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UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Come Seeking advise... (Viewed 664 times) Society Scribe  Location: Near the St. Jones River Gender: Male  |  Come Seeking advise... < on 4/11/2011 10:58 AM >   I've been plotting on going after two abandoned houses not far (driving wise) from where I live, and while I have read what I can on going into such a place, I know, and feel, that any bit of help and advise even in a text based format from more experienced people is extremely helpful in learning how to approach such activities. So I am here to ask for advice, both general and possibly more specific, from you the community (or at least whomever be willing to read this post written in sheer nervousness). I'm not expecting to be given a full guide to what to do (aka a 'full proof plan!'), if it was that simple...well then it'd be more of a tourist past time than people finding beauty in the forgotten and the challenge right? All I'm trying to do is gather as much information as possible that can hopefully prevent me from being one of the ones that have those horrific 'first-time Injury' Stories...I generally want to keep the horror injuries to my second trip...third if possible heh. Currently most of my planning has been centered around just starting UE'ing period. What clothing to wear when I do go: Jeans, long sleeved shirt, My old JROTC boots. What to take with me: Camera, Tripod for camera, Flash light, First Aid kit (Call me paranoid...but I feel like this just needs to be included >.>). I have since settled on a plausible location (I hope...). And now have entered into the phase of planning of actually getting into the place. Like I said I am looking for any advice that people may be able to give, generally or specifically. The location in question has two small houses, they are both set back from but still in sight of a four lane highway (well...they're technically between two...but can only see them from one.). The one that is really visible from the road has signs of damage to it, and doesn't look to be taken care of. The other is surrounded a bit better by trees and bushes, and the only reason I assume that it has been abandoned is that the drive is more than a little overgrown...and it has one of those pretty blue signs in front declaring the land available for commercial leasing and development. Across the highway and set back a ways is a neighborhood, and a small shopping center, and near by there is another shopping center on the same side of the road as the houses, though they are separated by a good deal of growth of the Trees, Bushes and tall Grasses variety, doubt you could actually see the location from the stores at all. In the next few days I plan on going out to look at the place closer, and hopefully will be able to get in with a friend, though if they're unable or unwilling to go I may just go at it alone...kinda want to get at these places before I move which is expected to happen in the next month or three, which is also why I'm planning on planning not doing this in the next day or so...I'm being forced to do this between the activities of deciding what to keep for the move, and packing for the move. So any advice that you may be able to give over the next few days would be appreciated greatly...either that or just...talking and stuff...I don't know...getting my feet wet with the community here I guess...with all the associated jitters...I'm going to stop typing now. paradoxjc  Location: SE pennsylvania Gender: Male  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 1 on 4/11/2011 11:27 AM >   ensure they are abandoned. i know it sounds silly repeating it when you already said it but a couple member have have gone to and in places and realized they were still occupied. and a strongly recommended reading would be access all area's http://www.infiltration.org/aaa.html The camera relieves us of the burden of memory. It surveys us like God, and it surveys for us. Yet no other god has been so cynical, for the camera records in order to forget Steed  Location: Edmonton/Seoul Gender: Male Your Friendly Neighbourhood Race Traitor  |  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 2 on 4/11/2011 12:59 PM >   You're obviously overthinking it all, but I don't see that as a negative thing. Paradoxjc is right about checking if it's abandoned. I'll list several methods that could help you. -The most obvious one, go by after dark and see if any lights are on. -Take a kind of dry run at the place, go up and look around outside without intending to go in. That'll certainly be easier than if you're intent on going in. -While there, place a piece of tape over the crack of the doors so that if someone opens one of them, the tape will break. Give it a few days. -Check for tire marks. The buildings may be abandoned, but owners may still come by. Now more general tips to help with nerves: -Bring someone with you. Don't turn it into a big group thing, because that seriously increases your profile. -Or if you're going alone, let someone know where you're going so that if anything happens, they can figure it out. -More important than a first-aid kit, bring a cell phone. -Always have an excuse prepared. Mine: I'm looking for a lost cat/following a cat I saw go into the building. Whenever I see a cat around an abandonment, I get especially brazen. -Once you're in, check for an alternative escape route. -If you get caught, keep your nerves. It'll probably be alright. -A few times when I was nervous before going into abandonments, or was waiting for someone else to leave, I had a beer. Anyway, I'm done with my overthinking. Let me know if you have more questions, and good luck. willskith  Location: Boston, MA Gender: Male  |  |  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 3 on 4/11/2011 1:22 PM >   Posted by Steed You're obviously overthinking it all, but I don't see that as a negative thing. "Overthinking it" is an understatement. Nothing to it but to do it. Just go. grit your teeth in the face of fear. self repression is the true sign of a coward, toss your inhibitions to the wind. EVmAN  Location: Mississauga, ON Gender: Male and I-- I took the path less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 4 on 4/11/2011 1:30 PM >   Posted by Society Scribe and it has one of those pretty blue signs in front declaring the land available for commercial leasing and development. so there's no NO TRESPASSING signs, but a sign saying land for sale? sounds like an open invitation to me, who's to say you're not a prospective leaser? Quit overthinking and go for it. As long as you're sure it's abandoned, it should be pretty low risk. The people on the highway have better things to worry about than that strange person poking around some old houses. The sign said "Anybody caught trespassin will be shot on sight" So I jumped on the fence and I yelled at the house, "Hey! What gives you the right?" http://www.flickr.com/photos/evman/ ahhntzville  Location: Boston  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 5 on 4/11/2011 2:14 PM >   Posted by EVmAN so there's no NO TRESPASSING signs, but a sign saying land for sale? sounds like an open invitation to me, who's to say you're not a prospective leaser? Exactly. ahhntzville  Location: Boston  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 6 on 4/11/2011 2:15 PM >   You also might consider using a bike. If the driveway isn't chained, you can be off the road and out of obvious sight in seconds. Mr_Fiend  Location: Tulsa, OK Gender: Male Infiltration Expert...  |  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 7 on 4/11/2011 2:29 PM >   Oh dear. Just approach one of the places and make sure no one sees you. Peer into a window or something. At that point you should be able to make a pretty good judgment call on whether or not it's abandoned. Then find an open window or door, go in, walk around, take pictures, take in the smells, find some sleezy porn, then leave. Repeat process for next location. I tend to avoid abandoned houses, they run a higher chance of having pissed of bums in them or being a crack/meth house. But that's why you scope it out before you go inside. https://abandonedo...bout/the-aok-team/ chicken007  Location: South Carolina Gender: Male  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 8 on 4/11/2011 3:17 PM >   I would just say bring all your stuff with you and go for it , thats how it happens for me i came i saw i conquered sums it all up. barefootpoetry  Location: PA Gender: Female  |  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 9 on 4/11/2011 5:12 PM >   Agree with the others that you're overthinking. But that's totally okay. Once you have a few places under your belt, this stuff will be second nature. It's normal to be nervous and want to plan to the Nth degree your first time. The locations you've picked sound perfect for a first timer. Don't worry about them being near roads. I've done many explores smack dab on a busy highway and no one saw me or if they did, they didn't care. Just be bold and walk in like you own the place. Recon is always a good idea, but it sounds like you've done a fair bit of that already. Although I would double and triple check the one that has a for sale sign. It is PROBABLY abandoned, but the one place I went into that wasn't abandoned had a for sale sign too, and that fooled me. So be certain. Just take a deep breath and remember that 99 times out of 100, nothing is going to go wrong. And that 1 time out of 100, the thing that goes wrong will not be a big deal (like a property owner seeing you and asking you to leave, which only sucks when you haven't gotten any good photos yet). You sound like you've thought this out and are taking all the necessary precautions. I know how it feels to know that you can do something, but just need others to tell you that you can as well. So, here ya go: YOU CAN DO IT. She who hesitates, sees bulldozers. Relocate  Location: nunyabiz Gender: Male  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 10 on 4/12/2011 5:45 AM >   Posted by barefootpoetry Agree with the others that you're overthinking. But that's totally okay. Once you have a few places under your belt, this stuff will be second nature. It's normal to be nervous and want to plan to the Nth degree your first time. The locations you've picked sound perfect for a first timer. Don't worry about them being near roads. I've done many explores smack dab on a busy highway and no one saw me or if they did, they didn't care. Just be bold and walk in like you own the place. Recon is always a good idea, but it sounds like you've done a fair bit of that already. Although I would double and triple check the one that has a for sale sign. It is PROBABLY abandoned, but the one place I went into that wasn't abandoned had a for sale sign too, and that fooled me. So be certain. Just take a deep breath and remember that 99 times out of 100, nothing is going to go wrong. And that 1 time out of 100, the thing that goes wrong will not be a big deal (like a property owner seeing you and asking you to leave, which only sucks when you haven't gotten any good photos yet). You sound like you've thought this out and are taking all the necessary precautions. I know how it feels to know that you can do something, but just need others to tell you that you can as well. So, here ya go: YOU CAN DO IT. +1 This about sums it up. Take that first step, confidence will come in time... To fail in what you've yet to achieve is more the spirit of exploration than to make no attempt at all. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Tom133t   |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 11 on 4/12/2011 1:29 PM >   Your first UE will usually be pretty terrifying and you'll second-guess yourself a lot. The first bump you hear inside a building will make you nearly piss yourself. Your best bet is to park somewhere nearby (like a shopping center or something), and walk over there. Stay out of view of the road if possible, but don't duck and cover like you're being shot at. Just stroll on in. If it's abandoned, awesome. If you're not sure, calmly call out "Hello? Is there anybody here? If somebody is here, just tell me and I'll leave. I just want to take some pictures." Entry shouldn't be too hard if the buildings are falling apart. After a few times, you'll get a much better idea of the optimal exploring mindset, and your fear will just turn into competent caution and mental sharpness, which is a very good thing to have. barefootpoetry  Location: PA Gender: Female  |  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 12 on 4/12/2011 1:55 PM >   Posted by Tom133t "Hello? Is there anybody here? If somebody is here, just tell me and I'll leave. I just want to take some pictures." I often do this at locations I'm not sure are entirely empty. Whether they be inhabited by bums, junkies, or actual tenants. So far so good, nobody has answered me yet. She who hesitates, sees bulldozers. Tom133t   |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 13 on 4/12/2011 4:15 PM >   Posted by barefootpoetry I often do this at locations I'm not sure are entirely empty. Whether they be inhabited by bums, junkies, or actual tenants. So far so good, nobody has answered me yet. Same here XD I figure that that's a pretty good way of checking for abandonment. If somebody is inside and they hear that, then there's no need for them to get hostile. They just tell you to leave. Society Scribe  Location: Near the St. Jones River Gender: Male  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 14 on 4/15/2011 1:59 AM >   Posted by barefootpoetry I know how it feels to know that you can do something, but just need others to tell you that you can as well. So, here ya go: YOU CAN DO IT. That honestly served as a nice boot to the rear. Managed to finally get a day of quiet to go out to them. Was Nervous as heck when I first parked and was walking towards them (Parked down at shopping center down the road), however did manage to calm down once inside the first. Anyways... Have the pictures in a set on Flickr here: http://www.flickr....72157626375630735/ but pulling two that I like out of there that I like: Chair left behind by SocietyScribe, on Flickr A chair left in one of the basements and... Writing Room: Awesome Wall by SocietyScribe, on Flickr A wall that had a bit of writing, well actually all four walls of that room and scribbling all over it. But all in all...enjoyed doing it, and looking forward towards my next attempt... NiiCKx3  Location: W.V.  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 15 on 4/15/2011 2:13 AM >   Glad you went out and did it! Looks like the sites I've been too so far. Houses are fun and exciting in their own way. Less breaking, more entering -- *tells cop we're taking pictures* "OF WUUUUT?!" Tom133t   |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 16 on 4/15/2011 3:07 AM >   Very nice, and congratulations on going. You'll feel more confident and savvy every time you go. Relocate  Location: nunyabiz Gender: Male  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 17 on 4/15/2011 5:23 AM >   Hell yea ya did it! Those cardboard cutouts would freak someone out at night...imagine turning a corner, seeing those shapes! good stuff! To fail in what you've yet to achieve is more the spirit of exploration than to make no attempt at all. -Neil deGrasse Tyson nunyrdambizness  Location: PA, USA Gender: Male  |  |  Re: Come Seeking advise... <Reply # 18 on 4/20/2011 3:27 AM >   Congrats! Great find and great captures. My first was 'ol Henryton with 2 friends (their first too). We over-prepared, over packed, and over stayed into the night. What a mistake that was. All kinds of creepers there once the sun goes down. We did learn a lot as I'm sure you did too. UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Come Seeking advise... (Viewed 664 times) All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire. To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site: UER CONTACT View Terms of Service | View Privacy Policy | Server colocation provided by Beanfield This page was generated for you in 234 milliseconds. 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