PERMISSION---PERMISSION---PERMISSION************

[Frankn]

So, you found the place you want to hunt and you want to get permission. I will give you a basic tip on human nature. In the old days you needed an introduction before it was proper to speak to some one. It is part of the defense set up in the brain. A common friend would introduce and then it was OK to converse. Well things evolve and to set some one in a receptive mood the 'common friend' can be other than a person.
Example: You see a good looking person that you would like to meet in the library reading a book you have read. You walk up and say that plot in the book has a sharp twist. The person perceives the book as the common friend and converses with you.
Now what you want to set up is a 'common friend' in order to get the person to converse with you. You might mention a neighbors name, You could even mention that there cat looks like yours, maybe there roses are a similar to yours. The 'common friend' is the ice breaker that makes the person more receptive to what you are asking. Just a little experience that might help. Frank...

 

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[khpony]

Well put! Also when I'm working on a new place to detect on private property I do my best to network (talk) with friends to see if the owner of the interested property and I might have a mutual friend. Quite often this works and makes the first contact with the prospective owner go much easier.

 

[Gary1963]

Yes, I have found this to be true in dealing with people, finding that one thing in common can lead to good conversation and eventually asking the real question,do you mind if I dig your yard up.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

reply

So, you found the place you want to hunt and you want to get permission. I will give you a basic tip on human nature. In the old days you needed an introduction before it was proper to speak to some one. It is part of the defense set up in the brain. A common friend would introduce and then it was OK to converse. Well things evolve and to set some one in a receptive mood the 'common friend' can be other than a person.
Example: You see a good looking person that you would like to meet in the library reading a book you have read. You walk up and say that plot in the book has a sharp twist. The person perceives the book as the common friend and converses with you.
Now what you want to set up is a 'common friend' in order to get the person to converse with you. You might mention a neighbors name, You could even mention that there cat looks like yours, maybe there roses are a similar to yours. The 'common friend' is the ice breaker that makes the person more receptive to what you are asking. Just a little experience that might help. Frank...

Frankn, I had always wondered about this human trait, but hadn't seen it explained till now. Thanx! I had seen it "at work", but never put my finger on it, or seen it explained as such.

In my early days of metal detecting (late '70s/early '80s), I used to enjoy going yard to yard in old parts of town, knocking on doors, to search yards. And I noticed a certain trend, that is borne out in your explanation: I would usually pick the "easiest" yard of the block, that I could see. Like perhaps someone was sitting on their porch, easy-to-talk to, or was doing yard work outside, etc..., so it was easier to stop and strike up conversation. Then, after finishing that yard, I noticed that when I would approach the next one (where perhaps I had to knock on a door), that .......... when I would be explaining my request, that if I reached into my apron, pulled out some coins, and motion that "I found these, for example, at your neighbor's house next door". Then all the sudden, the mood would lighten, and my chances of getting into more yards was greatly increased. It was as if they're thinking that ........ if he was at the neighbor's yard, then it certainly must be ok and do no harm

Then after awhile, I learned that ANY such connection of familiarity, serves as ice-breakers like that. You know, to simply say you're doing research on the stage stop where their land is, or that you're a docent at such & such museum, or that your dad and their dad were friend's, or any such "grasping for straws" introduction

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Also having maps and history of the property too show the land owner makes you look more professional too!

 

[CoilyGirl]

The gift of gab really does seem to help in getting permission, a common thread to make digging up someone's yard more acceptable,lol.

 

[dirtwizard]

I've had great luck recently getting permission. I have 3 new sites I can hunt whenever I want, and all 3 properties have very old homes on them. One property has been owned by the same family since this area was settled in the 1800s.

I have a good friend who is a contractor that does remodeling work. I have him ask the owners about letting a friend detect their properties when he is working on an older home. Of the three I got permission for, one owner requested that I only come out with my friend and not alone. The other two said I can come anytime, no need to even knock. That is more than fine by me! I turn my buddy loose with the detector to find other good signals while I recover targets.

He has only had one person decline, and they said they plan on getting a detector some day and looking for themselves. Can't argue with that. As a bonus my friend has also taken an interest in detecting, we hunted together for about 7 hours yesterday til we got rained out. Soon I will have two detectors and we can both go at it full bore.

 

[doc-d]

Helpful ideas, thank you.
An understanding of human nature is always helpful........

 

[BosnMate]

Thanks for that explanation. My wife and I had that worked on us awhile back. Couple of young guys came to the door, got us believing they had something to do with the local high school, by name dropping and admiring the flowers etc. they ended up selling my wife a magazine subscription that we never got, and they are gone from the country, and had nothing to do with the local school or neighbors. So yes, it does work, and I remember this time because we were screwed. Now I see how that works.

 

[Lady Pirate]

Frankn, much better than what some people say.... "Hey Dude".....WTF is that? or Yo'.........a long time ago, my son called me Dude one day, and I firmly told him if he call me dude once more, I'd put my foot up his #$$. That was the end of that. Anywho, your approach sounds good to me!

 

[TerryC]

So, you found the place you want to hunt and you want to get permission. I will give you a basic tip on human nature. In the old days you needed an introduction before it was proper to speak to some one. It is part of the defense set up in the brain. A common friend would introduce and then it was OK to converse. Well things evolve and to set some one in a receptive mood the 'common friend' can be other than a person.
Example: You see a good looking person that you would like to meet in the library reading a book you have read. You walk up and say that plot in the book has a sharp twist. The person perceives the book as the common friend and converses with you.
Now what you want to set up is a 'common friend' in order to get the person to converse with you. You might mention a neighbors name, You could even mention that there cat looks like yours, maybe there roses are a similar to yours. The 'common friend' is the ice breaker that makes the person more receptive to what you are asking. Just a little experience that might help. Frank...

View attachment 806556

Frankn, if it were possible, you would get ten likes from me for this post! Let me add..... Practice talking with someone you have never met. Mankind, like all social species, are more comfortable "in a group". It is instinct to "preserve the line". Pick a person, not on "their" turf and not on yours. Talk to them about a subject or situation you KNOW you do not wish to persue. That way, any rejection you get will not hurt and you lose nothing in the process. Do this often. It is only practice! When you get a well polished "approach", you will be more confident when you converse about "the real deal"! Back in the '70s, Playboy published a book called "How to pick up girls". The sequel was How to pick up women. Of course, the subject matter is quite different, but the main theme of what I'm saying and what Tom says is confidence is the name of the game when talking with strangers. TTC

 

[liftloop]

personality plus

is a good book to read

 

[Frankn]

Frankn, if it were possible, you would get ten likes from me for this post! Let me add..... Practice talking with someone you have never met. Mankind, like all social species, are more comfortable "in a group". It is instinct to "preserve the line". Pick a person, not on "their" turf and not on yours. Talk to them about a subject or situation you KNOW you do not wish to persue. That way, any rejection you get will not hurt and you lose nothing in the process. Do this often. It is only practice! When you get a well polished "approach", you will be more confident when you converse about "the real deal"! Back in the '70s, Playboy published a book called "How to pick up girls". The sequel was How to pick up women. Of course, the subject matter is quite different, but the main theme of what I'm saying and what Tom says is confidence is the name of the game when talking with strangers. TTC

Thanks for the compliment!
Actually I have a habit of sitting on my couch and rehearsing, talking to my self about presentations and such. Check out The Pirate House under the Cache threads. This presentation was worked out in such a way. Frank...

 

[TerryC]

Thanks for the compliment!
Actually I have a habit of sitting on my couch and rehearsing, talking to my self about presentations and such. Check out The Pirate House under the Cache threads. This presentation was worked out in such a way. Frank...

View attachment 807097

Well, I guess talking to myself constitutes talking to a stranger!! Take care, my friend. TTC

 

[thrillathahunt]

The more unpolished or unpracticed you are the better in my opinion. Having local references is the best. I actually have names, addresses and phone numbers of many "satisfied" home owners I can furnish to new prospects. :>)

 

[Treasureman25]

I agree with all of these methods of obtaining permission. Although I personally like to take on a humble,professional, and always respectful approach to a land owner. Always fully explaining my intentions and guaranteeing their property will remain as it was when I am through. Some areas I move into I even offer half of my finds to the owner if significant enough while in conversation on obtaining permission. This has almost always worked for me. I am always optimistic I'm gonna hit the mother load some day. Lol . That's what keeps me goin!