Timber Management, Appraising & Marketing Services in Pennsylvania

Timber Sales:

When it comes to selling timber, you need a consulting forester to represent you. Whether it's 1 acre or 1,000, selling it directly without representation can have unfortunate results. More often than not, you will be left with a lot less money than you should have received and a forest that will take decades to recover.

If you sell your timber directly without the aid of a consulting forester, can you be absolutely sure you are getting paid for all the trees that will be taken? Was the price really fair? Was there an accurate volume estimate? Is there a contract protecting your property and interests? Will the harvesting job be properly cleaned up and retired upon completion? These are just some of the important issues related to selling timber. Our job is to make sure your interests and property are protected while obtaining the highest price possible for your trees. We handle and guide you through the entire timber sale process.

Once the sale area is designated, we mark and tally the trees that are to be harvested based on a forest treatment that is best suited to your particular forest or whatever you specifically desire. Not only does this provide an accurate number of trees and estimated volume for sale, it provides a basis for the competitive bidding process. With a good forest treatment prescription, your forest's current growth can easily double while leaving an even healthier, rejuvenated stand of timber for future generations. Next, an appraisal of the selected timber is performed and shared with the client, which establishes the “minimum acceptable bid” for the sale. Finally, a bid package is prepared and advertised to reputable timber purchasers within buying range of the sale area. After a period of time, sealed bids are received in our office. If the high bid is accepted by the client, we then administer a cutting contract which the timber purchaser must strictly follow during the harvesting process. This not only protects you, but your forest as well!

Here is an outline of a typical timber sale:

• Owner consultation and forest examination
• Determine cutting prescription (we will give you suggestions, but remember, it's your forest)
• Mark selected trees and determine volume
• Appraise timber to establish minimum acceptable bid
• Prepare timber sale prospectus
• Send sale prospectus to potential bidders
• Receive sealed bids
• Award sale if a bid is accepted (performance bond collected to ensure contract compliance)
• Prepare a Timber Cutting Contract (TCC)
• Conduct frequent harvesting inspections to ensure contract requirements are being satisfactorily followed (environmental concerns, damages, cleanup, etc.)
• Close out the timber sale once obligations have been met

Timber Inventory & Appraisals:

If you are interested in determining how much timber there is in a forested tract and its current value, we can provide you with a written appraisal and/or inventory report. We will "cruise" the property using either systematic plots or a 100% tally in order to get the estimated amount of volume and tree counts. Once this data is obtained, fair market values are applied using the most current timber market report and our recent sales figures.

In some cases, such as in determining a past timber basis for tax reasons, we can use this data to grow the forest in reverse. We maintain historical timber pricing for these unique situations.

Forest Management Plans:

A forest management plan (FMP) is basically a plan for the future of your forest. A properly managed forest not only provides the best timber sale returns, but also adds to the aesthetics, recreation, and wildlife sustained on your property. Having a management plan for your forest demonstrates your caring and concern for your valuable renewable resource. It may also qualify you for certain tax and cost sharing incentives for your property. We will sit down with you and determine your personal goals and objectives you would like to achieve while giving you some professional recommendations based on your particular forest. Below are some of the things that can go into a forest management plan:

• Property objectives (wildlife, timber, recreation, income, etc.)
• Property line location and blazing
• Site quality identification
• Forest inventory
• Timber appraisal
• Stand delineation by species composition and size classes
• Property description map
• Timber type map
• Management map
• Projects schedule
• Cash-flow schedule
• Growth simulations
• Short and long term cutting goals
• Wildlife habitat inventory

We will create a plan that is just right for you and your forest to ensure that it can start reaching its maximum potential!

Timber Trespass Investigation:

Did an adjacent landowner or logger cross onto your property and take your trees without your permission? In preparing a timber trespass report, we will analyze every stump and determine the species, size, and value of all trees that were removed. We will then present you with a report that would be required in court. You may then be able to receive up to three times the estimated value of those trees!

Tree Farm Inspections/Certifications:

We are certified tree farm inspectors for the American Tree Farm System® and can re-certify current participants or assist landowners who wish to get involved in the program.

Gas & Oil Development:

Prior to the drilling of wells and laying transmission pipelines, right-of-ways and location sites need to be established and cleared. We can assist in the marking and appraisal of timber for removal from these impacted areas. This service is especially beneficial to oil and gas developers.

Other Services:

• Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)
• Forest Stewardship Plans
• Disease and Pest Inspections
• Boundary Line Maintenance/PA Purple Paint Law
• Forest Mapping
• Wildlife Habitat Improvement
• Aerial Reconnaissance
• Herbicide/Pesticide Application
• USDA Cap 106 Forest Management Plans