A N G E M E N T S T oday's end-of-life services offer much more than they once did. Options are almost limitless as to how to say your final goodbye and the more prepared you are the easier it can be. Putting in the time to research your options and make clear your wishes can also ease the burden on your loved ones down the road. Kevin Sweryd, president and funeral director of Bardal Funeral Home & Crematorium, says people can suffer from decision overload when left to make important choices soon after a loss, a time when they're already under considerable stress and pressure. "They're already emotionally and physically exhausted and then if there's no planning that's happened ahead of time, they've got to answer all those questions: are we having a service; are we having a burial; are we having a cremation; are we having a minister; what songs do we pick; what flowers? There's so many choices." The same holds true when it comes to choosing a memorial, says Brookside Memorials co- owner Kelly Larkins. Because of advances in technology, he says people now have far more options to choose from than they once did. "People are going a bit away from traditional shapes. We still do a lot of that but people are asking for something a little more custom, more unique shapes, something that meant something to the individual they're memorializing," Larkins says. Custom stone work with lasers, for instance, is far less labour intensive than work performed by hand, meaning it can be more cost effective while also offering many additional possibilities in terms of design. Pre-planning, which has experienced an increase in the past decade, will usually make choosing the right memorial easier, he adds. "You're saving your family having to go through, what is already a difficult experience and saving them a little extra grieving in trying to figure out what it is that you would have liked. [With pre-planning] you know what you like, you've arranged it and they don't have to worry about whether they're doing the right thing or second guessing every step. It just takes a lot of the stress out of it," Larkins says. Sweryd recommends taking the time to call or visit a number of different service providers to see which one is the right fit for your needs. He also cautions people to be wary of high- pressure sales tactics used by commissioned vendors and discount prices that seem too good to be true. Businesses with a proven track record and a tradition of quality service are best, he says, because you can be confident that they will be there to represent you with dignity. "If you're sitting in a funeral home and you're feeling pressure as part of the pre-planning process that should be a gigantic red flag to stop and maybe call two or three other places," he says. "The province in the last few years has… enacted some laws to protect consumers. All funeral homes, when you come in to get information, they're supposed to, by law, give you a price list and it's even specified as to how big the type size has to be on that price list; it has to be clear and easy to understand. Then you can really compare apples to apples." There can be a substantial savings with pre- planning while you can take advantage of certain tax breaks if you choose to pre-pay, Sweryd offers. "People who pre-plan ahead of time, save 30 per cent on average over people who do the arrangements at the time of death. Because you don't want to take a lot of time to think, and shop, and compare because you're grieving" Sweryd adds. Larkins notes that many pre-payment plans can be arranged to suit a budget and are often interest free. They also protect customers against inflation. In Manitoba, laws are in place to ensure that funds earmarked for final arrangements are sheltered tax-free to cover increased costs down the road. Planning final arrangements should be a part of every complete household financial plan. Most people start thinking about getting their affairs in order in their late 60 or early 70s but the process can start as soon as you're ready. ❖ PRE-PLANNING HELPS EASE THE BURDEN FOR LOVED ONES Brookside Memorials co-owner Kelly Larkins says pre-planning can help make choosing the right memorial easier. Many pre-payment plans can be arranged to suit a budget and are often interest free. They also protect customers against inflation. In Manitoba, laws are in place to ensure that funds earmarked for final arrangements are sheltered tax-free to cover increased costs down the road. By Kristin Marand for the Free Press