Tips for Landowners Selling Timber

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Selling timber is a once or maybe twice in a lifetime event for most landowners, so there is a lot at stake to get the sale right. It’s important that landowners understand the value of their timber, which varies based on the size, quality and species of the timber on their land.

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“Many landowners are unsure of the value of their timber, let alone what to do once their land has been harvested,” State Forester Greg Pate says. “Like any agricultural crop, we want to see timber owners get the best return for their investment, but we hope they will commit to re-planting so the next generation will also benefit.”

The demand and price for many wood products can vary greatly depending on the current market. Landowners who ask the right questions and approach the sale of their timber in a business-like manner, generally see rewards for their efforts.

One such way is to seek professional assistance, whether it’s working with staff at the N.C. Forest Service or hiring a private consulting forester. Studies have shown that professional assistance can net the landowner upwards of 23 percent more income per acre than trying to sell the timber without it.

Consulting foresters understand what questions to ask that relate to the current fair market value of the timber. They can also look at a stand of trees and determine if the trees are financially mature and ready to be harvested. Consulting foresters also work closely with timber buyers and can often negotiate a good price on the landowner’s behalf.

Whether or not a landowner chooses to employ a consulting forester or seek assistance from the N.C. Forest Service, he should take proactive measures such as having a forest management plan. A professional forester can not only prepare such a plan, but also offer supporting information that can help with implementation of the plan’s recommendations. Additional information, such as sustainable forest management techniques, contact lists for various types of service providers, and cost-share assistance details can also be found on the N.C. Forest Service website.

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Other Points to Consider
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler cautions landowners to be wary of unsolicited offers from people offering cash for their timber. “If a landowner is serious about selling timber, before entering into any agreement, they should first contact a consulting forester or the N.C. Forest Service,” Troxler says. “Whatever they do, they need to be sure to get several quotes to ensure they are receiving fair market value for their timber.”

The vast majority of loggers and timber buyers are honest professionals who take pride in their timber harvests, appreciate forest stewardship and respect environmental values. However, problems such as timber trespass situations can occur. Unmarked property lines tend to be the leading cause in timber trespass cases.

Most property boundaries in forests are obscure and “accidental” removal of trees happens. If your boundary lines are unclear, a survey by a licensed surveyor would be a wise investment. Property boundaries should be well-marked with posted signs or paint and should be inspected annually.

Whether the logger is intentionally on your property or not, in most cases the cut trees are discovered after the fact. This can occur years after the harvest, making it difficult to recover financial losses.

If you notice that timber has been cut on your property, you should consider addressing the issue with the logger. If the logger is unresponsive to your concerns or you are unable to locate him, call your county sheriff’s office. A consulting forester can also help you address these issues, especially if you have a well-written forest management plan and tract map.

Prior to any harvest activity, the property lines should be properly marked either by the landowner or the consulting forester selling the timber on the landowner’s behalf. A map and detailed timber sale contract should also be supplied to every operator on the logging crew. A pre-harvest meeting should be held with the consulting forester, timber buyer, wood dealer, landowner, or anyone else who is involved with the harvesting operation.

Forest owners can protect themselves by walking the boundaries of their woodlots, especially if there are any logging operations occurring near their property.
If an adjacent landowner is selling timber, you should walk the line with him or the logger to prevent property line misunderstandings. Landowners should also inspect the property during, and several days after, the neighbor’s harvest to prevent illegal entry or their trees from being cut. If the landowner isn’t able to do this, he should consider hiring a consulting forester to inspect the forest for him.

Hunters and recreationists who are on the land with permission, as well as neighbors and others, may also be willing to help keep an eye on the property. The fact that the property is being watched may help prevent harvesting mistakes or timber theft.

Landowners should also make a copy of the deed to their property and have it available. This will help protect the landowner by clearly defining ownership. Landowners should have the perimeter of the harvest marked and explain their sale contract policy if unmarked trees are cut.

Check credentials of consulting foresters, timber buyers and loggers prior to agreeing to have them assist you. In many cases, registered foresters are employed by logging companies. A registered forester is held to ethical and technical business standards and can function to purchase, supervise and help execute timber sales.
Landowners should also carefully review any proposed contract to ensure it addresses their best interests. If they need help with the contracting process, landowners should consider hiring a consulting forester. For more complex situations, a contract attorney may be warranted. You should also read the forestry leaflet Timber Sale Contract Considerations [PDF].

Visit the “Managing Your Forest” section of the N.C. Forest Service’s website to learn more about pre-harvest planning. For a list of consulting foresters in your area, contact your county ranger’s office or go to the “Contact Us” link on the N.C. Forest Service website and locate your county in the drop down menu. A list of consulting foresters that service your area can be found on your county contact page.

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A Forester Can Help:

  • By determining the maturity, value, and demand for your timber
  • By advising you on selling forest products, applying for cost sharing, and minimizing taxes
  • By handling legal and regulatory issues, reforestation planning, and water quality concerns
  • By making long-term management plans

Be Informed:

  • Timber is often sold once in a lifetime.
  • Timber prices depend on species, size, quality, competitive markets, and other factors.
  • Timber harvesting affects the future of your land, as well as the condition of water, wildlife, aesthetics, and young timber.
  • Timber harvesting laws and regulations must be addressed to avoid fines.
  • Tax laws on timber sales can be complex, and a forester can help explain them.
  • It is important to plan for reforestation. Financial help is available for this.
    Sources: North Carolina Cooperative Extension and North Carolina Division of Forest Resources

Before You Sell

Here are some questions to ask before selling your timber:

  • Which trees should I sell?
  • How soon should I market them?
  • Are property and cutting boundaries well marked?
  • What is the growth rate?
  • What is the current timber market price trend?
  • What is the timber volume and by which log rule?
  • What is the fair market value of my timber?
  • Are the trees financially mature?
  • Who and where are the appropriate timber buyers?
  • What sale method should I use?
  • How will the income be taxed?
  • How should I re-forest harvested areas?
  • How can I get advice from a professional?

14 Comments

  1. Shelia Stephenson

    March 16, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    I am in need of a forester to visit my home and assist me in analyzing issues such as erosion and which trees I should sell. I would also like a list of timber purchasers.

  2. Ashley Reed

    September 8, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    I didn’t know that it was so rare to harvest timber. I’ve been wanting to use it for projects, but it’s usually pretty expensive. Is that just because it’s more rare, or because it’s better? Thanks for all the great information about it! http://www.trussesandframe.com.au/products-and-services

  3. sam wilkins

    May 2, 2016 at 10:14 pm

    Great tip about considering how you can get advice from a professional. Personally, I think you should ask for help when you don’t know when it comes to a lot of things. That way you can learn and be sure it’s done the right way. My sister was talking about selling some timber, so maybe I will send her this article to help her out. http://www.hayters.com.au/sawmill-and-firewood

  4. Tom

    June 7, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    What you suppose to do when no foresters wanna help you cause you only have 4 acres? they just shrug me off and give me numbers to loggers which just say they gonna come or call but never do, couple made low ball offers and then bs’ed. i have high quality trees wanting to get them cut to start a farm, its been over a year messing with greedy people.

  5. April Cook

    August 3, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I really like your tip to get a survey done so you can make sure that you only cut down timber on your property. I also like your tip to follow laws and regulations to avoid fines. Where can I go to find out what the laws are in my area? Thanks for this information. http://www.neeleyforestryservice.com/timber.php

  6. Zequek Estrada

    July 11, 2017 at 9:25 am

    This had some great information. I liked that tip about consulting with a forester before selling timber. That sounds like a great way to make sure you’re protected. http://hhtimber.com/

  7. Ivy Baker

    February 13, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    I liked that you pointed out that timber can normally only be sold once in a lifetime. It is good to know that you should get a professional to help you know if you can sell the timber that is on the property. It does seem like a good thing to be aware of when you want to sell timber. http://morris-depew.com/surveying-and-mapping/

  8. DBuslach

    March 15, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    I have quite a few pine trees around my home and I would like to thin them out a bit. Is there any company that buys from smaller lots or must it always be 10 acres or more?

    • Reddy

      February 16, 2021 at 10:13 pm

      Hi, I am also on the same boat. did you find anyone to sell the timber? so coud you share the info ?
      thank you and appreciate

      • Leonard Bergey

        January 6, 2022 at 1:39 pm

        I don’t know if you have found anyone yet. There are a few horse loggers around the state that would be happy to talk with you.

  9. Levi Armstrong

    September 8, 2021 at 1:15 am

    It’s great that you mentioned that landowners who ask the right questions and approach the sale of their timber in a business-like manner, generally see rewards for their efforts. My brother was approached by a timber supplier since her country home has cedar wood that their company needs. I’ll share this with him since it could give him an idea of how to talk with the suppliers. Thanks! https://www.lieselumber.com/timber

  10. Thomas Clarence

    June 16, 2022 at 1:38 pm

    You made an interesting point when you mentioned that it is important to make sure that trees are financially mature before selling them. If you have a timber plot that you are using for selling wood, it would probably be a good idea to find a forestry consulting service to work with. I would imagine that a forestry consulting service would be able to help you know if your trees are financially mature. https://rootsforestry.com/snohomish-county

  11. Pingback: How Much Do Loggers Pay Landowners - M5D

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