Posted by 1footinthegrave Hola! I'm an female explorer and have a lot on the line career wise, so I don't do the breaking and entering thing. I always ask permission. I know...some think that's uber lame and maybe not even real exploring. But, for me, if its not way out in the country and clearly abandoned - I ask permission. My question to you is: Is there any way that I should NOT approach you while asking for access permission? My approach has always just been honest and forthright. " Hey, this is my hobby, I love history, I have a waiver of liability (and I do) its notarized (and it is), do you mind if I look around a bit or could you show me around a little bit?"

That's essentially the best way to ask, nice and to the point. Depending on who you get they may allow it. But in my experience most guards wont want to risk allowing it and will call their supervisor. But if it works its works

There's a big abandoned hospital in my town, I went the first time, I got kicked out by the security, second time I got spot on by another guard randomly (that was creeepy), I told him I'm there to take pictures and show my equipment and he let me. The third time, I got spot on by the first guard and will call police if i don't leave ))

Posted by 1footinthegrave My approach has always just been honest and forthright. " Hey, this is my hobby, I love history, I have a waiver of liability (and I do) its notarized (and it is), do you mind if I look around a bit or could you show me around a little bit?"

That does sound pretty handy. Do you have to get a new unique waiver for every building you explore, or do you just have one general waiver that you make copies of every time you need it? Also, how much did it cost you to get it notarized?

Posted by 1footinthegrave I have a waiver of liability (and I do) its notarized (and it is)

This is a neat idea for a tool! Say you were out exploring something you thought was abandoned but then were approached - then you could at least say "I'm not a threat to you legally." Have you ever gotten to use it retroactively? And generally what is the wording you use? I'd be interested in keeping one on myself.

Edit - got excited and replied before seeing some others with similar questions, but I guess that just means it could be a worthwhile idea!

Posted by Aran Also, how much did it cost you to get it notarized?

Almost every bank has a notary on staff. Your bank will notarize something for free, provided signatures and dates are made in their presence. MOST other banks will also do it for free, whether you have an account or not. Some might charge a few bucks.

The document itself you can Google for a copy. Look for a .pdf or .doc link, most of the others will say "free", but as you customize it and a create req'd account, they will charge you for it or give you the "free but we will automatically bill you if you do not cancel in 7 days" BS.

I keep a few in my glove box, but they are not notarized. All my info is already filled in, I would just fill in the property info, and signatures. Since THEY are the ones this document protects, I wouldn't bother with a copy for me. I personally, have not used any as of yet. I went generic and un-notarized because I think if I am rejected, I would be rejected no matter how detailed and official my document is.

I think this is a great idea, as most property owners are concerned of one thing - their liability. Because if you ask permission, you probably aren't there to vandalize or steal. People are dicks - especially us sue-happy Americans. It blows me away to read tales of explorers suing when they are injured, AND winning. I even recently read a tale of guy who was granted possession of the property in question in his law suit. It makes me sick. Your in a building that has been abandoned for 35yrs. You're are walking on a floor with no roof over it, water squishing out of rotten wood with each step, 10yr old trees growing in said floor. You mean the fact that you might fall through that floor never occurred to you? You know it did - you're not stupid - just a dick with $$ for eyes.

Posted by m.r.makaveli Hey fellow security guard, did you work black Friday at the mall? And if so how much of a hell of earth was it for you?

Thank God, I never worked Black Friday at the mall. When I worked retail, I did work Black Friday there. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Eight hours went by so fast because I was constantly interacting with customers and swapping out to ring people up every so often.

Posted by 1footinthegrave My question to you is: Is there any way that I should NOT approach you while asking for access permission? My approach has always just been honest and forthright. " Hey, this is my hobby, I love history, I have a waiver of liability (and I do) its notarized (and it is), do you mind if I look around a bit or could you show me around a little bit?"

Be honest, genuine, and demonstrate some kind of knowledge to the officer that would further reinforce the idea that you are not some dumb person wandering around. A guard might just let you walk around for a while, but some may not. In terms of waivers, if you were able to get a waiver at a place I worked, that meant I would know when you were coming and where you were going ahead of time and it's unlikely I'd even approach you in the first place.

I've had contractors doing work on-site ask if I would show them around and I've made that happen, which is the closest I've personally come to it. I figured since they were already approved to do work, it didn't matter if we walked off for a few minutes. If you can get one, it definitely doesn't hurt. As I and many others in the thread have noted, the biggest issue for trespassers on site is legal liability for injuries, followed by liability for damage to the property.