Mailing Letters

[FuzzyBBA]

Has anyone had success with mailing letters to people out of town with abandoned houses in your area and getting permission to detect?

I've got an area with a bunch of old houses built in 1901 that are basically just falling in... Very few people live anymore and the owners have moved away...
Still has a lot of traffic though...

[Mick56]

I have never sent a letter, but I would suspect that not many people would take the time to reply.

[ga5150]

Mailing a letter would be very "old school". Maybe if you enclosed a stamped self addressed envelope it would help encourage a response. It will cost you nearly a dollar per letter at that point though. I think older/elderly people may be more likely to respond since they are the generation that communicated through letters and not computer/email.

Just my .02

[searchin-the-UK]

Good thread!, im about to do this myself, I've had some letterheads drawn up, and I was going to put stamped envelopes inside to return a form with their answer, I've also got my email and phone number on the letterhead, the problem im having is the wording of the letter itself!.

[Poslo]

Follow ups? Did you get any responses?

[searchin-the-UK]

I havent sent them yet, but i will update as soon as i have any responses when i do

[ebone581]

I have sent 2 out. 1 to the property owner of an old Drive-In and the other to a friends aunt (who he isn't close with) who has a circa 1920 home, that she never stays at. Both with phone numbers, email, and self add stamp env. Hope it works... would really like to hit that old house.

[searchin-the-UK]

Good luck with that my friend, im hoping to get mine out this week, update when you have some news

[searchin-the-UK]

Ok so I sent out 25 letters on Friday with stamp addressed envelope and had the first reply yesterday saying no as their farm is rented. Got another 24 chances though so fingers crossed

[ebone581]

Enough time has passed. Think it is safe to say i am 0 for 2. No responses. Well...they didnt say no. I should risk it!

[searchin-the-UK]

They may just be dragging their heels with it, try sending another letter to the same people in case they've mislayed it. Worst they can say is no. We darent risk going on unauthorised property in the UK, its a criminal offence now I believe

[ebone581]

I was kidding about. Not worth the possible charges being placed

[searchin-the-UK]

Had 2 more replies back both polite stating that they already have detectorists on their farms, 22 more to go so here's hoping

[searchin-the-UK]

Another 2 "already have detectorists" replies arrived back yesterday, although one actually took the time to write his own reply using his own envelope and even attached a compliment slip which I thought was a very gentlemanly way to reply. Im busy collecting another batch of 25 farms just in case I need them!

[MisterSilver]

Yep a lot of houses here in WV are abandoned and forgot about in the mountains. I've had to climb through brush, thorns, and poison Ivy just for a house that's still technically claimed. Try mailing letters and tell us how it works out I may try it.

[Milhaus]

Include a phone number and offer to meet with them briefly at a location of their choosing to chat about your request. If anyone is apt to take a written request seriously they would probably also want to talk to you to gauge your character.

[searchin-the-UK]

Yep that's all in there, I put my phone number, email, and a tick form with stamp addressed envelope, so far they're returning the forms by post, im hoping sombody will say yes as I found out yesterday that one of my farms is being sold for houses!