Cemetery appraisal

[Dublin ohio]

I maintain two old cemeteries in my town (and a monument). Basically just mow and weed whack. These are old graves with I think the most recent in the 1940s, earliest is late 1700s. I don't get any pay, just told not to touch the stones.

Never seen a visitor other than tourists taking pics for the gram.

There are a couple of very small private cemeteries near me. Some of the graves date back to the late 1700's

 

[Gobears81]

Never appraised a cemetery, but I recall an appraisal instructor talking about how cemeteries aren't legally required to maintain that type of use to perpetuity. Not sure how long that period lasts or what they can legally do with the property/ graves afterwards, but that always seemed a little off to me.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

As for maintaining a cemetery, there are ways to do so. Annual meeting and fund raising is one. A grave opening fee in addition to lot sales is another. Direct solicitation to families with burials there is another. I know one where a list of interested people are sent a request to donate to the mowing and maintenance fund. Also, normally the families are expected to maintain damaged stones. But some volunteer groups clean and repair stones. I personally used to repair stones but have gotten too old to do so anymore. Using a special stone epoxy and a lift on my tractor, I have reset stones several times.

 

[Vermonter]

The ones I maintain are technically town property. Maintenance was removed from the budget by a vote years ago. The volunteer guy that maintained them before me was a descendant, but he was the last. The state consistently claims they want to save these old plots, but they won't pay either.

The only reason I maintain them is because the wife loves old cemeteries.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

because the wife loves old cemeteries.

She is a good person, and I don't even know her.

 

[Jwalker]

when my search gave me 4 threads, 2 which were mine and 2 were non-appraisal.... figured i was safe starting a new thread

I am not licensed or qualified to do a cemetery appraisal.

Has anyone done one? do they want to be hired to do one in East TX for DOD/estate retrospective 2022?

Was this in Mt Pleasant? We just got asked to do one as well. Good client but we told them there's really not much we can do since we don't have any data to go on.

 

[Fernando]

Even when cemetery lots are expensive here, they are difficult to do and would think the small fee does not justify all the work needed to do an appraisal.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

we don't have any data to go on.

Sounds like the Police department when someone stole all their toilets.

 

[IlliniApp]

Sounds like the Police department when someone stole all their toilets.

 

[Mark K]

FWIW, slightly off topic but in this state, cemeteries have the power of eminent domain if they need more room for their 'customers' and are unable to convince an adjacent owner to sell. Strange but true.

OTOH, I own an empty plot in a crowded cemetery. Mom/Dad had plots. Dad died, was cremated and his ashes spread at his favorite fishing hole. Mom died and we used one plot and put both names on one grave marker. Cemetery says they sell the few remaining plots for about $5K. I offered to sell this one for $1K to them; they weren't interested. I guess they thought I'd just deed it over to them. LOL! I guess Mom will have an empty space on one side for eternity.