Getting Permission(New Twist for Me)

[Mag99004]

I stuck this in the general detecting forum but thought I'd throw it out here too.

In my opinion, I have a decent success rate for getting permission. However, when it comes to homes, all I've ever targeted are homes that are resodding, so getting permission is easy. One of my detecting buddies sent me a list of older homes he'd like to try(doesn't know the homeowners).

Has anyone had success getting permission to hunt homes with a perfectly good yard? I'm just skeptical that it's even worth the effort. My speech for the other homes is easy, I rarely have to address any concerns about hurting thier lawn. Obviously I can hunt the yard and they'll never be able to tell I was there, but I have serious doubts that I could convince more than 1 in 50 people of that.

I haven't hunted enough with others to know what types of property they hunt/avoid. Would I be wasting my time? If not, any suggestions for gaining permission in this situation? It's a new one to me and although it'd be great if we could get in, I'm drawing a blank for ideas.

It can't help that I'm 25, I wish I was about 65 when detecting so people didn't automatically think about home break in's... Yes I'm clean cut and I dress appropriately when asking permission. The wifes 23 and with a skirt and a smile I think it'd be a piece of cake. But she'd either laugh in my face or slap me if I suggested it, maybe both...

Thanks ahead of time for any input.

Semper Fi

 

[grumpy]

HI;
This is only my two cents worth but maybe it will help. First one is the toughest but all they can say is no and if you agree to not dig unless they agree, only probe, can help. Now if it is a little old couple and they garden, offer to rototil the garden for them this spring and hunt it before they plant it???? Once you work out some way to first get your foot in the door be SURE to ask for referals for the neighbors or better yet to be introduced to them and spread out like a spider web, keeping everything friendly and honest with all you should be able to hunt plenty. Your wife is good but post that here Actually most old houses are old people too not a lot of interest in young ladies anymore As for young:?? We older get the opsite effect we have to be looked on as old and senile and not wanted on the place because there is definately something wrong with an old guy wondering around waving a stick trying to find money. I had one lady in a park that didnt even want her dog to get near me, old guy is wierd get over here stay away from him. Suits me just fine but stay young its got more going for it than getting old.
Have a great hunt
Grumpy

 

[Dan-Pa.]

If someone young or old asked you to detect your yard what would your answer be...makes you think doesn't it...
In any case I have found older people with large yards that are not the best kept you have a chance..vacant lots with a home next door also especially if they are a corner lot also you have a chance to get permission...I know one fellow that is a camera bug and seeing a likely good hunting area with an old house asks permission to photograph such a nice old house to get to talk to the people and then the 2nd permission request comes in and he has detected a lot of good old houses in this manner..Whatever works I guess and all they can say is no....remember dress well in work clothes, clean shaven, no talk of treasure, offer to return jewelry as most yards has a sentimental piece of jewelry lost and above all say thanks either way and neatness pays and may lay the foundation for more hunting grounds...

 

[Great Republic]

Maybe you should spend some time at the local historical society.Talk to the locals and gain some inroads.

 

[alton]

I never have had too much trouble getting permission. Sure there are places where people politely tell me no. However, at least 80% of the time, and perhaps over 90% of the time I get permission.

Let me tell you about two friends in our detecting club that I hunt with often.

One is from this area (Knoxville/Maryville TN). He is terrified of knocking doors. I was out with both of them and they wanted me to do all the knocking.

He said whenever he knocked on a door he hoped they wouldn't answer. He was just afraid of it.

The other guy is from New Jersey. I've come to the conclusion that they just do things different where he came from. He will knock on the door and tell them this tale about he is a professional metal detectorist and he noticed the age of their home and was looking to see if there may be some antique door knobs and door keys lost on the property. He further told them that if he found them that he would leave them on the porch. If he got in and if he found those items, he indeed left them on the porch.

Needless to say, I don't see the logic for such an approach. I think people want you to be concise about why you are there and they don't want to be treated like they are that dumb.

I simply tell them my name and that my hobby is metal detecting and that the reason I dropped by was to see if I could get permission to hunt on their property. They either approve or not. Either way I thank them and procede from there.

Sometimes they will ask questions like what it will do to their yard or what will I find and who keeps it. First, those questions are very seldom asked. Probably only 1% of the time or less.

Depending on their question I answer that as truthful as I can. I may offer to demonstrate how I retrieve a target. If they want to know who keeps it, I ask them how they would like me to divide up the goodies. If they say they want it all I agree. Of course once they see what you are doing they will say "no, you keep that".

But I feel like it is so simple to tell them why you are there and let them make a decision. Don't put any pressure on them and they will relax right away.

You know, the house that I have been hunting at the past several weeks was a house that turned me down about 3 years ago. It is the only house that I ever felt like I wished that I had not stopped at.

When I knocked on the door, this little ole stooped over lady probably in her 90's came to the door and cracked open the bottom blind to look out. I had to bend almost to my waist level to talk through her door to her.

I told her why I was there and I could tell that this great big man at her door in the late afternoon had alarmed her. She said she didn't want anyone fooling around her yard in her weak little old lady voice. I thanked her and left.

Her house is along a route that I drive by every day. A year or so ago I began to notice that her house was not kept up as nice as it had been. Fianlly it began to look grown up. Soon there was a "For Sale" sign up. Finally I noticed the sign was down and renovations being made. The nice little old lady had went on to be with the Lord.

Finally one day, I noticed people there working on the house. I again stopped to get permission.

This time it was a man from my church who had bought the place and was fixing it up. He would be developing the acreage that went with it. He said "Sure, hunt all you like". I noticed the celler and asked if it would be alright to detect in there. No problem.

Then, as I was hunting one day, a younger lady (40-50) stopped by to talk with that new owner and then stopped by to talk to me. Her grandmother and grandfather had owned the home and she shared information about the house. She mentioned that her grandfather had owned a coin operated carwash in the 50's and 60's and when the coins changed over to clad that he had kept all of the silver quarters. $2000 (face value) worth he had kept. When he died, no one knew where the coins were and don't till this day.

In the meantime I have pulled 5 Mercs, one Barber Quarter and handfulls of wheats out of there. I hunted there today and pulled another Merc and more wheats. I'm going to go over the yard with my two box tomorrow. $2000 face value silver quarters would be worth $16,000 bullion today.

I said all of that to say this: I would know nothing and have nothing if I had not have stopped in the first place. Sure it was a negative experience at first. But just remember things change.

There are several old home places from the 1800's around here. Some I meant to go by and didn't get there in time and now they are developed. If I had of only asked in time. They could have said no, but then again the might say yes!

I do regret that I caused the lady some concern. She did not have a reason to fear me, but she didn't know that. But everything can't be perfect. Timing is everything.

Be honest, be brave, and knock on the door and tell the truth. It really is that simple. Good things happen when you get permission and in the process of getting this permission, you get valuable information and contact that is actually part of the treasure you seek.

JMO

HH Alton

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

I get permission at the vast majority of places where I ask. And I always show the owners what I find, sometimes will give them a coin other find if they seem interested. I've never had anyone insist or even ask to have/split any finds, but sometimes carry my coin book with me. Most people have a hugely inflated idea of what coins are worth.

Chris