Help needed - getting permission on private property

[Bossgobbler23]

I done my library research for the first time and have located some great leads. These leads are all on private property. Can anyone help with good techniques and/or words that has worked successfully for them in getting land owner permission? Is the old knock on the door the best method?

 

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[Monty]

Face to face is my preferred method. Dress nicely appropriate to the setting. Ie: If at a business office wear a pair of slacks and button front shirt...(casual office wear), etc. Be coordial but get to the point they don't always have time to see you without an appointment. Tell them who you are , any club affiliation and briefly explain your hobby. Tell them why their property has caught your attention and how you will leave the land as good or better than you found it. If you can pique their interest in your hobby, generally you are in! If permission is granted be sure to touch base with them often and tell them about what you have found. You don't have to tell them every detail but it would be nice if you would show them some coins or something to keep them interested. Don't go back a year later and expect the permission to still be good. A lot can happen in a year or even a few months. Don't take a whole gang of detectorists with you to the site. Be sure and tell the property owner it will just be you or you and your partner, etc. It wouldn't hurt to send them a thank you note with a brief personal message when you are finished. Stress the fact that it is merely a hobby and that you are not trying to make a profit from your edeavors. Address them as Mr. or Mrs. unless they indicate otherwise.

If you are turned down, don't act huffy or demand why not.. Ask if there would be another time when it would be better or more convenient for you to search than the present. Sometimes they will give consent at a later date. Offer to let them come along with you and see how you operate. If they say something like.....My son might want to use a detector on the property, offer to lend a hand and teach him the ropes. I he/she shows concern about liability, offer to sign a release or hold harmless agreement.....have a copy with you just in case.

If face to face isn't possible, by phone is the usual secondary method of asking permission. Pretty much follow the same guidelines as set out above but you might offer to meet and talk with them in person.....make an appointment?, etc.

By letter or email is my least preferred method because it is just too impersonal for me. They have a tendency to read it and lay it aside where it is soon forgottn or just to toss it much like junk mail. If that is the only way to make contact, think of something to grab their attention so they will not forget it. Put something in it like............. I will check back with you in a couple of days when you have had time to think about it.

These are some of the means I use to gain access and it works pretty well for me as I seldom get turned down. Basically , just be a good salesman of yourself and your hobby. I have not been a detectorist very long but my background is with heavy public contact and I have learned a few things over the years.

 

[Bossgobbler23]

Thank you Jim. You have some great advice that had not thought of.

 

[bergie]

Boss--never accept a "no" from someone who can't give you a "yes"--just like in sales. In other words, don't settle for talking to an assistant (if a business) or someone who will pass the info along to the decision maker (child of the owner, etc). It makes it too easy for the owner to say no through the intermediary. Also, don't make it sound like "I'm going to find things of value on your property"-- but more like "I'm interested in the local history," etc.

 

[lonewolfe]

I posted this in another post here but thought I'd add it here too, as it applies just the same!

"Greed" makes people less inclined to accept and or allow you to hunt their property. If they think you might find something worth a lot of money (or gold items) they tend to get $$ in their eyes, say no almost 100% of the time, and or tell you some story about how they are buying a detector to do the property themselves!

I like the "casual" approach where you just walk up and ask if it may be possible to one day come by and do an hr or 2 of scouting around the property for whatever may be buried a few inches in the ground. Act like you've been around the neighborhood off and on for the last few yrs doing various places on a sat or sun here and there, and even though you've not found anything worth any money, you just like to do it as a hobby. Never take your equipment to the door with you as, people tend to be defensive towards strangers, and if they see you standing there with some contraption they've never seen before, and a shovel, and like you're all geared up to start digging holes all over their yard, you're not going to get very far!

Also, talk to them about more than just detecting, and tell them you're really more interested in the history of the area as you've been a part time history buff for most of your life, and like to meet new people & friends to share this passion with as you obtain new places to scout! Never say "I'll split everything with you"! If they ask for some of the finds you make, tell them you're happy to offer anything you find, and you'll stop up to the door at the end of your hunt and offer whatever they want of your finds! Usually- this method will detour them from even asking for/taking anything, and they'll likely say "just go ahead and hunt, but don't leave any holes, etc. and if you find a pot of gold, I want 50%!

It's your approach, demeanor, attitude, how you come off to a land owner, and whether or not you seem sincere in what you're telling him/her as to if or if not they'll let you hunt, and or if they'll want to see everything you find! If you seem nervous, tense, insincere and like you're there just to dig up the yard like a pirate looking for loot, they'll sense it and give you the boot! On the other hand, if you genuinely take interest in them, their history of the town, area, show you're interested in more than just plundering their land, and like to make/meet new people and friends, they'll be a lot more receptive of you and your adventure!

 

[Bossgobbler23]

Thanks everyone for your help. Last year was the first year I really dedicated most of my free time to detecting and studying in depth the hobby. It was also the first year that I had really nice success and caught "the bug". I read some books from some really good authors who spoke of doing research. Through research I've found some really nice areas such as ghost towns and better yet, a couple church revival groves. One in particular has been around since the 1880's. I just learned of it recently and drove by to find that someone just purchased the 4 acres and are putting in a house. I want to knock at the door and have reasonable chance at getting permission as this is my #1 target area.
Thanks again everyone.
Bossgobbler23