How do you approach land and homeowners for permission?

[David]

How did or would you approach a landowner. Is it always verbal or anyone ever have a written approval or a contract?

Maybe for old grass lawns show up with only a screwdriver and your X-Terra 70 as say this is all I am going to use to dig with and I will be very careful?

Some ideas are here as well below:

How do you approach homeowners for permission
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,857138,857288#msg-857288

Property owner wants all of your finds
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?18,852646,page=1

 

[JMorgan]

A screwdriver? Too much work there .... just introduce yourself and ask if they would consider giving you permission to detect. All they can do is say yay or nay. If they want to keep what you find make sure you have deep pockets

 

[xwyokid]

In person with a handshake and a smile. I always pay attention to the landowners demeanor. If it appears they are friendly I quickly inform them on what I do and what I would like to do. I always let them carry the conversation and quickly say goodbye if the answer is right away no. This has worked for me more often then nought. I don't waste any time with written forms. Out here, a man's handshake is still worth something, (thank gooodness). But, I guess you just have to go with the moment.

 

[Goes4ever]

A screwdriver? Too much work there .... just introduce yourself and ask if they would consider giving you permission to detect. All they can do is say yay or nay. If they want to keep what you find make sure you have deep pockets

exactly my opinion, justknock and politely ask. the worse they can say is no, then you move on to another house, no biggie.

and always have 2 pockets a "no show pocket" and a "show pocket" I learned this lesson the hard way. I have had homeowners tell me up front I can keep ANYTHING I find, but they would like to see my finds. When I showed them the old coins, relics I had found, they all the sudden changed their word and wanted my finds. After happening to me twice, I now put all nice keepers in my "no show pocket"

 

[muttandjeeps]

I have a secret weapon, I'm always with my digging partner, my 12yo son Sam. We are at about an 80% approval rating when we go as a team. When folks see that you only have a small digger in your possession, and you promise not to bring in an excavator or backhoe, they seem to be pretty willing.

 

[Canewrap]

Yep, I always take my 10-year-old son and it works like a charm. Problem is, they grow up.

 

[David]

Thanks for the Tips!


In Lost Treasure magazine in the January 2008 edition on Page 40 written by Andy Sabisch, "How to Gain Access to Private Property--Part 1", has some great tips as well.

I got the January edition sent to me free with the purchase of my X-Terra 70. I do not have the Febuary edition to see Part 2. So you might want to look for both of these.

 

[John(Tx)]

And that's what happened, the lady of the house loved that Barber half and had to have it, won't ever make that mistake again. HH

 

[Goes4ever]

And that's what happened, the lady of the house loved that Barber half and had to have it, won't ever make that mistake again. HH

I was trying to be a nice guy........being nice does not always pay the way we expect :veryangry: