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Original poster

To think people might not want to buy a house next door to a funeral director?

160 replies

MorgueDweller · 31/07/2019 21:07

Found out today that two doors away is turning into a mortuary/funeral director's business. So dead bodies will be stored there. It's currently a gift shop in a village, very residential area.

Neighbour who will live next door told me. My first reaction was that I wasn't bothered.....they'll be quiet! Neighbour is worried about house price being affected.

Ive now googled and it does seem that being in the same area as a funeral director wipes 6.5% off the value of your property. And I guess this might be more if you're only 2 doors away?

If we were to sell our house do you think a lot of people would be put off by this? Is it the thought of dead bodies which would put people off because this doesn't bother me? I'm slightly bothered about a possible increase in parking issues If there's lots of families coming and going. I'm not sure how busy it will be. I guess hearses May sometimes bring a body back in the middle of the night if they're rung to come and fetch a body.

OP posts:
ispepsiok · 01/08/2019 01:52

I used to live in a flat next door but one to a funeral director. My flat was accessed around the back and unfortunately (for me) the bodies were taken into the funeral home in full sight off my kitchen window - it was quite unnerving when you looked outside and saw the body bag loaded onto the trolley and being taken inside.

Brain06626 · 01/08/2019 01:55

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OneHanded · 01/08/2019 02:48

Really wouldn’t care less myself.

TwistyTop · 01/08/2019 02:51

The dead body thing wouldn't bother me in the slightest, but I would consider the parking situation if everyone had to park on the street. Overall I can't say I'd be too bothered

StoppinBy · 01/08/2019 03:26

I wouldn't even consider your house either sorry. I know death is a part of life but I don't want it rubbed in mine and my families face every day.

I agree with PP that it would make me feel guilty knowing that so many upset people will be hearing my kids playing and it would effect my life in lots of small ways with that regard.

user1497787065 · 01/08/2019 03:37

Having arranged funerals for both parents and in-laws I have never visited the funeral directors. In my experience they prefer to visit you at home to discuss arrangements. I didn't think funeral processions, as such, still happen or maybe only only on TV. As far as I can see the only visitors would be those choosing to view a body. I don't believe that the price of your home would drop although the number of potential purchasers may.

MaybeitsMaybelline · 01/08/2019 04:57

Preferable to a takeaway for sure.

Nothing worse than the smell of Indian or Chinese food on a Sunday morning when food prep is taking place. And I love Indian and Chinese food.

I would take the funeral director.

maddiemookins16mum · 01/08/2019 06:20

Wouldn’t bother me and surely the people coming to ‘visit’ or for appointments will be no different to the probably more people parking up for the village shop.

SummerSix · 01/08/2019 06:31

Gotta admit, i snorted when read the 'it'll be quiet' part 😆.

Wouldnt bother me at all tbh, just bare in mind that upset families will be attending and frequent funerals will be setting off from there with a number of cars.

Perfect set up really in a residential area as the deceased wont beed to be brought far. Lots if business coming their way.

nonevernotever · 01/08/2019 06:56

I live across the road from a cemetery and around the corner from a fd. (there are three fds on our High Street) and its never been an issue. I've lived near by for 40 years (grew up here and then moved back with dh) and in all that time I've seen a body bag once. We sometimes see a coffin, but more usually we see the empty hearse. Certainly never noticed an increase in parking either.

IDontLikeTheadvice · 01/08/2019 07:08

A few things stand out here:

  1. The "sobbing mourners" people talk about. People don't walk round in public openly sobbing a lot of the time. Usually most of our grieving is done at home in private, or we usually break down once we get into a building (ie inside the FD). I don't believe there will be people in the street sobbing.

  2. you do not need to worry about the noise of children playing/ people living their lives. Our FD is next to the CO OP and opposite the flower shop and beauty rooms. Also next door to some houses. Their car park is never ever full and I can't remember the last time I saw someone go inside. I never even notice it is there!

  3. I am sure a FD will be very discreet about anything that happens there. That is their business after all - to be discreet.

I think the ONLY thing that would put me off buying you house is the fact that, as you can see, many people would be put off. But then I wouldn't be looking to buy on a high street. Have you asked local estate agents their opinion?

ScreamingValenta · 01/08/2019 07:13

It wouldn't bother me - as pps have said, it's not going to attract rowdiness or be the scene of all night parties, or have bored teenagers hanging out in front of it as an off-licence or takeaway might.

CherryBlu · 01/08/2019 07:16

Wouldn't bother me at all

Seahawk80 · 01/08/2019 07:17

It wouldn't bother me at all. As you said they will be quiet! Our garden backs on to a cemetery. I love it as it's so unusual not be be overlooked at the back of your garden in London and it's so quiet. A couple of people have told me they wouldn't like it but not many. I think you might lose a few potential buyers - but that's probably the same with any property - there's always something!

Original poster
MorgueDweller · 01/08/2019 07:19

I guess this thread certainly proves people are bothered by different things when looking at houses.

A few people have commented they wouldn't buy a house on a high street regardless. For me it was a plus point. I like being able to sit in my living room and neb at what's going on outside! 😁

OP posts:
Auramigraine · 01/08/2019 07:20

Wouldn’t bother me either. Much rather a funeral directors than a chippy/takeaway or a betting shop etc.

ZenNudist · 01/08/2019 07:21

It would put me off but then again I wouldn't buy a house on a high st /village centre with shops either.

ZenNudist · 01/08/2019 07:22

A chippy would be much worse!

lotusbell · 01/08/2019 07:29

The funeral directors who took care of my mum are based on a very busy main road, surrounded by other businesses, homes and a school so I wouldn't worry about having to tiptoe around them, trying to be quiet and respectful. They would not expect that from anyone. I'm sure most bodies transported to the FD won't be wheeled out in full view of everyone on the high street - they are incredibly discreet at all times. I have a friend in this business and she has helped me come to terms with mortality. However, I wouldn't like to say with regards to selling your home, some people would definitely be put off, I think. I'd certainly not be put off by bodies being there, it'd be the customer parking if anything.

Milkbath · 01/08/2019 07:43

It wouldn't worry me,especially not if it's part of the village high street. I think that may save the house prices too- if you want to buy on a village high street, you tend to accept that you'll be dealing with occasionally shit parking and a variety of businesses within view. Better that than our local funeral parlour, which is a big glassy shiny thing that looks like a furniture show room, smack on the corner of a new build estate

JovialNickname · 01/08/2019 08:05

I live next door to a funeral parlour and you do see them wheeling the (covered) bodies in on a gurney occasionally, at all times of day - they don't wait until night time. They are as discreet and respectful about it as they can be (ie they park directly outside the parlour and seem to wait for a quiet moment) however it is clear what is happening. Their grey private ambulance and hearses are also of course parked outside. It is naturally very quiet and I have never seen relatives sobbing outside. The people that work there are quiet and respectful - I have never seen them have a cigarette on the street or even a casual chat outside - they always seem very professional. The funeral processions do not start from the funeral parlour although you do see the coffin being put into the hearse with the flowers being carefully laid on top. I don't mind it at all, in fact it has kind of calmed my fears around death a little bit as it all looks so respectful and peaceful.

AntiHop · 01/08/2019 08:06

It wouldn't bother me at all. We moved last year. There's a fd on the high st and it didn't even cross my mind to avoid houses close to it.

I definitely would not live in your house if those premises were a pub.

user12345796 · 01/08/2019 08:14

I would be delighted.
Guaranteed peace and quiet. It would be a plus point for me.

madeyemoodysmum · 01/08/2019 08:27

Sachastark. That’s lovely 😊

apostropheuse · 01/08/2019 08:34

It wouldn't bother me, but I come from an Irish background where the deceased was laid out at home on top of the bed in an open coffin, with white sheets at the windows and all the mirrors covered and people visited them there and said the Rosary. As children we knew when to be quieter outside someone's house as the white sheet was up. We were used to seeong bodies. In my village my granny washed abd dressed the dead bodies, as did another woman - they didn't get sent to the parlour. The procession left from home, (people walked behind the hearse)and lay in the church overnight before a requiem Mass the next morning.

Sorry, went off on a tangent there Blush! I would just think think it was likely to be quiet and it wouldn't concern me.

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