BEST WAY TO GET PREMISSION?????

[nleet22]

I need some new lines to use to ask permission to detect on someones property..my approach only worked one out of ten times..what do u guys and gals say to a home owner or business to ease the whole im going to dig holes in your lawn thing.
do u offer to split your finds?

 

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[Zodiacdiverdave]

Be polite, smile and introduce yourself and then come right out an explain to the owner why your are there and above all develop a thick skin because the no-es will come, it's just part of the sport. No one likes the no-es but you just have to except it and move on.
I also got a good bit of advice from my hunting partener when I first started to hunt with him. Don't get into too much detail with the owner, we scared off one guy because he thought that we were going to have archies up there digging up his whole property and preventing him from planting. It was too bad too because this area had some real history to it.
ZDD

 

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[CityDigger]

This works every time. Bring a couple of the nastiest pieces of iron with you. Offer to show them some of your finds and tell them how beautiful you think these rusty nails are to you. Tell them how a lot of them fall apart before you get home, but if you get lucky, you find a whole one in great shape. Sometimes I even bring an old fork that I dug. Tell them that it is the prize of your collection. Wrap it up with explaining the intricacies of the nails and how if you collect hundreds of them, you may be able to recycle them one day for $10 or more, depending on the price of metal. They will think you are nuts and give you permission out of pity.

 

[DigIron2]

just ask and hope for the best?

 

[vadigger89]

I had a very strange encounter today asking for permission to dig. Well actually I never even got to ask. I rang the door bell waited for about two three minutes saw a lady walk by the door and waited for another couple minutes no one came to the door so I rang the bell again. Finally an elderly woman came to the door. Without me saying anything and her not opening the door she was shaking her head no saying no. I tried to tell her I had a hobby of metal detecting but I'm pretty sure she didn't hear me through the door. She was still shaking her head no I said "no what" (thinking I didn't even ask anything). She said what do you want I got closer to the door so she could hear told her my name and said I have a hobby of metal detecting and she just said no without me even asking her anything. She just turned and walked away without ever opening the door. It was very strange. I tried to tell her sorry for bothering you but once again don't think she heard me as she was walking away from the door. By far the weirdest experience I've had asking for permission. Just thought I would share. Good luck getting permission everyone and happy hunting.

 

[Pointman]

I got an interesting response one time. I asked a man if I could hunt his property and he acted like he was confused and walked outside. I made a motion with my hands and said "detecting" he looked down like he was thinking, looked up and said "metal detecting...no...I'm not too keen on that". Then he went back into the house and closed the door.

 

[beez0404]

Something else you might try is carrying your spare detector (if you have one) along with you. After introducing yourself and mentioning that you are interested in the history of the area and enjoy metal detecting ask if they've ever thought about trying it. If they say yes well then tell them today is their lucky day cause you happen to have an extra metal detector with you if they would like to give it a go. This will often get you a very excited owner. Spend a few minutes showing him/her how to operate the machine and then see what you can find. It is a bit of an inconvenience if they have a ton of questions which sometimes happens. But generally they do it for a little while and give up telling you good luck.

 

[DigIron2]

Something else you might try is carrying your spare detector (if you have one) along with you. After introducing yourself and mentioning that you are interested in the history of the area and enjoy metal detecting ask if they've ever thought about trying it. If they say yes well then tell them today is their lucky day cause you happen to have an extra metal detector with you if they would like to give it a go. This will often get you a very excited owner. Spend a few minutes showing him/her how to operate the machine and then see what you can find. It is a bit of an inconvenience if they have a ton of questions which sometimes happens. But generally they do it for a little while and give up telling you good luck.

That is a good thought,but like you said ,not everyone has a extra.I like the way you are thinking thow

 

[ggossage]

The number one place I'd give anything to metal detect is my late grandmother's property. The house was built in the 1780's and was in my family up until about 25 years ago. My aunt had to sell it because the house was a money pit and the taxes were wiping her out. It's on about five acres of land with a huge field that was used to plant crops every year. There was also a barn on the property as well. That was torn down in the early 1970's, but I remember exactly where it was located. I would love to ask permission, but I'm not very outgoing and I kind of look like a serial killer! LOL! I was thinking about bribery as a way to get permission. I'd pay the owner $10 for every hour I was there (or something like that). What do you think? Would offering a hourly cash payout to detect on the property work?

Yeah, I don't think paying to hunt is a good idea either. If you've spent a lot of time on the property in your younger years, you no doubt have photos to prove it. My suggestion would be to round up some photos of you and the family on said property and go visit the current owner with those photos and tell them the same story you told us...you're bound to be a shoe-in. Good luck!
PS. I've had homeowners ask me how much I charge when I approach them with my request to hunt. "Ma'am, I don't charge anything--it's free." "Bless you young man!" I've heard those words at least 3 times in 14 years of hunting.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I need some new lines to use to ask permission to detect on someones property..my approach only worked one out of ten times?

Right there is your problem, opening statement "I need new lines" NO single approach, and certainly no pre-rehearsed "speach" is going to work all the time, everyone if different. If you need "someone elses' lines" then you are not a "people person" and therein lies your problem.

I've seen a lot of good ideas in this thread, and some not so good. In no particular order, I've seen Bills approach, a stranger showing up with tooo much info about about the owners property, and it scares them, however he also states usually states knowing someone who knows someone, and that is a BIG help. As he said it makes it a LOT easier if you are NOT a complete stranger.

Offering to share finds is always a good idea, otherwise what incentive does a land owner have ? NONE. I always give. Like CRU said without land owners who "let you dig" what good is this hobby ? (with no place to dig, pretty much NONE)

Also as Bill said, if you want to dig on someone's lawn in town, and ZDD said better have a thick skin, and be preparred to hear, AND accept NOs.

Again it is NOT about "lines" it is about being a people person. Knowing people helps, start with people you know, then branch out, if your honest, and share, you'll probably do OK.

 

[xrunndonex]

You could always try the "hey this is a nice place you got here would be a shame if something happened to it" approach.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Ya know, come to think of it, if the role was reversed I probably wouldn't even answer the door. My apologies to those out there who make their living in door-to-door sales. But, I simply refuse to even open the door to anyone knocking that I don't know. I figure they'll get the idea after they wear their knuckles out.

As far as "premission" goes, I'm thinking, maybe, get too excited? LOL (sorry, couldn't resist)

As far as permission goes, I think that networking is the best tool. Ask anyone you meet/know if they might know someone with whom they can link you up. Or if they could ask their friends, if they know anyone.

 

[absosecur]

The best way hands down is grab your kids , grand kids, nieces or nephews whatever applies to you and go out and get them a machine and into this great hobby. Have them with you when the knock on the door happens and rarely will you get turned down. Works for me every time.

 

[prolab69]

usually my permission comes through friends that know other friends, one of my little tricks involve yard sales when the owners are out in the front lawn, ... start up an unrelated conversation with them about thier cool victorian house and feel them out. thier yard sale sign already invited one foot in the door, its just up to you to get the other one in. try closing the sale as your handing them 2bucks for a candy dish, lmao. it all boils down to networking and opportunity. ...knocking on doors or cold calling is not my thing.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

The best way hands down is grab your kids , grand kids, nieces or nephews whatever applies to you and go out and get them a machine and into this great hobby. Have them with you when the knock on the door happens and rarely will you get turned down. Works for me every time.

I think I would agree, for the most part "using you kids" probably will help. Damn I don't Have any. Still one would want to be good with holes.

 

[absosecur]

I always make sure I explain in detail how we cut a plug of grass,recover whatever then when we walk away it's as if we weren't there. A problem I have had is on nice lawns and very dry hot summers in ms the grass will die unless watered back in. That is why I love winter and spring hunting.

 

[Graysondigger]

Not to brag but my success rate is somewhere around 8 out of every 10. The best advice I can give is to:

Look presentable, be genuine, smile, let them know exactly how you dig a plug and repair it making sure that you tell them that you use a "little garden spade" (I avoid saying shovel), make sure to complement their property in some way, and I always end with "I do less damage than a squirrel".

The more doors you knock on the better, and more comfortable, you will be. I hope this helps and HH!

 

[Graysondigger]

I'm sure she thought you were selling something. Obviously she was hard of hearing too.