Timber Sales Administration

Selling your timber can be a difficult and daunting task.  Trying to maximize your income while achieving your goals is what matters most.  When hired to represent you in the sale of your timber, we do the following:

• We walk your woods to get an idea of the present state of the stand(s) of timber.
• We sit down and discuss with you what your goals are and how they can be met and discuss the condition of your stands of timber. We discuss the method of sale (whether negotiated with a specific market or sealed bid sale). 
• A timber cruise would be done to determine the volumes by species.
• We prepare a Prospectus which outlines the terms of the sale i.e. Payment Schedule, date of sale, reclamation requirements etc. along with other information such as volumes by species, location of sale (attach a topographic map).
• We prepare a comprehensive Timber Sale Agreement which contains the insurance requirements, payment terms, reclamation requirements, performance bond and all-important protections to you our client.
• We require a “Performance Bond” which is required prior to the start of any harvesting activities and is held until all the terms of the Timber Sale Agreement are met.
• We perform a closing in which Buyer and Seller sign the Timber Sale Agreement and Buyer makes payment.
• We supervise the entire Timber Harvesting Operations which starts with a Pre-Harvest meeting with the Purchaser and continues until the end of the Harvesting activities including all reclamation activities.

Questions a Landowner should ask themselves prior to selling their standing timber:

1. Are the property lines/cutting boundaries identifiable?
2. What types of soil water protection measures need to be in place?
3. What do I do about residual tree damage?
4. Any structures I wish to protect (fences, bridges, culverts, fields, etc.)?
5. What about the removal of all trash?
6. What is the Timber Buyer’s and/or Logger’s obligations for fire prevention, suppression, and damages?
7. What is the Haul Road, Skid Trail and log landing planning requirements and restrictions?
8. What are the Equipment specifications and restrictions?
9. What is the wet weather operating restrictions?
10. Can any or all this timber be assigned or transferred?
11. What is the penalty for excessive damage to the residual timber stand?
12. What are the reclamation requirements? What about water bars on skid trails, broad based dips on haul roads, roadside ditching, culverts and/or bridge at stream crossings, etc.?
13. What requirements do I have for the final grading of roads, landing(s)? What requirements for lime, fertilizer, seed, and mulch where required?
14. Who owns the tree-tops and slash during the contract period?
15. What about rotten wood debris and cut-offs at the landing area?
16. How long of a contract do I want to do?
17. What is the amount, method, and time of payment(s)?
18. What about the liabilities and responsibilities in case of accident(s)?
19. What is the penalty for cutting timber not specified to be harvested?
20. What if a dispute arises over the terms of the Contract?

As you can see lots of questions arise when selling your standing timber.  When you hire True North Forestry LLC, we provide a comprehensive Timber Sale Contract that covers all aspects of a timber sale for your protection.

When selling your timber through True North Forestry LLC we are paid based on the amount your timber sells for.  So, it is vital that we get the most value out of your timber.