How Do I Sell My Timber

How Do I Sell My Timber? A Timber Sales Article

1. Hire the help!
Hire a professional forester or timber sales agent to represent you. A sawmill or wood
manufacturing corporation does not represent you; they all want one thing: your timber for
the lowest possible price, so they can make the most profit. A timber forester or sales
administrator will provide all services necessary to complete an effective timber sale from
start to finish while protecting your forest investment and objectives.

2. Know your Timber Tract Boundaries!
Your forester or agent will visit your property to map and mark your timber tract boundary
lines. We will provide you with detailed timber tract maps using the latest topographical
mapping software.

3. Know your Timber Volume.
Estimating volumes of rough wood products requires knowledge of the various units of timber
measurement and how to obtain accuracy in these measurements.

4. Timber species.
Timber marketing is highly specialized. Exact tree species must be recognized and will allow for
an efficient offering to the best markets and thus, obtain the best price.

5. Timber Quality and Quantity.
Typically, large trees that are free from knots, defects and lower limbs are the most valuable.
Timber is given different grades that pertain to the quality. (ie. Veneer) Knowing the quality of
your timber will bring premium prices at sale time. The quality, quantity, volume and species
data will give a useful estimate of the dollar amount you can expect to receive.

6. Forest Issues.
Discuss with your forester or agent your specific goals for your forest. Ultimately, your goals
will determine what type of timber harvest will be utilized. (ie. logging methods such as, select
cut or clear cut)

7. Find a Timber Buyer.
For most tracts of timber, the best and most fair method to all parties involved is to implement
the a timber sale with a sealed bid process. Your agent will show a number of companies the
timber on your property. Each company will submit a bid by the closing date. Your forester
will then review the timber bids with you. This process may take a few weeks to a few months.

8. Timber Sale Contract Negotiations.
Your forester will draw up a legally binding timber sale contract to be signed by all involved
parties. This contract will include a legal description of your property, sale price and method of
payment, title guarantee, buyers right of access to the timber, liability issues, effective and
termination date, penalty clauses, arbitration methods, witnessed signatures and other factors.

9. Timber Sale Contract Compliance.
Your agent will visit your property to ensure the logging company is meeting all contractual
obligations of the timber sale contract. (including taking only the logs or trees specified!)
Typically, a final site evaluation is necessary to ensure that certain logging areas have been
smoothed and seeded to protect the soil from further erosion.

10. Sit Back and Relax!
We promise to take the time necessary for you to reach an informed decision-- one that you
feel comfortable with. Be confident that our team of foresters will actively market your timber
to the top paying buyers in the region.