When timberland owners call, most are not sure of the selling process. They kind of have an idea of what they want to do but are not sure of how to go about it. The below outline gives a general guideline of the process.
What is the first step?
Start to define your goals.
What are your goals? What do you want to do? Are you currently managing your timber?
I need to look at the timberland
Looking for age, health, timber type, acreage, logistics of logging and whether it is feasible to harvest.
Contact landowner with findings and help to further define your goals.
Make a recommendation based on landowner goals
If a thinning…
Present thinning proposal
Prices are based on:
Miles to the mill
Soils (Are your soils suitable for a winter or summer harvest?)
Pay-as-cut on a weekly basis (also known as a per-unit offer)
With each check, you receive:
Every mill ticket from each load hauled
A weekly settlement plainly listing every ticket and the price paid
A cumulative summary that summarizes each week and the total money paid
If a clear-cut.
In most cases, I will need to appraise the timber
Consists of a systematic sampling of the trees
Make a lump-sum or per unit offer
Sign a timber contract
Plan the harvest
Timing of the harvest will depend on:
Ground conditions
Can the timber be harvest in the winter when ground conditions are the wettest?
Or, will the timber have to be harvested during a dry period?
The Timber Company 