Selling Your Cemetery Plot in California? Get Cash & Avoid Scams!

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Perhaps you want to sell a grave space you own? Or your parents inherited a mausoleum crypt they don’t need?

Turning your cemetery plot into cash can be a smart move, but don’t get scammed. Many sellers think they can get a better price by going it alone, but end up wasting time, attracting fraudsters, or even losing money. 

Read on to learn why selling your cemetery property through online marketplaces, classified listing sites, ebay or Craigslist is a bad idea and how you can protect yourself while maximizing your return.

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The Myth of the Quick, Profitable Private Sale

Selling your California cemetery property online might seem like the fastest way to get cash and a higher price, but it rarely pans out and can expose you to significant risks.

Here’s why:

1. Scam Magnet

Online marketplaces are a hunting ground for scammers. The high value of California cemetery property makes plot sellers prime targets for fraudsters. 

From identity theft and phishing attacks to fake buyers, stolen funds, and sophisticated transfer fraud, the risks are enormous.

The risks go well beyond the money not materializing for your plot; you could actually lose money.

Today’s scammers aren’t just trying to avoid paying; they’re often trying to steal from you.

2. Your Personal Information is at Risk

Classified websites sometimes publish sellers’ personal information online indefinitely, even after the listing is removed.

Essential details necessary to advertise your property, such as the location of the plot, family name, contact details and ownership deeds all contain personally-identifying sensitive data that you don’t want to fall into the wrong hands, let alone publish online! 

Once your information is out there, you’ve lost control of it, dramatically increasing your risk of identity theft and other scams. This puts you at risk even before you’ve found a “buyer.”

3. The Dangers of In-Person Meetings

A legitimate buyer will want to see the plot in person to be sure it meets their needs and to verify the identity of the seller.

How do you plan on meeting the ‘buyer’?

How can you be sure they are who they say they are?

Do you really want to meet a stranger at a cemetery? At the bank?

Think about your own personal level of risk tolerance. You could be putting yourself in harm’s way.

It’s almost impossible to skip this step.  Any “buyer” offering to purchase your plot sight-unseen or without meeting you in person is a red flag and likely a scam.

4. Paper Profit vs. Actual Loss

Private sellers frequently overestimate the value of their grave plot and overprice it. This usually leads to no sale at all. The imagined higher price rarely materializes, yet the potential for actual financial loss from scammers is very real.

5. Time Trap

Finding a legitimate buyer for cemetery property takes time and effort. Advertising your plot, answering inquiries, and dealing with flaky “buyers” can drag on for months, sometimes even years.

What you think you’re saving in commission, you could lose many times over in wasted time, not to mention the potential financial losses from scams.

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Avoid Online Marketplaces for California Cemetery Property Sales

In truth, platforms like eBay, Facebook and classified listing sites are simply not designed for the complexities of cemetery plot sales. They lack the necessary safeguards and verification processes, making them ideal for scammers. 

Think about it: Selling a used sofa on Craigslist is very different from transferring ownership of a burial plot. With the sofa, you upload some photos, agree a price, the buyer picks it up, and you get paid, typically in cash. Simple. 

Graves, mausoleum crypts and niches, on the other hand, are high-value assets. Unlike a used sofa, cemetery plots represent a significant financial investment. It’s unlikely someone will show up with a briefcase full of cash for such a purchase.

So, what payment methods will you accept, and how will you ensure the funds are legitimate? 

Plot transfers require very precise legal documents and proper notarization to be accepted by the cemetery. The rules governing heirships are even more complex, often requiring additional steps and extensive legal proof.

If any details are incorrect or missing, the transfer cannot proceed, potentially leaving you in a legal and financial bind.

And unlike a simple sofa sale, the cemetery won’t hold the buyer’s funds in escrow while you sort things out. Online platforms simply aren’t equipped to handle these nuances.

Critically, they can expose your personal information for an extended period, and to people you don’t know, further increasing your risk.

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Two Safe and Efficient Ways to Sell Your Cemetery Property in California

Want to turn your cemetery property into cash without the headaches and risks?

Here are the two best methods. Do this instead:

A. Sell Back to the Cemetery

Sometimes cemeteries are willing to repurchase plots. This provides a secure transaction, eliminating the risks associated with private sales.

While selling back to the cemetery is often the safest option, it’s not necessarily the most financially rewarding option. Consider it more as an way to avoid scams and ensure a smooth transfer, rather than a way to get top dollar. Always get the cemetery’s buyback offer in writing and compare it to other options (like working with a cemetery broker) before making a decision.

Here’s why:

California law does not mandate that cemeteries repurchase plots they’ve sold. It’s entirely at their discretion.

Some cemeteries have a “right of first refusal,” meaning they have the first opportunity to buy back the plot before you can sell it to someone else, but this doesn’t require them to buy it.

2. Pricing is at Their Discretion

When a cemetery does choose to repurchase, the buyback price is based on their own internal policies.

They are not legally required to pay what you think the plot is worth or what they are selling new plots for today. Their offer might be based on what you originally paid for it, or some other formula, which may or may not reflect current market value.

The original contract you signed when you purchased the plot rarely guarantees buyback at “fair market value.”

3. “Fair Market Value” is Subjective

Even if a cemetery wanted to offer fair market value, determining that value can be tricky. There’s no official, standardized pricing guide for cemetery plots.

Market value fluctuates based on location, availability, and other factors.

B. Work with a Licensed Cemetery Broker: Your Shield Against Scams

A California licensed cemetery broker specializes in grave, mausoleum and niche plot sales, providing a crucial buffer between you and potential scammers.

Here’s why working with a broker is the smartest move:

1. Licensed and Bonded Protection

In California, cemetery brokers are licensed and bonded by the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. They must pass a professional exam and adhere to a strict code of conduct.

The licensing process involves extensive background checks, including fingerprinting and criminal history reviews, offering a significant layer of protection for sellers.

Licenses must be renewed annually, and can be checked in an online database, ensuring brokers remain accountable and up-to-date on regulations. Cemeteries themselves typically verify the licenses of brokers they work with, adding another layer of oversight.

2. Expertise You Can Trust

A full-service cemetery broker brings a wealth of expertise to the table. They understand the intricate legal landscape surrounding cemetery property sales and can help you determine a realistic and competitive market price for your plot.

3. Confidentiality and Security

When you work with a reputable broker, your sensitive information remains confidential. The cemetery broker acts as an intermediary on your behalf and your personally-identifying details remain private.

4. Secure Transactions avoid Scams

Brokers validate potential buyers’ legitimacy, collect payment on your behalf, and ensure the funds are secure before disbursing them to you. This arms-length transaction process protects you from financial scams and identity theft.

5. No Risky Meetings

By engaging a full-service broker you never have to meet potential buyers yourself. This eliminates the risks associated with in-person meetings and provides an added layer of security.

6. Hassle-Free Paperwork

Full-service cemetery brokers handle all the necessary paperwork, ensuring a smooth, legally sound, and secure sale. No confusing forms or legal jargon for you to navigate. They ensure all the documentation is in order before agreeing to list your property, so there are no surprises later on!

7. Extensive Buyer Network

Brokers have an established network of potential buyers, because they specialize in advertising and marketing cemetery plots. Their skills and knowledge significantly increase your chances of a faster and more successful sale.

8. Advocacy and Protection from Scammers

Finally, a reputable broker acts as your dedicated advocate, protecting you from the numerous scams targeting cemetery plot sellers. Their in-depth knowledge of local markets, coupled with expertise on how scams operate, enables them to provide unparalleled protection.

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Don’t Waste Time or Risk Your Assets – Choose Professional Help

Selling cemetery property privately is simply too risky and rarely as profitable as sellers imagine.

Protect yourself from scams, identity theft, financial loss, and the frustration of a long, drawn-out process by avoiding online platforms. Work with experienced professionals or sell your plot back to the cemetery instead.

While it might seem like you’re saving money by selling privately, the potential for scams, lost time, and legal complications typically makes working with a licensed cemetery broker the most cost-effective and wise choice in the end.

A Full Service Cemetery Broker

Most people find the easiest, quickest and most reliable way to sell cemetery property or grave plots is to use a reputable licensed cemetery broker.  Read our article about how to do this here.

At Bayer Cemetery Brokers, we understand the importance of preserving the memory of loved ones. For over 25 years we have helped families in Southern California and beyond find the perfect resting place for their loved ones at the most cost-effective price.

If you’re interested in purchasing cemetery property, or if you have a burial plot or grave you want to sell we are here to help:  Contact us here

We are licensed and bonded by the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau.