As I travel around the country, I notice many areas for improvements in and around firms. When I approach a funeral home or cemetery, I try to have the eyes of a consumer. And this time, I’d like to share with you my thoughts as a frequent guest of businesses in the death care industry.

  The first thing I see is a business’s signage. That signage is your local brand. However, I’ve witnessed signage that is surrounded by overgrown weeds and unkempt landscaping. Sometimes it has even fallen to a state of ill repair from a lack of maintenance. Even signs that are cared for may be improved by illuminating them at night.

  The second thing I see is the driveway entrance. I notice whether it is clean, or whether it is littered with dirt, weeds, trash or cigarette butts.

  The outside of the funeral home speaks volumes about the type of service inside to many consumers:

•         Are there areas on the building that need to be painted?

•         Are there dirty windows?

•         Are there any broken windows?

•         Do the building and window ledges need power washed?

•         Is the sidewalk cracked, broken or uneven?

•         Do attic windows need window treatments?

  I know green is in. But having green weeds growing in your parking lot is not. Are there areas in the parking lot that need to be filled or fixed? Does the parking lot need to be resealed? Is there trash and debris around the property?

  The approach to the entrance of the funeral home gets even more personal:

•         Does the mulch need to be refreshed?

•         Are there weeds growing in the landscaping?

•         Are there unknown vegetation or small, wild trees growing in the landscaping?

•         Is there a cigarette butt receptacle? Is it emptied daily?

•         If there is a glass door, is it free of fingerprints?

•         If there is a solid door, is it clean?

  These are all things that many consumers notice. You may consider having your full staff, as a team, walk around your building to critique what needs to be done. This will help build your team and allow everyone to see flaws.

  As a matter of maintenance, every morning, the manager or a designated employee should walk around the property to see if anything needs to be done. This should also be done before a service or visitation.

  Taking pride in the outside of your building is a reflection of the care provided behind its doors. Having employees help monitor what others see can build their own pride in their place of work and remind them that a consumer might never know their excellent services because nobody bothered to weed.