Amidst Recession Fears, Barter Agreements Ensue.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York funeral director is offering a free funeral to who ever will undertake a construction job at his Manhattan home.

"It may sound like a laughable barter transaction, but consider the average cost of paying for a funeral. ... Ask someone that recently had a funeral what they paid!!!" wrote funeral director Peter Dohanich, 51, in a listing posted on Craigslist last week.

Dohanich said he is looking for a builder or contractor to do some remodeling for a new patio but did not have the cash on hand for the project. "Someone told me, if you're looking for services, look on barter," Dohanich said.

So far, Dohanich said he has gotten a few calls from prospective takers but has not yet filled the job.

The average cost of a funeral in the United States is about $7,300, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, which said it was not aware of any precedent for bartering funeral services. That makes this a fairly even exchange, with work expected to cost $6-10,000.