A list of local timber buyers can be picked up at the county Extension office or the project forester's office. Also, many timber buyers are well-known local business people and advertise in the yellow pages and other local outlets. For example, high-grade hardwood logs may not bring their true value if they are sold for crossties, nor pine sawlogs if they are sold for pulpwood. The product potential of the timber should be determined during the cruise. Evaluating current timber market conditions is a little harder.
Prices can rise or fall with dramatic suddenness at times.
Also, the number of timber buyers who are active in the market changes from time to time. Depending on price trends and market activity, it could be a wise decision to postpone the sale until market conditions improve. A thorough examination of the timber market situation will include talks with timber buyers, loggers, consulting foresters, industry foresters, other landowners who have had recent timber sales, the local project forester of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, and the county Extension leader. Another presale planning consideration that should not be overlooked is the impact of income taxes. Timber sales usually result in substantially higher income for the owner in the year payment is received.