When buying a lot in a commercial cemetery, care should be taken to examine the contract. You may be purchasing only the right to be buried in that cemetery, not necessarily in the lot shown to you. Many cemetery personnel will go out of their way to help family members make their own arrangements. However, you should expect a charge of several hundred dollars to open and close the gravesite, especially on weekends or holidays. Grave diggers in many areas expect a tip, so be sure to ask about anticipated charges.
Many cemeteries require a grave liner to keep earth from settling after burial.
A permanent marker can be very expensive or not at all costly, depending on your preference and the limitations of the cemetery. Some cemeteries require monuments to be purchased only through them, or charge an excessive handling fee if purchased elsewhere. These funds should be placed in trust and not absorbed into the cemetery's general operating fund. When you are dealing with a for-profit cemetery, be sure to ask for an accounting.