Whats the best way to ask permission?

[jadewhiskey]

What's the best way to ask permission?

Hi All,

I have been dying to detect an old piece of property - a church. The church has been around since the 1850's... They have a great patch of property on both sides and I want to detect them... My question is - should I call, write a letter or should I go to the church to ask permission? I'm not sure who to even talk too. I have always hunted public property so I don't know the best way to ask.

After reading a story earlier about having a gun pulled - I am afraid to ask (I know that won't happen at the church - but, I know another piece of property that is someone's house - it used to be a general store during the 1800's...)

Any help would be much appreciated...

Thanks.

JadeWhiskey

 

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[UnEarthed72]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

There is tons of info about asking permission on Tnet,but i'm not quite sure where it's all posted at this moment..maybe someone else can direct you in that direction.

 

[incajoe]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

Face to face is the only way that will possibly work. Just be up front and honest and a little friendly chat goes a long way before launching into "Hey can I dig up your yard"?

 

[downindixie]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

Don't be afraid of being turned down.Just go up and explain what you want to do and how your going to do it.It helps if you already know the history of the property if its old.Most home owners will listen to you,but its their decision and you have to respect that.If you get turned down,don't take it personally.We strike out sometimes,but its just a matter of fact.

 

[Kas]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

I always offer my hand to them and give them my name. I try to add something in that would be familiar to both of us. My mother lived down the road from here and told me....
I metal detect and would like to do you fields yadda yadda.

Try to make friends, and then make hay.

 

[jadewhiskey]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

Hi All,

Thanks - I guess I will just have to get some guts and just go over there... I have been chicken - but, if I really want to detect there - I guess I have to get the nerves and just ask...

I have been afraid of walking in on a service or something... I just won't go on Sunday morning ...

I think I will stop by tomorrow and ask - I will let you all know how it turns out...

Thanks again.

JadeWhiskey

 

[Disciple]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

Hi All,

Thanks - I guess I will just have to get some guts and just go over there... I have been

I have been afraid of walking in on a service or something... I just won't go on Sunday morning ...

I think I will stop by tomorrow and ask - I will let you all know how it turns out...

Thanks again.

JadeWhiskey

If you don't go tomorrow .. or Saturday .. Go Sunday and wait for the service to get over. Everyone is in a good mood and you def. would not be bothering them. You can do it!
I believe in you

_ Valarie _

 

[Ridley]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

Jade,
Here's a few more tips before you go.

If you smoke, keep your cigarettes in the car. Dress neatly and make sure you shave. Depending on the size of the church, they probably have a Secretary. Be prepared to talk with the Secretary. Be friendly, and simply explain that you live nearby and your hobby is metal detecting.

Make sure the Secretary/Pastor or whoever knows you'd be happy to show them what you might find, if anything. Also, ask if anything has been lost and offer to try to recover it.

If you know someone who lives next to the church or knows its history, mention their name. Example - "Old man Johnson said this church was built in 1896". One other thing you can do is ask if there's anyone from the church who would like to help you detect.

Be ready to leave your name and phone number. If this happens, don't worry. Sometimes it takes a while for a church to respond with permission. If it takes more than a week, you can follow up with a polite call back.

Most important of all, don't be nervous about it. You're simply doing the right thing in asking permission. If they say no, so be it. You may be surprised though.

A lot of times they say "yes".

Keep us posted!



Ridley

 

[Ridley]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

PS.

I just realized you might be a lady detectorist. If so, you can skip the shaving advice.


Good luck!




Ridley

 

[The Buzzard King]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

In that situation, absolutely face-to-face. If it's up to a "board" or "commitee" to decide, they'll probably say no. Look as best as possible, and be extremely polite. Try to find the grounds-keeper, cause he'll be the one judging your digging techniques. I just received a permission not long ago at an 1850's church myself, and it was the grounds-keeper who made the decision.
AND, take your metal detecting stuff with you when you go to ask. You might get a "one-time only" 2-3 hour permission to detect. I've learned this the hard way. Recieved permission one day, then it changes the next.
I used to get all cleaned up and go out on "permission rides", without my detector, looking for new places, only to be told YES by a husband, "if you do it now", and then get a NO the next day, after the WIFE thinks about it!
Never again.

Oh, and if you get permission, make sure you know the FULL NAME of the person who gave you permission, just in case someone objects.

 

[goldencoin]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

offer something in return, like mowing it or trimming the bushes

i'm making a website to hunt one

HH
-GC

 

[Green1]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

i'm a big fan of offering something too....

 

[Kas]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

I just got permission to hunt a church. My wife and I take a long walk early on Sunday mornings. A few weeks back we walked by this little church, very old, sandstone, and the preacher was outside. We said goodmorning and he smiled and returned the greeting. A week or so later we saw him again, same time and place. We stopped and talked a few minutes and asked him about the age of the church and other small talk. Then I told him I detect and would like to do the church yard. It isn't very big front or back. He said no problem. Come to our service some time. I did, both. Didn't find much, some wheats, few relics.

 

[imafishingnutt]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

yesterday i went into an old closed down school thats rented by anothr company to ask if i can hunt it
not only did they say yes but gave me a picture of the school taken in 1929 and it shows the kids playing on the playground out front, wich is now gone.
if i hadnt seen this photo i would have never hunted the erea the school looks the same but the grounds are different now.
the old playground is in the front wich is now the schools front lawn running along the hwy.
today i hunt it.
wish me luck.
always better to ask in person i think.

 

[LadyDigger]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

First, good luck if you are able to obtain permission to metal detect this church grounds!!!

I am doing a church now...I spoke to the TRUSTEE of the Church...(but I must say, what may have helped me there, is we are part of the Cub and Boy Scouts that hold their meetings at the church and this trustee use to metal detect many years ago!!!)...he showed me where the houses where, and good spots he felt would be good to do. I am doing a grid method right now...found some coins, nothing old by any means, yet and I also dug up a Thunderbird RIM...I think it was 1966 from the research I did...I'm cleaning it and hanging it on my wall!!! LOL

I relate all my metal detecting to genealogy ... as that is why I metal detect and also because I am writing a book. I personnally like to speak directly to an individual and I learned from a recent experience, I don't go through the grounds maintenance man, as I was told to do...I go directly to the person in charge and/or owner of the land. No MORE MIDDLE MAN/WOMAN for me again!!! That was a very historical loss there! It was a TB hospital, a POW Camp for the Germans, etc....alot of history there! Gone due to recent building of the land... ... that was a lesson well learned by me and I will try to prevent this from happening again!!

Good Luck to you and wish you wonderful finds!!!
Annmarie

 

[cosmic]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

I agree, face to face is best.. Also print up some cards to take with you, it really helps.. Do it now, as with some of them the permission will need to be approved by the council or committee..From the time I asked to the time I received permission took a month (that is how often they meet) so do it now!! By the way I'm not a people person and was hired once as supervisor because I am mean looking!!. But like anything else it gets easier the more times you do it..So far I've been lucky and have not received a "NO" yet!!

 

[Murph]

Re: What's the best way to ask permission?

The main concern for private property owners is going to be liability issues. Check to see if your state has a law that relieves them of any liability when private property is allowed to be used for recreational purposes (metal detecting).

Many states have laws like this and if your state is one of them print up some copies to give to land owners you are seeking permission from.

I see a lot of threads like this and kind of feel bad for the inland guys. I am pretty sure at this point if it were not for the public beaches I have to hunt year around I probably would not be in the hobby.