Selling a Burial Plot Online
Selling a Burial Plot Online
If you pre-purchase a burial plot at a cemetery, you aren’t necessarily tied to that space for the rest of your life (and afterlife). Most cemetery plot contracts allow for you to sell the plot either back to the cemetery or to a third-party buyer in the event that you move away, get divorced from a spouse or partner who is also part of the plot, decide to be cremated, or undergo any other change of heart.
Of course, like any real estate transaction (and no matter how irreverent it may seem, a cemetery plot is a piece of real estate with a deed and everything), finding a buyer can be difficult. Because you may want to cast a wide net in order to get the most money, here are a few online place where you can post a plot for sale.
- Craigslist: Craigslist is a great source for buying/selling all kinds of odd items, cemetery plots included. Oftentimes, both individual families and the cemeteries themselves list burial plots for sale here.
- Final Arrangements Network: This website exists to connect burial plot sellers with buyers on a national level. It does come with listing fees, however, so be sure you take those into consideration when putting up your for-sale offer.
- Grave Solutions: Another grave real estate listing website is Grave Solutions. Like Final Arrangements, there is a listing fee to advertise your cemetery plot here.
- eBay: eBay is another one of those universal sales websites that offers a host of strange yet useful items. One advantage of using eBay is that you aren’t charged for listing the burial plot—you only have to pay if and when the sale goes through.
- Plot Brokers: Some websites, like Plot Brokers, are specific to one location. (In this case, it’s Southern California.) When you go through a local cemetery broker, the process is much like working with a real estate agent to sell your home. You can find cemetery brokers online or by asking a funeral director for a referral.
Buyer (and Seller) Beware!
Any time you go online to post a sale or make a purchase, it’s important to be wary of scams or deals that seem too good to be true. One of the best ways to sell a cemetery plot is to sell it to someone you know—a family member or friend you trust to make the transaction a smooth one.
You can also work with a cemetery broker or cemetery directly. Although you may not get the best deal this way, you can take much of the guesswork and danger out of the process.
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