Gaining permissions without finding owners

[civil_war22]

I’ve had the worst luck lately with finding owners of land I’ve been wanting to detect. I usually use a site called actdatascout.com, but they don’t give you the persons phone number, and sometimes the homeowners physical address is just a PO Box. Is it just me or does anyone else ever feel tempted in sending someone a letter? I know going, and asking for permission in person is more personal, but sometimes there is just no other way. I’ve been a law enforcement officer before, and can tell you that it only takes one idiot to ruin it for everyone, even public parks, but also in the same instance if someone has passed away, and the house goes back to the city for them to tear down, without permission I still feel bad for going, and detecting it eventhough there may be a 1860’s home on it. I know it’s tempting, but so is strippers to some men. In one hand I can see where if it belongs to the city and is just going to be a vacant lot then I can see that being public property, but in the other hand there are towns who make up “ ordinances “ to keep folks like us from doing it. My brother, and I went to a location the other day, in the same way I was talking, a 1860’s home that had gone to the city, it was a prominent attorney back then home, and now the city was going to demo it. We asked the neighbor if he knew who owned it, and he said the city, and said I don’t see a problem with y’all doing it, but then on the other side of the road a crackhead who lived over there said someone had been ran off last week by the police for tearing the yard up metal detecting. Really chaps my hide, how some can ruin it for others.

 

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[Jason in Enid]

I use a phone app called "on X". Its a hunting app but gives you the owner info for any piece of land. But like you said, some time the owne rinfo is just a PO box. I dont ever mess with letters, those dont typically get any response.

As for a city owned property, I just hunt it without regret.

 

[civil_war22]

I use a phone app called "on X". Its a hunting app but gives you the owner info for any piece of land. But like you said, some time the owne rinfo is just a PO box. I dont ever mess with letters, those dont typically get any response.

As for a city owned property, I just hunt it without regret.

I’ve got that same app. I just wish it had the homeowners number. I remember working at the PD, and sheriffs office, and being able to call dispatch, and they could give you the Property Owners phone number to call. Ahhh I miss those days. Back then permissions were easier. The way I look at is if it’s city property, and isn’t well maintained, or their is no No trespassing signs then it’s city owned, public property.

 

[Ziggy-Grimm]

+1 to "On X" phone application it works great. If a P.O. box comes up sometimes a simple white page lookup of the land owners name or LLC can produce a landline number. Although, landlines are becoming a thing of the past!

 

[Jason in Enid]

+1 to "On X" phone application it works great. If a P.O. box comes up sometimes a simple white page lookup of the land owners name or LLC can produce a landline number. Although, landlines are becoming a thing of the past!

Yes, I just got permission for a new site from a little googling. ON-X showed the site owner was a business. I had to look up the company to find it was a non-profit from another city, but it had a local office. Then it was a simple matter to walk in and say "hi".

 

[bulletproof002000]

I also use "On X" then send a letter asking permission. I provide an email address for them to respond to and get about 50% who respond.

 

[rjw4law]

I do the city hunts as well....too much bureaucracy involved...they usually care about the vagrants inhabiting abandoned buildings.

 

[Mackaydon]

You can also get that info from the county's tax assessor's office; either directly or by referral to another department.
Don......

 

[Gare]

When you try and send a letter I have enclosed a sheet asking for permission and removing them from any liability i might get into. I have them sign the paper with the address of the land on it then have them SIGN yes or No in the form. I include my phone number. Important INCLUDE A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE !!! you will be SURPRISED at the results.
v If you want to Detect the good places some times you need to go that extra mile !!!

 

[Varianttyer]

Don't try hunting public property in the criminal state of NJ. You are very likely to be changed with trespassing. Seems they just don't like us. There are a few exceptions so be forewarned.

 

[cudamark]

Don't try hunting public property in the criminal state of NJ. You are very likely to be changed with trespassing. Seems they just don't like us. There are a few exceptions so be forewarned.

If it's truly "public" property, how can you be charged with trespassing?

 

[Honest Samuel]

Best of luck to those who cannot gain permission on lands that they really want to search.

 

[mark v]

I recently used On X to track down a land owner. This owner's relatives lived nearby so I went to their house and surprisingly the person I was searching for was there.

 

[dotread]

sometimes it is as you mention it at the beginning of your note a matter of luck, if not look at the case of mark V

 

[Tommybuckets]

Bulletproof- How do they respond? Negative or positive?

 

[rjw4law]

I have found the city properties for old houses are a treasure trove for junk, but can produce a few good things if the right amount of patience is applied.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I have found the city properties for old houses are a treasure trove for junk, but can produce a few good things if the right amount of patience is applied.

Yeah, most of them were trashed out slum-lord properties before being seized for taxes. But a few are really good and make the others worth the attempts.