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As people move around, whether for a better climate or to be near family, they often find that arrangements they might have made years ago for their final resting place are no longer appropriate for their current needs. Perhaps you’re among that company, or you may have some other reason altogether for selling the burial plots you bought so long ago. Whatever your reason, you’ll be glad to know there are a good number of resources that can provide you with some useful assistance in selling off your unwanted cemetery plots.
Setting an attractive selling price will entail knowing what those plots are worth today. Doing the research necessary to find out what comparable plots are being sold for today will allow you to be an informed seller.
Find out what your property is worth – Cemetery
Call the cemetery where your cemetery property was purchased. You can find their contact information in the yellow pages, or from an online search. Ask the cemetery the following questions:
- What is the current rate for a plot?
There will probably be quite a range of prices, depending on what section of the cemetery the plot is in. Some cemeteries might be hesitant to give out prices unless they have more details, or have you speak with a sales person. - Does the cemetery have a buy-back program?
Some cemeteries might purchase back your plots at a discounted rate to the going rate. This will vary from cemetery to cemetery based on availability and the cemetery’s business practices. - Does the cemetery participate in an exchange program?
This may be an option if you already know where you’d like to purchase your new cemetery property. - Is re-selling your plot allowed?
Though it’s less common, some cemeteries don’t allow for the resale of property inside their cemetery. - What are the fees associated with transferring the deed for your cemetery property to a new owner?
Knowing these fees will help you either include this cost in the property sale price, or disclose it to the prospective owner before the transaction takes place.
Find out what your property is worth – Resale Market
Research the resale market: In addition to calling the cemetery, however, there is another measure of value you can also check into, and that is to find out what similar plots are currently selling for on the resale market. Typically cemetery property is discounted 20-40% off of the retail (or cemetery’s) value depending on supply at the particular location. Locations that are sold out could offer higher values than those where there is plenty of plots still available. Here are some places to try: (Keep in mind that these are also locations that you may use to sell your cemetery property should you decide to list it for yourself.)
- Search the local classifieds
Whether this is online or in your daily newspaper, try looking in the local classifieds where your cemetery property is located. While many papers don’t offer a “Cemetery Property” section, many have “Real Estate Other”, or more general “For Sale, Other” categories where plots may be listed. For example, Utah has a very popular free classifieds hosted by the local news authority KSL.com. Their section is called “Burial Plots” and located as a part of the “Real Estate Other” category. - Search Craig’s list or eBay
Results here are most likely temporary since ads or listings tend to expire on a regular basis. - Search online cemetery property listing services
Online services exist that help buyers and sellers of cemetery property connect. Cemetery-Plot.com has assembled a list of most of these resellers both paid and free on a page called Cemetery Plot Listing Services. Some of these services require registration to view details on some of the property that is listed there.
So taking into consideration the current price range at the cemetery, and the prices that plots are currently being offered at resale, you ought to be able to come up with a reasonably attractive selling price.