If you are considering selling your timber, it's important to take an inventory of your current timber resources. What timber species do you have? What products can your timber make? What's the total volume of timber for sale? Who would be interested in buying? How much are they worth? Should you sell all of them now or leave some for a future sale? How much will it cost to regenerate a new crop? There are many other questions and TimberQuote can help you answer them. However, if you aren't confident in making these decisions without some assistance, forestry professionals can help. A professional forester working for you can help answer your questions and maximize the economic gains from a timber sale.
About foresters
Foresters are familiar with industry product specifications and local markets. They can mark trees for sale to improve a timber stand and still meet industry specifications. They will tally the volume of the marked timber by DBH classes and prepare sale notifications for bidders. They can suggest and manage the best sale methods and payment options for your tract.
If you accept a bid, the forester will develop a written sales contract agreeable to both parties. It will cover many items of importance such as guaranteed access to the timber; maximum time allowed for timber removable; penalties for cutting unmarked timber or destruction of property; and many other limitations or agreements. The forester also makes periodic inspections to be sure the buyer is meeting contract agreements.
Foresters usually charge a fee based on a percentage of the gross timber sale. The percentage depends on the scope of work performed. For example, if the timber tract is to be clearcut, there is no need to mark and tally the timber. Therefore, for this type of sale, the forester would probably charge a lower percentage or perhaps a daily rate.
In a study by University of Georgia researchers, it was found that timberland owners who used professional forestry assistance received 23 percent more income per acre for their timber than those who sold timber themselves. That can pay for a lot of help!
- Foresters typically have a broad background in forestry and are experienced with the entire process. They should be able to help you decide how to manage your timberland to best meet your short-term and long-term financial goals.
- Foresters can save you the time of inventorying your forestry assets, determining marketing conditions, showing your timber to prospective buyers, negotiating the best price, and overseeing the harvest. They basically handle the entire process for you.
- Foresters are a necessity if you are an absentee landowner and unable to oversee the process yourself.
- Foresters may give you a fixed price to manage the sale or provide their services for a flat percentage of the final sale price. In most cases the additional cost of using a forester is offset by the extra amount they are able to obtain for your timber.
- If you are a small timberland owner, you may have difficulty finding a forester willing to work with you.
The two biggest hurdles facing timberland owners when preparing for a timber sale are the amount of time required and a general lack of experience. TimberQuote recommends the use of a forester, but if one is unavailable, we will help you prepare for the task.
There are many types of foresters who offer their services to timberland owners. Some are free and some are not. Below is a list describing the different types of foresters.
- Acquisition Forester
- A forester whose primary responsibility is to locate forestland that can be purchased by his employer.
- Area Forester (County Forester)
- A forester of your State's Forestry Commission who provides assistance to timberland owners within a one or two county area.
- Consulting Forester
- A self-employed forester who, for a fee, assists timberland owners with forest management practices. Some consultants provide general assistance; others specialize.
- District Forester
- An administrative forester responsible for coordinating the State agency's operations for a specific area of the state. States can be divided into districts for administrative purposes.
- Extension Forester
- A State University forester who works for the University in developing and providing technical information for state forestry interests. The primary responsibility is group education, including preparing materials for local and regional educational activities.
- Industrial Forester
- A forester employed by a forest-based industry. This individual may manage company-owned woodlands to produce forest products, work with timberland owners to purchase forest products for the company, or both. Some industrial foresters work with individual landowners to provide advice and assistance in promoting approved forest management practices.
- Procurement Forester
- An industrial forester who buys timber from private and public landowners.
- Professional Forester
- A person who has graduated from a professionally accepted, 4-year college forestry curriculum.
- Registered Forester
- Any person who has been registered and licensed by a State Board of Registration for Foresters. Qualifications for registration may be gained by education and/or practical experience.
Finding a Forester
You can search our database for participating foresters in your area. If you have difficulty finding one, contact your State forestry agency for a listing. After contacting several foresters, discuss your timber goals with each one and explore the services they offer. After narrowing you selection to a couple of foresters, visit other landowners who have used their services. Select the forester that you feel most comfortable with. Remember, the forester is working toward achieving your goals even if that includes complete timber removal. However, the forester is also obligated to inform you of the economic potential to properly manage your timber for sustained yields. Working with a forester can save you a lot of time and hard work not to mention the possibility of a more lucrative timber sale.
