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What's your approach?

D

"Dr.Tones"

New member
I'm working up the nerve to ask some property owners for permission to hunt their yards. I've tried a few times with zero success (which I expected). My approach was something similar to this " hi there, my name is Brandon. I live around here and and in passing I couldn't help but notice this beautiful historic home you have here. I have a wired question for you... I was wondering if you might grant me permission to metal detect your yard for coins that may or may not be of historical value? I'm very conscious of preserving lawns and you'll most likely never even notice where I've retrieved a target. I also have state of the art technology that allows me to dig only targets that I'm interested in. Do you think that might be something you'd be interested in letting me do for a little while? I'd even be willing to share some of the finds with you?

Am I missing something here? What else helps? Thanks. Happy hunting.
 
a little windy IMHO and NEVER offer to give up or split finds in the first breath !!! Just introduce your self as a local,,, tell them you like to metal detect, and ask if you can do it around the house,,,, tell them it's "like getting a key from under the door matt, you just reach under and pull it out with no evidence you where there",,,, short and sweet. And if they want to follow you around then sart by hunting in the very hottest place in the yard and dig in all metal giving them a sense of how much trash is there,,,, be perfect in your plug cutting,,,, and good luck
 
I haven't asked anyone to hunt their property yet but have had a few friends ask me to check their yards out but they want what ever I find. So That's a no. My hunting buddy has a neighbor that's house was built in the early 1800's with fields, but anything that we find per the owner must stay where we found it. I can see how hard it can be to find private lots to hunt.
 
I tend to agree with grouser........ short and simple. I have nice business cards made up with my picture, name and phone number and other metal detecting info that they might be interested in knowing. I hand them the card, tell them my name and that I like to metal detect for a hobby. I then say... would you mind if I detected in your yard for a while. Wait for an answer. Wording is important because people will say no far more often than yes and if they say no, that gives me permission to hunt. :biggrin: Don't dress sloppy or in camo and talk with a smile on your face. If they ask a few questions before answering, that means they are interested in what you are doing and your chances are good, that is when you can get a bit chatty if you want.

I know of a MD'ing club that has a photo ID on a lanyard that they wear when asking permission and they claim that really helps too but I like the business card approach, something they can keep and it gives them a sense that they know you better.
 
I like the card idea. I was actually thinking about that a few days ago. I do generally try to keep it short but when I see hesitation I tend to try to chat it up a lil. I find it funny what some people say when I ask. This one lady has an 1880's house on her property (that's super old for these parts) and I asked her if I could detect around it. She said its a house that her son ownes and that I'd have to ask him. So she gave me his number. I called him for permission and this is the part that kills me.... He says " well I'm not interested, I'm sorry. I just wouldn't feel comfortable with a stranger hanging around moms place when she's home alone all the time. Cause I'm never home and my dad passed" sooooooo basically you just told that "stranger" your old mom is home alone... All the time... .??????? :rage:
 
Just curious... How much info are you putting on that card of yours?
 
-- moved topic --
 
I will get a picture of it and post but it will be later, busy day today.
 
Sounds great. Thank you!
 
I find that if you wear a hard hat and an orange vest, you can detect just about anywhere. lol:detecting:

No seriously, I just asked an older lady to detect on old field behind her house, and she said her son owned it. I said that I just wanted to check it out for an hour or so and you could never even tell I was there. She then gave me the ok. I've also ran into curious neighbors, and then got to check out their place once they see that there is no damage. So far no one has asked to keep any of the finds. Once I found a gold heart in an old guys yard. He looked at it kinda funny, but then just wanted to talk forever.The older generation is much more friendly where I live than the younger people and once they warm up to you, they want to chat for a while. I also offer to help out with some simple tasks, like clearing fallen limbs and stuff If I see it.
 
There are many ways to make a card and we used a free program and printed it on business card paper, but you can have it professionally done as well. This is what we use.




[attachment 243294 009.JPG]
 
I trap gophers and moles for them wich they hate and then they let me detect , also i show them some finds I have made in other spots, I asked a church if i could detect and they had to look into the legalitys well I never heard back
 
^Best. Advice. Ever.

I finally gathered the nerve to ask someone for permission... The owner of an apple orchard. Once their season goes into full-swing they have literally thousands of customers a day coming to pick their own apples on the hillsides. As far as I can tell it will be a very productive site. Lots of people jumping to reach apples and frolicking about.

I bumped into the owner at a local convenience store and started chatting. Turns out we have the same first name. I think that helped a lot. We chatted about things other than metal detecting first, like how long he's been farming, how long has the house been on that farm, and how he gets sooo many people to come to his orchard (he advertises in New York City). Then I brought up the hobby just before he was ready to leave. I said "Hey, one last thing... I'm a metal detecting hobbyist and think an apple orchard would be a great place to hunt. I've found coins from the late 1700's in my back yard, so I can tell you there is quite a bit of history in this area. Would you mind if I tried it out?" He said "No, not at all! I'd be interested in seeing what you find."
I plan on going this weekend. Can't wait!

I think after getting permission the first time, the next time is going to be easier. One thing that helps is reading the person. I would use different approaches with different types of people. He was really easy going, so that went easily. I think when asking homeowners your approach is along the right lines... Talk about their house itself. Ask them if they know when it was built. Point out some features that stand out. Then bring up what could be in the ground.

Any time they start talking during the conversation, let them talk, and Listen Carefully. If you show interest in the ideas, opinions, and information they give, they will be more open to you and be more accomodating. People like to be listened to.
 
Thanks for all the help! I made sure my zipper was up and it worked! I got permission to hunt a house yesterday :)
 
I recently sent 10 or 12 letters out .. .to a century old street with big homes.

I got Zero (0) response............. Nada on a phone calls.......or a response to my letter, via U.S.Mail..e-mail..or Instant Message. I listed all as contacts. With my phone number.


I explained my Hobby.........and offered to let the owners have first choice of the recoveries. I tried to approach the idea with a "It could be fun to see what was in their ground approach"

Old Pennies, Old Silver coins, Toy metal cars etc........... lost items from long ago sorta...


[size=x-large] That didn't work.. Next I will knock on the doors..[/size]
 
That stinks! I was thinking about doing the same thing. I was working on a rough draft of a letter, trying to create curiosity and reassure the owners that I was in it for preservation and fun, not to score some cash. I guess it is very easy to dismiss a letter. You may get a better response in person.
 
Person to person is the way to go, I haven't heard of any way better in the last 30 years and I get a high % of yes's to no's that way too. If you do send a letter to the homeowner, use it as a letter of introduction and state that you are looking forward to meeting them one day, that might give you a foot in the door, so to speak, when you go knocking on their doors.
 
I was given permission to detect the yard of an early 1700's farm house. Was there about 1.5 hours, found tons of junk and a few wheaties. Was glad to wrap it up and get out of there. But, the mistake I made was not asking if I could come back and try again. Maybe if I used a smaller coil or used my other detector, maybe if I detected the field too, not just the grass, maybe this, maybe that. I hate to go back and ask again.
 
I tell them I have an extra that they could use. lots of people have always wanted to try . ISometimes it works.
 
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