If you have just lost a loved one, it is a good bet you are receiving high-pressure phone calls and sales literature from salespeople representing out-of-area monument dealers.

This is a terrible invasion of privacy, especially at a time of grief when you’re upset and not thinking clearly. This aggressive, unconscionable practice makes a painful time even more difficult.

Some of the salespeople are relentless. I, Kip Steckman of C.K. Steckman Memorials, have personally spoken with grief-stricken families who were afraid to pick up the phone even one month after their loss. The companies these salespeople represent usually have no ties to the community; at most they perhaps only have a phone number with a local prefix that rings back to their main offices.

Do not be taken in by a phone number. The only way this process survives is because some families who are weary of the harassment just give up and make a purchase without even knowing exactly what they are buying.

Do not be pushed into making a purchase you are not ready for or comfortable with. Buying a monument is a very personal purchase; make it one you will be proud of every time you visit the cemetery.

The best way to avoid this harassment is to purchase your monument ahead of time.

As a respected, long-established, local monument dealer (our family has been associated with all aspects of the industry since 1926), my advice to families is to shop for not only a good price, but for someone you can trust and for someone who can produce the exact design you want.

It’s best to make your purchase through a reputable dealer, the company that is actually going to do the work. This generally saves you up to 30 percent and gives you a lot of versatility as to design, color and materials.

You also have peace of mind knowing that you are dealing with the artist, not just a salesman.

By doing some homework and pricing around, you can save a lot of money and get an artistic, well-made product that best represents your family’s history and lives well-lived.

Do not let vulnerable family members buy with their hearts. Instead, pre-plan and make the proper decisions with your head.

This article was submitted by C.K. Steckman Memorials LLC and rocks2art.