Marketing timber can be a complicated
process. There is no single resource or publication
that is available that will help you become an expert
at selling timber. There are some specific questions
that you should ask, and answers that you should know
before selling your timber.
Contact your local Georgia
Forestry Commission Forester to request a free
exam of your timber.
We highly recommend using a "Forestry
Consultant" when you get ready to market
and/or sell your timber. Southern Forestry Realty
has the qualified people on staff to help you in this
area. Also be sure to enact a sales contract that
includes the amount to be paid and how the payments
will be disbursed, the type of sale, Best Management
Practice (BMP) compliance, length of contract, damage
penalties and harvest restrictions. You can also include
any other provisions that you might deem necessary
for the sale.
Things to consider when selling your timber include
- The volume of timber that you have for sale
- The area to that will be sold
- Whether or not the the timber in question is ready
for a harvest
- Tax implications of conducting a timber sale (State
ad valorem, State income and Federal income taxes).
- What type of harvest is to be completed
- The type of harvest that is to be completed should
be based on the objectives of the landowner, which
might include maximizing the value of the stand,
periodic cash flow, wildlife management, or improving
the health and aesthetics of the stand.
WHAT PRICE SHOULD YOU GET FOR YOUR TIMBER?
Timber prices may vary throughout
the seasons and may also vary by tract and timber
characteristics. Characteristics of a tract that drive
pricing (value) include the operability, topography
and access of the tract to be sold.
For instance, tracts that can be logged in wet conditions
often demand a premium whereas those that cannot be
logged in wet conditions will demand a lower price.
Tracts that are unusually difficult to log for other
reasons such as poor access or steep terrain often
bring lower prices. Other tracts that usually bring
a premium price include tracts that have high quality
sawtimber, high volume per acre or within close proximity
to a wood using facility. if these characteristics
are not present, the price may decrease accordingly.
The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC)
maintains a database of timber prices from 1972 until
the present. Prices that are maintained by the GFC
are kept for the following forest products:
- Pine sawtimber
- Pine chip-n-saw
- Pine pulpwood
- Pine poles
- Pine plylogs
- Hardwood oak sawtimber
- Mixed hardwood sawtimber
- Hardwood pulpwood
NOTE:
The information above was gathered from the
Georgia Forestry Commission website.
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