How about another ethical question?

[MrGee]

I know of three houses within a half mile of me that have been repossesed. they have been sitting empty since last winter or early spring and the contact info is a toll free number which is some out of state corporation. There is virtually no chance of calling that number and talking to a real live person who is willing to make that decision, so my question is, should I just take the detector and pretend like I belong there? One of the houses is more recent (probably 1950's), but the other two are much older and probably date to the late 1800's. What do you guys think?

MrGee

 

[Fishrgal]

I'm glad you asked this because I have wondered about the same thing. I know of some bank repo houses that have been sitting empty for a couple years. So hopefully someone will have the appropriate answer for us and then we will both know.

 

[CladJunkie]

By law if there is not a "No Trespassing Sign" then there not much anyone can do other than ask you to leave. It's really up to you.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Ever hear of trespassing? You'll be trespassing on bank property and they ain't the least bit forgiving. You might check with City Hall and see what bank owns them and contact the bank. The tax accessor will have the current owner as will the office of the county registrar. Better safe than sorry. You might get away with it but there is the outside chance you won't especially if there are nosey neighbors.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Hi Krista. Wondered where you had wandered off to. Haven't seen you around in a spell. Hope all is okay with you.

Bill

 

[Jeff (or)]

It's very simple, if it is private property, somebody owns it. You need permission. If you can't get permission, move on.. And it does not have to be posted "no trespassing" . Just use common sense.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah if it was posted "no trespassing" that would also apply to prospective buyers or renters. Rather self defeating. HA.

Bill

 

[oldranger]

Around here the county owns all vacany homes
I asked the same question of the local officials

Ron
Rangers Lead The way

 

[Jason in TN]

If they are not posted no trespassing the worst they could do is ask you to leave. If you did it I would be very carful not to damage any thing including the grass.
You could be healed liable for any damage you do. It would be best to get permission from the bank that owns them but chances are you will have no trouble.


Jason

 

[INCH]

so my question is, should I just take the detector and pretend like I belong there? Well if u want to pretend, thats what u r doing. I have seen detectorist around town before and LOL theres no pretending.I have no where to hunt and there are houses that have been vacant for years around my area I mean 3 to 5 years now, just sittin there, so I look the property address up and find out it was built in 1930 or older and my mind goes into detect. I am tresspassing no sign or not if I choose to go there, and I did it, justa bunch of dirt not a lot grass in the yard. My mailman said hunt it, my lanlord said do it , my neighbor said hunt it. I live in a area where I am comfortable about my surroundings , but there is that EYE, EAR, AND NOSEY PERSON that will bust you .I have never ran into it yet, but I ve only committed the crime twice. I am an Addict , I am a junky, there is no intervention program that can stop me from detecting I do cover all my holes I dig respectfully, but i am a sinner, sorry

 

[Beachcomber]

My thinking is even if it's vacant.....someone owns it so it's Private Property. It's trespassing if you don't have permission no matter who currently owns. Without permission I wouldn't do it. Also keep in mind Murphy's Law. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.....one of those nosey people is going to call the cops! JMHO

HH

Beachcomber

 

[Rainman]

I call on all the new listings, especially the ones from the main foreclosure Realtors in the area. I just ask if it is a bank repo. If it is I go ahead and hunt the property, but only about an hour or so at the time. Never even been asked what I was doing. I found 5 mercury dimes and wheat cents back to 1911 at the last one.

 

[ffhauck]

Go for it MrGee!![size=large][/size]

 

[TURNMASTER]

Hmmmm....

 

[Geo Unit]

so I'm sure if that occurs someone would remember seeing you there.
If you can't contact the bank, why not feel out the local police?

 

[wallstwins]

Recently had an experience very similar to your question; pulled into and up the drive way to a long vacant 70 yr old property. I couldn't see the house from the road because it sat hidden at the top of an incline. Imagine my surprise when I got to the top of the drive where the house was and sitting there were 2 patrol cars with the officers visiting with each other. I tried to act like no big deal, (sure I was expecting you guys to be here!?) parked by them, got out of my car, went over and introduced myself to them, told them about my hobby and that a neighbor had recommended that I try this location. They were both very nice and when I asked if it was ok for me to be there, they said, "there's no no trespassing sign, so go ahead". They hung around about 5 more minutes after I got started and then both took off. For me, fortunately it was a non-issue.

 

[Fishrgal]

Hi Uncle Willy! All is fine with me. I wander in here every once in a while just to see what is going on. My daughter moved home to attend college full time and it has been a madhouse for my husband and myself getting an addition built for her. And we have been clearing 3 acres of woods by hand that we have been trying to finish up before winter. So "teckting" has been very seldom for me. If nothing major comes up I will be in full swing next year, and possibly some this fall if the weather warms for awhile.

 

[5900_XL-1]

I think that if I had no clue as to who used to live there for a quick BS reference in case I was confronted, I wouldn't go there. I could though, at least for the front porch steps areas and such for a fast hour, right at first daylight or real late in the day, with a hard hat on maybe. Chances are slim that you would be taken for more than a utility guy looking for lines. It's too much of a shame to let a repo sit that long un touched, but that's just me.

I did hunt a property coming up for auction once, but my brother had some community-pull so I think we woulda got off with a slap on the hand at worst. martin

 

[jbow]

If it is a repo and not posted, hunt it. Act like you are supossed to be there. Most people will assume you're looking for a gas line or something and they are not "watching the house for the owner" because likely they do not know who owns it... and the bank usually don't care as long as you aren't messing things up. Just be up front and friendly if anyone asks what you're doing... moat people really don't care if you're not going to steal the copper or something.

Besides, if you see something wrong you can alert the bank or the police... no trespasing signs... means you are not trespassing, at least in GA.. and if it is posted it has to be either finced and gated or posted properly.

Just don't argue with a moron.. be friendly but go for it! The worst they can do is ask you to leave, the police are not going to arrest you if it isn't posted... the DNR people may, but they can do that anywhere you don't have written permission in GA... most people just ignore that. (its a southern thing...)

J

 

[INCH]

I love this post, Go for it MrGee. Put your hard hat on , steel toed boots and maybe a yellow flashing light on top of your vehicle. Then start acting and pretending like like your official. And dont keep looking over your shoulder for anybody checking on you.
I hope i dont offend anyone about my remarks, but I just love this post. Early in the morning sounds like a good time , or late evening. And it is to bad about a lot of property that sits around vacant for yearsand years , Knowing in your mind that u would treat the property with respect if u could detect there. Good luck with it MrGee, put your hard hat and head phones on and LOL Gitter Dun