Timber!

[Brandon Schlichter]

Hi there, I haven't seen all too many posts here concerning timber.

I live in an area where I'm relatively close (Within 40 miles) of areas with high numbers of parcels with timber.

I was curious if there's a way to valuate the property based on timber pricing. I understand that it's best to get a timber cruser to value it, but I don't know if they'll want to be dragged out every time I have a potential property.

Thanks!

[Account Closed]

Learn to estimate yourself. Count the trees, get an average of the trunk diameter. Get out your calculator. Prices are by the board foot.

Call the mill and they will tell you what they are paying for each species. Cost of cutting and delivery to the mill is roughly 1/2 of what you will receive for the lumber.

Timber property is usually listed for sale with a board foot figure included in the listing, that has been prepared by a licensed timber cruiser and which can be verified and audited.

Seriously, it is one thing to buy a parcel with timber by accident, but if you want to deal in timber properties, you will be swimming with the really big sharks and you had better take the time to learn what you are doing. Timber land is where the big boys play.

There are dozens of things that affect the value of timber: size, species, bugs, when and how the trees were trimmed, road access, and a really huge one: where the water is located in relationship to the trees. You have to know that stuff if you are going to be buying specifically for the lumber.