I just cannot recommend them enough. You will absolutely save a ton of money and get knowledgeable and compassionate care from their staff.
My parents had done no funeral preplanning. My 94 year old dad was in a convalescent home. I asked the social worker if they knew anyone I could talk to about this, and she offered advice on cemetery plot/grave resales as a way to save money for funeral preplanning.
Apparently there are people who buy graves and then maybe move far away or something and do not want the graves anymore. Cemetery Property Resales works basically like a real estate agent. They make a very reasonable commission for their services built into the sale price you pay. They are licensed by the state. They help connect sellers of graves with people looking to buy, and the buyers get big savings because we get the price the person originally paid long ago. Who knew!?!
I told them I wanted to buy graves at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. They forewarned me that the Catholic Church is very slow to process the transfer paperwork. First I would complete the purchase agreement and pay for the graves with Cemetery Resales, and then it could take maybe 2-3 months to process the transfer paperwork, unlike most other cemeteries where it is done that same day when you purchase the grave. Which at the time was fine with me.
First I met with Holy Sepulchre Cemetery staff so I had the retail price information in my hands before I met with Candace from Cemetery Property Resales to see the graves. This way I could compare the retail costs of available graves from Holy Sepulchre, to the costs of the resale graves, as well as know the additional costs for the opening, closing, vaults, headstones, etc.
Candace met me at Holy Sepulchre and we located the available resale graves. She supplied me with all the individual grave location numbers and their prices, and what was included with each grave site. She helped me figure out what would be an additional cost based on the individual grave site. She let me know that after I purchased the grave through her, I would pay any additional costs directly to Holy Sepulchre. After my meeting with Candace, I was able to go get my mom and bring her to the cemetery and easily show her what was available. We made a choice and completed the purchase agreement with Candace.
So here's the part that really showed me how lucky I was to work with Candace. We had just purchased the graves, and a few days later the convalescent hospital met with us, and said we should start planning for hospice for my dad.
I was in total shock and I panicked. I walked right outside and called Candace, who oh so patiently listened to me completely lose my mind wondering .... What if my dad passes before the Catholic church finishes the transfer paperwork? What will we do? Keep him in a fridge at the funeral home waiting for the church to finish the paperwork for months??? Candace was so calm and reassured me that everything would be OK. She said, don't worry I am on it and I will do everything I can with the church to get it done right away.
Candace is a woman of her word. She is a true miracle worker, she moved heaven and earth to get the transfer paperwork done as fast as humanly possible. Within days she had finally reached the right person at the church to talk to. She kept me updated regularly through the process and before I knew it everything was done. Finally I could relax and not worry anymore.
Thankfully dad is doing much better these days, and now everything is done for when the time does come.
I am beyond grateful for everything the Candace did for my family. Candace is an absolute angel, such a kind and compassionate person, with decades of experience. Candace was knowledgeable, responsive, quick to communicate and follow up, and provided me with all the answers I needed and a fountain of emotional support for my journey through this. What a blessing it was to have her help me through this process.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Candace for everything!!! read more