Volume and quality steadily increase until growth begins to slow. If it is not harvested, overmature timber can acutally lose volume and quality due to decay, insects and storm damage. A forester can assit in obtaining a better price for timber by assessing timber quality, maturtiy and market conditions. Know What You Have Fair market value of timber can be estimated if its volume, quality and species are known. A forester can inventory timber and provide an estimate of volumes available for harvest.
Potential buyers are more likely to be interested if they know how much is being offered for sale.
Sell By Sealed Bid Timber should be sold for a lump sum rather than for a share of the harvest. The competition generated among buyers will normally result in a higher selling price than other sales methods. State foresters can provide lists of buyers for various timber products such as sawlogs, veneer logs, pulpwood, etc. A copy of the sales contract should also be sent to bidders to inform them about additional conditions of the sale. All timber should be sold by written contract, a legally binding document that protects both buyer and seller.