As soon as practicable after seizure of property, notice in writing shall be given by the commissioner or the commissioner's delegate to the owner of the property, or, in the case of personal property, the possessor of the personal property, or shall be left at the owner's or possessor's usual place of abode or business if the owner or possessor has such within the state. If the owner cannot be readily located, or has no dwelling or place of business within the state, the notice may be mailed to the owner's last known address. Such notice shall specify the sum demanded and shall contain, in the case of personal property, an account of the property seized and, in the case of real property, a description, with reasonable certainty, of the property seized.