Everyone selling timber should have a timber contract, even if the sale involves a small volume of sawlogs or a relatively small amount of firewood cordage. Preparing a timber contract is a complex and specialized task. The average person will find it very difficult to draft a contract that meets their own specifications without a great deal of effort and learning. Due to this, it is my advice that everyone selling timber, especially for the first time, seek out the advice of an experienced professional to assist them. Even though I am an attorney, my first suggestion would be to retain the services of a forester to assist you in obtaining the information necessary to prepare a timber contract and that you allow the forester to bid the sale to various timber buyers.
Foresters are also very helpful in seeing that all of the contract terms are enforced.
Foresters can also locate property boundaries as they have extensive training regarding boundary locations. Foresters are also very helpful in submitting the bids to timber buyers, even those located outside your area who may be interested in the wood products being sold. When looking at a timber contract that is prepared by a timber buyer, remember that the contract has been prepared to protect the buyer only. Rarely will you find a buyer's timber contract that contains even the oral promises made by a buyer when he was attempting to purchase your wood products. An objective description of the trees to be cut.