Breaking The Ice With Property Owners

[Marvin]

What's your usual procedure? Do you offer right up front to share/split anything you find or wait for them to ask? Are you usually well received or do you get turned away more times than not? I havent taken one step with my detector yet so maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself but I have a couple of properties in my area that are privately owned that had schools on them around the turn of the century.
Also, have you ever called a mortgage broker or bank that owns a property and aksed for permission to detect?
Thanks all. I have found this site an enormous help already.

Chris

 

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[Mackaydon]

Chris:
Welcome to Treasure Net !!
I doubt that a lender/now owner of a foreclosured property would allow any MD on their property.
The issue is LIABILITY in the event...........
Don.....

 

[marinedad]

hi chris, nice talking to you on the phone. lucky for me i know the farmer who's given me permission to detect on his fields and old farmhouse. i have usually waited until i see farmers in fields at known old school sites. seems in rural areas there was a school no more than 2 miles away from another school. in one township alone by me there were 9 schools in 1892 and no visible sign of them today. i'm sure others with more experience will have some good ideas soon, mark.

 

[Lowbatts]

I'm with Mark and Don on this. Cold calling is not my forte. I've always had much better luck with casual facetime.

And talking to any desk bound type is pretty much a lost cause in my experience. That includes bankers and mortgage companies.

 

[Gimmie The Loot]

Start out by talking to family, friends, and co-workers about metal detecting. Show off your finds to people and they usually get interested in your excitement and if you ask them about their yard, its usually, a "yeah come on over".

If you are new to digging plugs, make sure to practice and really get good at proper technique. Last thing you want to do is destroy someones lawn because you couldn't fill your holes in the right way. Same goes for parks. Leave no trace of holes and pick up all trash is part of the MD code of ethics.

 

[Dirt fishing Wolf]

In person is the best way to get permission

 

[filthyflyer39]

we've asked a few people in the past and they haven't minded, but I suggest offering to show them what you do and explain how you do it. things like saying how you put the holes back and such. brown circles usually doesnt sell the idea

 

[gallileo60]

im chicken about asking owners for permission this is something i need to work my guts up too.

You are not the only one..i have a hard time with this.....

 

[Bum Luck]

I make it a rule not to plug when it's too dry. You'll kill the grass if you plug.

It's OK to probe, but be careful.

 

[boogeyman]

Ive been extremely lucky. Usually start by asking if they know the history of their property etc. Then ask if they'd mind if I searched. I like to have at least a couple trips worth of junk in a bucket with my gear. I'll show them my gear, and show the junk "I've removed from [blanks] property. I haven't had any liability issues come up yet. You can find generic release of liability forms on the net. The stationary stores & Staples had them last time I checked. Like I said, I've been really lucky. When I show up to search I'll bring extra soda or coffee & donuts. Small priced Thank you! I've offered a release of liability a few times, but have been told they didn't think it was necessary. I never bring up search & salvage agreements unless they bring up getting a cut.

I once went to ask a pastor permission to search the grounds of his church. He gave me permission on the condition I tithe the church (joking). I went to the church office with the amount I found and handed him it in clad. He laughed! I told him a deal was a deal. I ended up with an open invite when ever I wanted.

As far as getting up the "guts" to ask on a cold call. The way I look at it is, what have I got to lose? Worst that can happen is they can ask me to leave & escort me off the property I"ve only had a door slammed in my face once, but have met many interesting people and had many many hours of great conversation.

Remember! You are a guest on their property and you should treat their property better than you would your own. If you want to search a different area ask them if it's OK first. Small things stick in their minds! whether you did something wrong or you did something helpful, you were the inconsiderate putz or the guy who cared about listening to their stories more than their family does.

 

[Noodle]

Boogeyman is right; history is key. And the bucket of scraps. And the gift of sincere gab. Keep on the history angle, which is sincere. That's why you're there. You could care less about the clad. And chances are, the owner, who hasn't owned the property nearly as long as you've taken the history of the land back is just as curious. Make whatever deal you want. Just get the landowner's belief in you. I know. I'm a landowner. It would take a lot for me (as an MD'er) to let someone else come and dig up my land, but if I'm old enough and not too ambitious but a little curious, I just might let it happen.

 

[Marvin]

I really like the idea of having some things with you to show them the kind of things you might find. I don't mind the thought of going up to a strangers door and knocking, I'm just trying to find a way to not look like someone out to get rich on their land. Hearing stories about the land is a treasure in itself. I know that might sound a little sappy but I love local history.

 

[boogeyman]

No worries! An interest in history or any knowledge is NOT sappy!

Usually if you lead off the conversation with I'm looking for..... you put that idea in their head. If you start with something like, you've been reading & studying and was wondering if they knew the history of their property etc etc. You'll get further. As the conversation progresses you can explain that you'd like to look for objects in the ground even though the object might have little or no value, it means something to you. Most times building a raport works wonders. Sometimes you'll get a negative response. That's OK, if you leave contact info with them they sometimes change their minds after thinking about what might be there for awhile. Above all don't be pushy. You'll get a feel eventually.

Another approach I've used on properties that have untrimmed hedges weeds lawns etc. Is to get a conversation going & bring up that you'd be willing to trim the hedges or yank some weeds in exchange for letting you detect under them when you're done. Small price to pay to hunt unsearched ground.

 

[marinedad]

also probably not a good idea to knock on somewones door to gab about detecting when temps are below freezing.

 

[boogeyman]

also probably not a good idea to knock on somewones door to gab about detecting when temps are below freezing.

Now that's a good way to make em think you're a little