I found a valuable ring...NOW what do I do???

[33girl]

I think juniorgrrl's idea is best. You will at least know that you tried to find the owner. Oh, and I'd just say "did you lose anything when you moved out?" rather than bring up the ring. If it's really theirs you will be able to tell by their reaction.

Side note: when we sold my grandparents' house, we were unable to find my grandma's engagement ring. We did tell the incoming owners and they never found it either. I have a feeling that there is a mouse (they had tons of them) running around wearing a very spiffy necklace.

[AOIIBrandi]

Everyone is focusing on the old owners, but it could have been anyone that came in the house, from a worker to a party guest. Depending on how old the house is trying to contact everyone would be a daunting task. If it is fairly easy to track down the old owners then you could ask them if they lost a ring, but if they cannot describe it, then don't give it to them because they are probably being dishonest and just want the ring. If the old owners menitoned a missing ring then I would make every effort to return it to them. Otherwise I agree with what others have said... You signed the mortgage, your name is on the title, everything in that house and on the property belongs to you. If the old owners menitoned a missing ring then I would make every effort to return it to them

[RubberSoul]

Originally posted by cash78mere
you bought the house and everything in it. what if you found out that the stove didn't work 10 years after you bought the house, would you go find the original owners and make them pay for it? no, because it is YOUR house.

if, when you bought the house, the owners expressed how they lost a ring and if you found it to please return it, then i would say find them. but you don't know who it belonged to and WHEN it was lost. it could have been 100 years ago!

if you just bought the house like months ago, find the old owners. but if you've lived there a long time, don't bother. it will take too much time and effort and possibly money.

it is your house and your possession. enjoy it!

I have to agree with this one!!!!!!! I mean really, how does a ring get into the vents? (Actually I know the answer to this because my son figured out how to pull up the register plate and he loves to dump his Thomas trains in there......but do you think when we move someone is going to call us to let us know they found Percy the Small Green Engine?) Anyway, if someone had lost this ring and was concerned about it, they would have mentioned it. I guess you could try and locate the original owners and ask them if they lost any jewelry......I would give no further info than that. THEN if the woman cluthes her throat and says "Yes!!!!!!!!! I lost my beautiful 2.2 carat emerald-cut emerald with diamond ring in 18 k gold that my dear departed husband gave me for our tenth wedding anniversary, gee that must have been the year we lost our jobs and our cat died and all we had was each other and the ring....." THEN maybe......otherwise, it's yours, sista!!!!!!!!!!!!