Get 20-40% More For Your Timber
Professional forestry representation ensures you receive maximum value through competitive bidding and expert negotiation. Most landowners who sell timber without a forester leave thousands of dollars on the table.
I Work For You, Not The Logging Companies
When you contact a logging company directly to sell timber, they work for themselves—their goal is to buy your timber as cheaply as possible and maximize their profit. When you work with a consulting forester, you have an expert on your side whose sole job is to maximize your income.
Think of me as a real estate agent for your trees. Just as you wouldn't sell your house without professional representation, you shouldn't sell your timber without an advocate protecting your interests.
With over 15 years of experience and a forestry degree from SUNY ESF, I know exactly what your timber is worth. I prepare detailed timber inventories, market your sale to multiple qualified buyers, and negotiate contracts that protect you financially and environmentally.
The competitive bidding process I manage ensures logging companies compete for your timber—driving prices up to true market value. I also require performance bonds to guarantee quality work and supervise all operations to ensure contractors fulfill their obligations.
What You Get With Professional Representation
- Free timber appraisal and property assessment
- Competitive bidding among multiple qualified buyers
- Expert negotiation to maximize your timber income
- Contract review and legal protection
- Performance bonds to guarantee quality work
- Professional harvest supervision and site inspections
- Science-based tree selection for long-term forest health
Why Working with a Forester Increases Your Income
Property owners who attempt to sell timber without professional guidance typically receive 20-40% less than market value. Here's what you gain by working with a consulting forester:
Higher Prices
Competitive bidding among reputable buyers ensures you receive fair market value for your timber
Protected Interests
Performance bonds and contract supervision ensure quality work and complete site cleanup
Expert Guidance
Science-based tree selection protects your land's long-term value and future growth potential
The 5-Step Timber Sales Process
Our proven process ensures you receive maximum value while protecting your property's future
Free Appraisal
I personally walk your property to assess timber maturity, health, species composition, and overall value. This comprehensive evaluation identifies which trees are ready for harvest and estimates the volume of merchantable timber.
During the appraisal, I also evaluate access points, terrain challenges, and any environmental considerations that may affect harvest operations. You'll receive an honest assessment of your timber's market value with no obligation to proceed.
Determine Your Objectives
Every landowner has different goals. Are you looking for immediate cash income? Do you want to improve wildlife habitat? Are you planning for long-term timber growth? Or perhaps you're preparing land for development?
I'll discuss your short-term and long-term objectives to develop a harvest plan that aligns with your vision. Whether your priority is maximizing current income or investing in future forest health, I'll create a strategy tailored to your needs.
Inventory & Marking (Silviculture)
Using science-based silviculture principles, I carefully select which trees to harvest and which to leave for future growth. Each tree is individually evaluated based on species, size, health, and position within the forest canopy.
Trees selected for harvest are clearly marked with paint. I then calculate the board footage—the actual volume of lumber your timber will yield. This precise measurement is critical for accurate bidding and ensures you're paid fairly for every log.
Our selective harvest approach removes mature, declining, or low-quality trees while leaving the best specimens to continue growing. This improves the overall health and value of your remaining forest.
Competitive Bidding Process
This is where professional representation truly pays off. I prepare a detailed "Bid Notice" describing your timber sale—species, volumes, property access, and harvest specifications—and send it to my network of reputable sawmills and logging contractors throughout the region.
Multiple companies submit competitive bids for the work. Unlike selling directly to one logging company, this competitive process drives prices up to true market value. You typically receive 20-40% more than you would by selling directly.
I review all bids with you, explain the terms and conditions, and help you select the best offer. Then I draft a comprehensive timber sale contract that protects your interests, specifies harvest methods, establishes timelines, and defines cleanup requirements.
Harvest Supervision & Quality Control
Before any trees are cut, the logging contractor provides a performance bond—money held in escrow to guarantee they complete the job properly. This bond protects you financially if the contractor fails to meet their obligations.
Throughout the harvest operation, I conduct regular on-site inspections to ensure work is being performed according to contract specifications. I verify that only marked trees are cut, that equipment operators are following best management practices, and that your property is being treated with respect.
After harvest completion, I perform a final inspection to confirm that all skid trails and log landings have been properly restored, erosion controls are in place, and cleanup is complete. Only after I approve the final results is the performance bond released to the contractor.
Your Protection: The Performance Bond
One of the most important protections I provide is requiring a performance bond from the logging contractor. This is money held in escrow specifically to guarantee that cleanup work is completed properly.
Many landowners who sell timber without professional representation have experienced contractors who disappear before cleanup is complete, leaving behind rutted trails, debris piles, and environmental damage. With a performance bond in place and a forester supervising the job, you're protected from this risk. The bond isn't released until I verify that all work meets our standards and your property is left in excellent condition.
Serving Upstate New York
Based in Corning, NY, I provide timber sales services throughout the Upstate New York region.
Ready to Maximize Your Timber Value?
Schedule your free timber assessment today. Discover what your timber is really worth and how our proven process protects your interests.