Writing letters requesting permission

[Kale1278]

Anyone have any luck writing letters requesting permission? I have sent out 25 +/- hand written letters along with a small permission slip with and return envelope addressed and stamped. It's been about a month since I mailed the first one, but I still have yet to get anything back.

Anyone have luck with this? What other methods are working for you? I tries message vis social media too. I had one respond with a NO, but otherwise no other responses.

Ideas?

[rx8driver]

Much more luck knock and face to face smile!

[amc rulz]

Originally Posted by Kale1278 View post
Anyone have any luck writing letters requesting permission? I have sent out 25 +/- hand written letters along with a small permission slip with and return envelope addressed and stamped. It's been about a month since I mailed the first one, but I still have yet to get anything back.

Anyone have luck with this? What other methods are working for you? I tries message vis social media too. I had one respond with a NO, but otherwise no other responses.

Ideas?

If you were to join your local historical group you might increase your luck having that credential under your belt.

[Kale1278]

Originally Posted by amc rulz View post
If you were to join your local historical group you might increase your luck having that credential under your belt.

Good idea, thank you!

[imukdiver]

You gotta put yourself in the home owners shoes. Say you get a letter in the mail from somebody you don't know. Even if you open it and read it are you gonna respond ? Most likely you'll just throw it in the trash and move on with your life.
You will ALWAYS do better face to face.

[kweis]

I've written several letters this year. Most all responded back by email or called. All were polite no's save for one which was an existing acquaintance. Main reasons for the no's were liabilities it seems. My asking in person or by phone is about 80% positive though. Obviously the covid virus isn't helping things out here with the private permissions. My advice is to seize the moment when you meet someone who has an old property. Try neighbors from those permissions gained.

[Bill_Ace_350]

I think face to face is the way to go, if possible.

[Kale1278]

Originally Posted by imukdiver View post
You gotta put yourself in the home owners shoes. Say you get a letter in the mail from somebody you don't know. Even if you open it and read it are you gonna respond ? Most likely you'll just throw it in the trash and move on with your life.
You will ALWAYS do better face to face.

Good Thought, I completely agree. Most, but not all, of the letters I have sent were in cases where the owner does not live on the property (vacant or rental) or its owned by a commercial company. I reckon I will go door knocking on Saturday. Wish me luck!

[Kale1278]

Originally Posted by kweis View post
I've written several letters this year. Most all responded back by email or called. All were polite no's save for one which was an existing acquaintance. Main reasons for the no's were liabilities it seems. My asking in person or by phone is about 80% positive though. Obviously the covid virus isn't helping things out here with the private permissions. My advice is to seize the moment when you meet someone who has an old property. Try neighbors from those permissions gained.

I may try the phone call for please where the property is a vacant lot, or commercial. Otherwise, I guess I need to go to the door. Maybe instead for taking 3 -5 steps back i will completely remove myself from the porch, maybe have a mask on that is pulled down a bit so they can see my face...haha.

[kweis]

Just to add that most of the farms around here now are in the name of a corporate body, especially if the property is being rented out. Any property here in an inc or llc are usually automatic no's. Everybody is scared of being sued or you will damage their property somehow albeit unintentionally. Not good.

[ToySoldier]

Originally Posted by Kale1278 View post
Anyone have any luck writing letters requesting permission? I have sent out 25 +/- hand written letters along with a small permission slip with and return envelope addressed and stamped. It's been about a month since I mailed the first one, but I still have yet to get anything back.

Anyone have luck with this? What other methods are working for you? I tries message vis social media too. I had one respond with a NO, but otherwise no other responses.

Ideas?

I only do it if there's no way to introduce myself face to face. Yes, I have had owners email and call me back and received permission. A few a year. It's a lot of effort and has a lower success rate than face to face. As others have said, some people will immediately toss it. But, for those who don't, the content of the letter can really make the difference and you hope you luck out by saying the right things to the right person.

[CTpilgrim]

I agree that face to face is the best way to get permissions, although COVID has made it more difficult. Also I tell homeowners that I will show them anything I find and they are welcome to have anything they want( what you show them is up to you). I’ve found that most people that live in an old house are very curious about what’s in the ground so they are likely to say yes when you strike up a conversation with them. I’ve given a lot of stuff away but I’ve found some people are very intrigued by what you find and don’t want anything. Also by getting one good permission and forming a good rapport with the owner a lot of times leads to more permissions with the neighbors. Ditch the letters and go face to face. You’d be surprised how many people are as enthusiastic as you are about history. And if they aren’t, move on to the next. Good luck out there

[randy]

It is harder to say no to a person standing right there, than it is to a letter.

If I got a letter from someone claiming to be a photographer from the historical society, who wanted to photograph my house, I would toss it. Just think of the scam possibilities if nothing else. However, if someone knocked on my door carrying cameras and seemed credibly interested in history and convinced me they were with the historical society, I would say no problem.

[Tom_in_CA]

Originally Posted by rx8driver View post
Much more luck knock and face to face smile!

Originally Posted by imukdiver View post
You gotta put yourself in the home owners shoes. Say you get a letter in the mail from somebody you don't know. Even if you open it and read it are you gonna respond ? Most likely you'll just throw it in the trash and move on with your life.
You will ALWAYS do better face to face.

Originally Posted by Bill_Ace_350 View post
I think face to face is the way to go, if possible.

Originally Posted by randy View post
It is harder to say no to a person standing right there, than it is to a letter....

Good answers. Because let's be honest fellows : What do YOU do with junk mail from a total stranger ?? You throw it away, right ? So too will your letter end up in their trash can.



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Originally Posted by kweis View post
..... Main reasons for the no's were liabilities it seems...

Originally Posted by kweis View post
..... Everybody is scared of being .....

These are just "polite ways to say 'no' to you". Because even if you whip out a liability insurance policy that you keep on your own self, they will STILL say "no". The truth is, they just don't want to be bothered. And this line is just a polite way to say 'bug off'.

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Originally Posted by amc rulz View post
If you were to join your local historical group you might increase your luck having that credential under your belt.

This has been my best tactic. It opens up a lot of doors, and gives a sense of credibility, purpose, etc.... Not to mention name-dropping, back-room archives to exploit in research, etc.... And it's kind of fun to be civically involved, lead tours, man a desk for 6 hrs. per month, etc.....

[Beachhunter]

Originally Posted by Tom_in_CA View post
This has been my best tactic. It opens up a lot of doors, and gives a sense of credibility, purpose, etc.... Not to mention name-dropping, back-room archives to exploit in research, etc.... And it's kind of fun to be civically involved, lead tours, man a desk for 6 hrs. per month, etc.....

This^

[Kale1278]

update.... Tried a new approach, a thank you card (well postcard) . I sent 6 out and with in 10 day had 3 calls granting me permission. I only send 5 cards out. Once this Covid !!!! is better I will try the door knocking. I have met two property owners and it seems most people are pretty interested in what we are finding. Both that I have met don't know the neighbors, as they are investors, but maybe one day I can get a warm referral.

[randy]

Originally Posted by Kale1278 View post
Both that I have met don't know the neighbors, as they are investors, but maybe one day I can get a warm referral.

This reminds me of a silly story that has happened twice. I'm detecting a permission site (owner occupied single family home in a neighborhood), and a neighbor comes over and gives me attitude.

"Do you have permission to be there?"

"No, I just randomly drive around and trespass on people's lawns and dig gopher holes".

You never know who you will meet out there.

I've never actually gotten a neighbor referral, but I tend to stick to the more isolated farmhouses that are old and not in neighborhoods. But, there are some old neighborhoods around here; I've done a bit of it but might be worth more effort (one of the stories above was from a 50s neighborhood, which normally I would not do, but I did find 4 silvers there).

Good luck in any case. I too have not done any door knocking since the virus.

[Bill - De]

Originally Posted by Tom_in_CA View post
Good answers. Because let's be honest fellows : What do YOU do with junk mail from a total stranger ?? You throw it away, right ? So too will your letter end up in their trash can.



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These are just "polite ways to say 'no' to you". Because even if you whip out a liability insurance policy that you keep on your own self, they will STILL say "no". The truth is, they just don't want to be bothered. And this line is just a polite way to say 'bug off'.

----------------



This has been my best tactic. It opens up a lot of doors, and gives a sense of credibility, purpose, etc.... Not to mention name-dropping, back-room archives to exploit in research, etc.... And it's kind of fun to be civically involved, lead tours, man a desk for 6 hrs. per month, etc.....

Couldn't agree more. ^^^

[Huckleberry]

I haven't tried the snail mail approach, and have only tried the email approach on two occasions last year (due to the controlyavirus). Both were schools. One was a positive response (a public school), and the other email was never answered (private school). And, yea, I know that public schools are "public" property, but with everything going on with the schools, I just feel that getting the OK to hunt is a good idea. JMHO

[Tom_in_CA]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry View post
.... And, yea, I know that public schools are "public" property, but with everything going on with the schools, I just feel that getting the OK to hunt is a good idea. JMHO

You were playing Russian Roulette with that. Because, let's just say someone, who answered your email, had whimsically decided "no". Then guess what happens ? : That same desk-jockey (who perhaps never gave the matter a moment's thought prior to that), guess what will happen the NEXT time he happens to pass by the yard , and see another md'r ? He'll remember the earlier inquiry and think "Aha! there's one of *them*". And start booting others.