How to choose a columbarium niche

A niche is chosen once and visited for decades. These are the questions we go through with every family, in the order that usually makes the decision easiest.

1. Who will rest here?

One person needs a single niche. A couple who wish to be together suit a double. If you're thinking of the family over time, a family suite holds four to twenty-four urns and often costs less per person.

It helps to ask the question out loud, even when it's uncomfortable: will a surviving spouse want to join later? Buying a double now is usually simpler than trying to move later.

2. Who will visit, and how often?

Think about the oldest family members. Lifts, seating, air-conditioning and the walk from the entrance all matter. A niche that's easy to reach gets visited more. Think about Qing Ming too, when the roads and halls are at their busiest, and how the family will get there. Nirvana runs a free shuttle from Boon Lay MRT. Getting there

3. Which block and suite?

Nirvana has three blocks, and each suite has its own look, from gold and wood tones to bright white rooms. Block A, Block B and Block C also carry different offers each month.

Photos only go so far, so stand in two or three rooms and see which feels right. Bring the person who'll visit most. If your family also has an ancestral tablet, some suites hold niches and tablets in one room, such as H523, so you can make one visit and one set of offerings.

4. Row height

Eye level is easiest for praying and placing offerings, which is why it costs more. Middle rows are usually priced highest, and the top and bottom rows lowest. A row just above or below eye level can be noticeably cheaper and still comfortable. Try it in person: can your oldest relative read the plaque and reach the niche?

5. Facing and feng shui

Some families consult a geomancer or prefer positions facing open views. Places near or facing a Buddha statue are also often asked for, and usually cost more. If this matters to your family, tell us early and we'll shortlist suitable niches before you visit.

6. Faith and rites

Choose a suite that fits your family's beliefs. Suites with a Buddha statue suit both Buddhist and Taoist families, and there are suites for Christian, Roman Catholic and free-thinker families. Ask which ceremonies are held nearby during the year. Families with mixed beliefs may want a suite everyone feels comfortable visiting.

7. Budget and payment

Compare the full price including maintenance and GST, not only the headline. Ask about this month's promotions and the 0% instalment plan, and check that the discount applies to the row you actually want, because "up to" offers often apply to particular positions. See this month's offers

If budget is the deciding factor, it's fine to look at a government niche too. Government vs private columbarium

Choosing now or when it's needed

If there's no rush, buying ahead means you can compare calmly, decide together and spread the payment. If someone has just passed away, you can still take a day or two: a free tour doesn't commit you, and we can tell you which niches are ready now.

Common regrets to avoid

• Deciding from photos, without seeing the room or row.
• Choosing a single, then wishing a spouse could have joined later.
• Choosing a very high or low row that an elderly relative can't manage.
• Comparing a headline price with another suite's full price.
• Leaving out the family member who will visit most.

Questions to ask before you sign

• Is the maintenance fee one-time, and what does it cover?
• Is the 49-day service included for this suite?
• What are the terms for upgrading or transferring later?
• Which ceremonies are held, and what do they cost?
• Is the quoted price final, in writing?
• Who does the payment go to? It should be Nirvana Memorial Garden, never an agent's personal account.

How we work →

If you'd like to see the suites with us, book a free tour. There's no obligation.