Need to dig small hole maybe 2 in some one's yard. How to ask politely and would a payment be appropriate ?

If you came to me, and said you had previously owned my house, and told me that story, I would go along with your plan IF you had proof of previous ownership.I would also insist on watching this excavation, and see the contents of the box (which you had already told me).Then I would expect you to leave the yard the same way you found it.I wouldn't want anything for doing it as long as you fixed my lawn. 8/11

Many people probably wouldn't care, UNLESS they thought the treasure was a lot. Then they would have no obligation to let you on their property. When they bought the property, they got everything with it.

A nice neighbor may go along with it but then change their mind when they see something they like in the box. Plus, if it is possible you wont find it and have to dig a bunch of hole, I would expect them to feel less kindly about it.

I wouldn't care if it was me, but it isn't. Be prepared to give up something on this or at least have some work making the yard nice again. It won't be as simple as throwing the dirt back in and dropping the sod back on it. It would be up to the new owner if the job was done "right" or not and then you may end up with some legal problems.

wish you luck and do let us know what happens. Once you tell this person, they may get a metal detector and get it themselves so just be aware this can happen.

Geez, just knock on the door, ask permission for small hole and promise to put everything back like it was and then do so. If it's a metal box not too far underground the metal detector should pick it up. Just be very careful and very neat about what you do. Also take a bucket or something to put the dirt in so that you don't ruin their grass. They can only say no and if they do don't give the location until they say yes and you start to dig.

I can't BEGIN to tell you the number of times people have knocked on my door when I lived in a house with a similar story. If I didn't let them look, they'd jump the fence or have someone else do it for them. Once I got angry & dug up the spot myself just to see if there really WAS anything there. I found something alright. It was a paint can with a glass jar of some type of chemical inside of it. The problem was that the can had rusted through & the the metal lid on the glass jar had started to corrode. The people asking for it were convinced that I had stolen their compound & it opening up a whole new set of problems for me & my then 11 year old child. Whatever you left is no longer yours. I suggest you just forget about it. You might be digging up someone else's buried treasure too & it could bring you more grief than it's worth.

Do you still have friends in the neighborhood that may know the people that now live there? If so, maybe you could approach them and explain your situation. If they know the people well enough, they could probably give you some direction or even ask on your behalf. In this day & age, I really would not start digging without permission. Too many people are gun happy and shoot first and ask questions later.

I hope the next time you consider the use of a safety deposit box. Good luck.

If I was the current owner of the house I would be very surprised at your request. I'd have some questions about why you waited over 10 years to dig it up. I would ask if it was something illegal. Can you prove you own it? Can you prove you lived in the house? After you satisfied my curiosity then I would let you dig up your box but I would be standing right beside you while you were digging it up. I would expect you to fill in the hole and replant my grass or flowers or whatever was growing there.

Good luck. Hope this story has a happy ending for you.

I think a lot of people would be understanding and would allow you to dig as long as you left the yard as you found it. Others, may refuse and go looking for buried treasure themselves. You have to decide if its worth the risk. If you still know the neighbors, you could get some idea about the new owners from them. Perhaps the neighbors would be happy to accompany you when you approach the new owner. Having current residents verify your identity as a former owner would be helpful. People are less likely to be jerks when their current neighbors are present.

If it was on our property, we would have absolutely no problem with it as long as you asked, and explained the situation. I'm really good at putting myself in someone else's shoes, I would be able to understand how you feel. Unfortunately, not everyone is that way. Just do your best to explain nicely about it, hopefully they will say yes, go ahead. I wouldn't do it behind their backs, that could mean trouble for sure. And I hope you know exactly where to dig, wouldn't want to make more holes than necessary! Good luck, I hope it works out.

This could get tricky depending on what kind of people now live there.

On one hand, they might be perfectly nice people and it may be no problem at all.

On the flip side, they might just say no. Then, get a metal detector and go on a treasure hunt. Nothing you could really do, since you sold the property and its now theirs.

Give this a lot of thought.

Maybe you could "case" the house on a mild temperatured Sunday afternoon. Maybe you could get a glimpse of them..and kinda get a "feel" for the situation.

* On this note, I would say it was family pictures that you felt could get destroyed in a storm ( depending on your location) or a fire etc. --and you looked for them, and finally remembered what happened to them.

Jewelry or Money Lots of people would say no, TODAY, because thats the way folks are, nowadays

I'd let you dig in my yard for your treasure. About 20 years ago, my doorbell rang, and an elderly couple was at the door. They told me that they had been married in my living room 50 years before and would like to come in and stand at the spot in front of the fireplace where they were married. I let them in, and it turns out that the woman's parents were the original owners of the house. She told me lots about the history of my old house right down to explaining the black stain on the pine floor in the kitchen. It was a delightful visit that I'll always remember.

Interesting dilemma NJSS.

As others have said, be open and honest and if these folk are reasonable and very curious as to what could be buried in their backyard, I'm sure they will say Yes, come on down!!!

Just leave the hole as you found it, maybe bake them a cake or give them a bottle of wine, etc. for their understanding and assistance.