Abandoned property, owner out of state

[deepskyal]

Checking on some old foundations today and discovered that a remote parcel with an old stone foundation is owned by an out of stater...like I'm in Pennsylvania and they are in California!

Seriously...being that it is overgrown, abandoned, somewhat secluded, unposted and neglected...how many of you would persue getting permission?

On the County website for property assessments, seems everything has an owner of some sort and I could spend a lot of wasted time asking permission from noncaring people that long forgot or gave up any interest in an old lot.

There are tons of lots listed on their site as vacant or abandoned...and that's their opinion. No taxes paid, the property condemned, uninhabitable...

Who's going to care if i swing a detector in something like that?

Al

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[blurr]

Checking on some old foundations today and discovered that a remote parcel with an old stone foundation is owned by an out of stater...like I'm in Pennsylvania and they are in California!

Seriously...being that it is overgrown, abandoned, somewhat secluded, unposted and neglected...how many of you would persue getting permission?

On the County website for property assessments, has an owner of some sort and I could spend a lot of wasted time asking permission from noncaring people that long forgot or gave up any interest in an old lot.

There are tons of lots listed on their site as vacant or abandoned...and that's their opinion. No taxes paid, the property condemned, uninhabitable...

Who's going to care if i swing a detector in something like that?

Al

Do what you think is right. Just by the fact that you are asking the question, means you probably know the answer Personally, If I already took the time to look up where the person lives it wouldn't take too much more effort to track down their phone number and ask. Then at least you have peace of mind when you detect there. It can't be much fun looking over your shoulder while you enjoy a hobby, is it? Have fun with whatever you decide.

John

 

[txkickergirl]

If you can't get a phone number you can get there address, and write to them.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Chances are they have someone watching over the place. Get permission if you can.

 

[garyf]

In Michigan if you don't pay your property taxes, you eventually lose ownership and it goes to the city, township or county. At that point, it is owned by all citizens and you can just follow the rules that apply to other government property.

 

[mikeofaustin]

I do know what you mean. It's that small part of me that's trying to convince me that it's o.k. to hunt, but I don't want a run in with someone if it's not o.k.


I think what would convince me to hunt it would be, if after I made a reasonable attempt to call the person, and knowing that it's deserted (tax wise), and uninhabitable, I'd hunt it, that is of course, if it isn't posted and doesn't have a fence keeping you out. Another thing that would help is, if people aren't around to see me hunting it, and get curious what I'm doing. I've learned that these ol' bidies that are angry at life because Mattlock isn't on the air anymore, get their excitement from calling the police on anything and everything. It's like they get a gold star for being on 'community watch', when they can clearly see that you're just metal detecting.

//not sure if Mattlock is on cable... I don't have cable.

 

[sniffer]

beings the owner is not local, I would try to get permission first.
Because if somebody does call the police, you could wind up in jai waiting for the police to call the owner in ca.

 

[UncleVinnys]

Sometimes being politically correct can go too far.
You DID your due diligence in seeking the owner, so I would
just go for it. My personal opinion.

If I'm not right, I promise to write to you in jail.

 

[watercolor]

The key to hunting anywhere is permission. . . without that, you're going to be looking over your shoulder constantly and be unable to concentrate on your hunt. As "blurr" mentioned, this hobby is supposed to be fun and relaxing and if you don't have a clear conscience, it won't be any fun at all. It's not uncommon for people in rural areas to be highly suspect of a "strange" car driving down the road or a person they've never seen before. . . word can get around faster than you think.

If the parcel is still privately-owned, it's got to be on the tax rolls at the County Assessors office and there should to be a mailing address for whoever is paying the property taxes. If there is no phone number for the person responsible for the taxes, but there is a mailing address, you can generally find the corresponding phone number on-line using the "reverse" look-up section of the white-pages phone directory.

Good luck!
watercolor

 

[Tom_in_CA]

If it was me, I'd hunt it. Overgrown? Abandoned? Secluded? Un-posted? What're you waiting for

 

[TN-Joe]

I miss Mattlock

 

[jeff of pa]

In Michigan if you don't pay your property taxes, you eventually lose ownership and it goes to the city, township or county. At that point, it is owned by all citizens and you can just follow the rules that apply to other government property.

Same here

If it has already been lost to the State or County
it is like searching State or county Property.

if not lost yet,
I would just ask the local police, fire company,
township workers or Closest Neighbor if they think anyone would care.

Just stay out of the Building itself without permission

99 out of 100 letters to owners will not get an answer.

phone calls may

 

[mike63]

i would think if it's unposted no one cares maybee check with the local cops then hunt it with a friend just incase good luck!

 

[mikeofaustin]

What you consider "ol' bidies" many other people consider good citizens. It's all about perspective. Do you own property? Have you had somebody trespass on your property and then sue you because they fell into an abandoned well?

We should always get permission for private property. That is what we would want others to do if it were our property. This hobby already has a bad reputation, please don't add to it.

Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your crossword.

 

[grizzly bare]

I own property in another state, so I'm sure some of the neighbors think it is abandoned...it's not. Make that call and attempt to get permission.

grizzly bare

 

[taropatch]

This brings up an interesting sidenote that I saw on the News last year.
Did you know that in parts of the country you can use someone's land for a bunch of years without their permission and if the owners never say or do anything about it, you can claim it as your own? It's called "adverse domain". Here's what happened in Colorado:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/law...of-property-to-litigious-neighbors-325431.php

 

[E59]

Yes, it would be nice if we could all roam freely on this land but that is not the case. Not without consequences. People pay the government for that land. It's like the taxes we pay is really rent we pay to have land. Just ask the person. You'll get some no's and you'll get some yes's. You're not paying for that land so what makes you think it's your right to just trespass? There are so many public places to hunt, why are so many people just itching to go on someone elses land illegally when all it takes is a phone call or a letter to ask?
Just 10 miles from my house a woman was trespassing when hunting berries. She went missing and was found days later in a well-dead from 105 degree heat and/or broken bones. The owners are defending themselves in court, losing their hard earned money because someone took it upon themselves to trespass. I am sorry she died, I knew her for quite a while. I just feel there's no reason for that land owner to lose their life savings over a stupid choice that was not theirs to make.
If you trespass it could be you dead at the bottom of a hidden well and your family suing the owner for some easy money.
If you went digging deep enough to find out about taxes and who owns it the only reason you haven't contacted them is sneakiness.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I was in a similar scenario. I found an old abandoned house and talked to the people next store. I got a name from the people next store and contacted them by phone. When I spoke to the person and told him I wanted to detect the land he said his brother owns it and he no longer speaks to him. He gave me his name and said he now lives in Florida and did not have a number but said he doesnt mind if i went there. I looked up his name in Florida and found over a hundred people with the same name. I thought about it hard for a couple days because even though his brother said it was ok, I technically did not have permission. Well I finally got the nerve and went to the site. I was there all of five minutes and like everyone has stated I found myself looking up and around about every 30 seconds. I was very uncomfortable with the fact that I did NOT have formal permission and left immediatly and will not return until I can locate the owner and get FORMAL permission. Do what you may but getting in trouble for tresspassing is not on my list of things to do. Hope this helps. F H

 

[TXPlugKutter]

I would hunt the property. If anyone was interested in the property they would have maintained it by either paying taxes or just upkeep on the property. There are two lots behind my house that I maintain for the sole purpose of keeping it clean. I don't own them, a lady in Ca. does. She inherited them years ago and has never seen them. She will not sell them either. I treat them as if they were mine. I park vehicles and trailers on them. I figure if she really cared for them she would at least take a look at them everynow and then. At least pay me to mow it. I've been doing it for 4 years now.

I guess "legally" its called trespassing, but in reality I hunt it because I know she will not just show up. If she did and she started griping at me, I would simply let the place grow up like it was before and let everyone know who owns it.

So in short I would say hunt it. If you want to contact the guy, tell him you'll clean up the place a little bit for hunting rights. Haul off a load of limbs and your clear.

If nothing else put on a hardhat and orange vest and say your locating lines.

 

[Tin Nugget]

Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your crossword.
[/quote]

And I didn't mean to interrupt your lobotomy.
[/quote]

As funny as this was, this has been a pretty passionate thread, lets not get it locked or deleted please.