The Property Owner’s Guide to Identifying the Best Logging Companies and Timber Buyers
Major business transactions aren’t made on a whim. People don’t buy expensive products or hire service businesses without doing some research first. It would be foolish to agree to anything without doing your homework and knowing exactly what you’re getting in return, especially today with all of the available resources.
If you’re a buyer, you want to get the best possible return on your investment. If you’re a seller, you want to get a fair price for what you’re offering.
This should be on your mind if you are a property owner thinking about selling trees for timber. No matter where you live or what kind of trees you have, chances are there is at least one timber buyer (and likely more) that would be interested in purchasing and harvesting them.
Yes, the logging companies in your area all can complete a tree harvest on your property. However, the way they operate, the price they’ll pay and their level of customer service could vary drastically. How do you know which logger will be the best fit for your needs?
We wrote this guide to help readers learn what they need to know as they seek to answer the question: What are the best logging companies near me? It’s a checklist of sorts you can follow to ensure you cover all your bases before selecting a timber buyer. The steps and topics it covers include:
How to find logging companies near me
Read reviews of the timber buyers near me
Seek recommendations for timber companies
Look for truly local loggers
Find out what timber harvesting process to expect
Get an estimate/quote to learn timber prices
Without further delay, let’s get into it!
How to Find Logging Companies Near Me
If you’ve already got a list of logging companies you are considering and just need to know how to make a final decision, you can skip ahead to the next section. But if you are in the early stages of your research and still need to identify timber companies, you can try the following.
Start by performing a web search. It’s the fastest and most convenient way to get answers to your questions. Go to Google or Bing and enter a relevant search query. Since you have local intent and aren’t just searching for general information, try the following:
Who buys trees near me?
Logging companies near me
Timber buyers near me
Loggers near me
Timber companies near me
Any of these queries should provide good results. If you’re not satisfied with what you see, try another search phrase and see if anything new comes up.
Results that display a map with business listings are especially useful in this situation because they allow you to see the businesses in your area that may provide the services you’re seeking. From there, you can learn more about the logging companies in your area by viewing their business listing and/or visiting their website.
If that doesn’t give you exactly what you’re looking for or you just want additional insight, a good option is to consult family, friends and people you know from the community. Ask if they know of any loggers that have done work in the area. If the answer is yes, make sure to add them to your list of logging companies to consider.
Related reading: How Can I Find Quality Timber Buyers Near Me? & Who Buys Black Walnut Trees Near Me?
Read Reviews of the Timber Buyers Near Me
When you search for “timber buyers near me” or something similar, look for reviews on the search engine results page. They are good indicators of the quality of the business, and they really do matter.
In fact, a study found that 97% of consumers said that customer reviews influence their purchasing decisions. Additionally, more than half of consumers won’t use a business if it has less than a 4-star rating.
There are a few things to take note of when analyzing business reviews. Start with the star rating and the number of reviews. It’s obviously a good sign if a timber company has a four- or five-star rating. However, keep in mind that if a business has a low number of reviews, its overall rating could easily decline or improve if an influx of new reviews comes in. It’s a more volatile situation than if a business has dozens or hundreds of reviews.
If a logging company has numerous reviews and a good star rating, you can assume it’s a contender that’s definitely worth considering. If it doesn’t have a lot of reviews, it doesn’t mean you should eliminate it as an option, regardless of if the rating is good or bad. Additional research may be necessary for you to form an opinion.
Pay attention also to the comments reviewers left along with their star ratings. See what good (or bad) things were said about the logger and the service they provided. If there were any negative reviews/comments, did the company respond to take responsibility and/or attempt to remedy the situation? That’s a sign of a company that cares about its reputation and puts the customer first.
Seek Recommendations for Timber Companies
Online reviews aren’t the only way to get an idea of what the public thinks of area businesses like timber companies. Earlier in this guide, we discussed how talking to family, friends and acquaintances can help you discover loggers. That’s a great start. To aid in your research, dig a little deeper and see what else you can learn if a company is mentioned.
You can get valuable feedback right from the mouths of actual customers… or at least impressions that have made their way throughout the community. It’s not uncommon for referrals and word-of-mouth advertising to be a major form of publicity for timber buyers.
Here are some questions you could ask to learn more:
Would you recommend this timber company?
What did you like about them?
What did you not like about them or think they could have done better?
Do you know anyone else who has worked with this timber company?
The answers to these questions will help you form an opinion about that particular timber buyer and could potentially help you identify other people in your area you could speak with to get their thoughts.
While you don’t have to let others’ recommendations make the selection for you, their input is certainly worthy of your consideration and can help you be more confident in your final decision.
Look for Truly Local Loggers
Let us preface this section by saying we aren’t advising you to only consider local loggers and ignore any timber buyers that aren’t headquartered in your immediate area. In your specific situation, bringing in a logger from farther away might work out fine. We just feel there are many benefits to embracing the “shop local” mindset.
The owner and employees of local timber companies are members of your community and the local area. They’ll be invested in contributing to the success of the area because their business will only thrive if they have the backing of locals. Their reputation in the area in which they’re located matters.
Plus, the closer the timber company is to your property, the more likely it will be that you’ll get a higher return for the sale of your trees. Your harvest may get completed more quickly, too. This is because the local timber company won’t have to travel as far (and use as much fuel) to complete the job.
Find Out What Timber Harvesting Process to Expect
Logging companies don’t all operate the same way. Each one will have its own unique process for harvesting trees. It’s a good idea to get an overview of the process of any logger you are considering. That way, there are no surprises after you agree to sell your timber to them.
Topics to address include:
Property Goals – Will the timber buyer be able to help you achieve your goals for the property?
Harvesting Options – Do they practice clear-cutting, selective harvesting or both?
Property Disruption – How much will the timber harvesting process disrupt the property and any wildlife on the property?
Contract Terms – What are both parties agreeing to?
Timber Prices – How much will you be paid for the trees that are harvested? (Get more insight by reading the next section of this guide)
If you don’t have any concerns related to a logging company’s timber harvesting process, it can remain on your list of possible options. If you do have concerns, that logger can either be removed from consideration or you can make a note to evaluate the company further to see if the other benefits it offers outweigh the concerns you have.
Get an Estimate/Quote to Learn Timber Prices
Like most business transactions, selling trees for timber may ultimately come down to dollars and cents. What price is your logging company willing to pay you for your trees, and how does it compare to average timber prices on the current market?
You should receive a tally of the trees the logger is interested in buying, along with a quote detailing each tree’s price and a cumulative total. If you’re not familiar with the logging/timber market, the offer may not mean much to you. That’s why it’s important to do some research ahead of time to get an idea of a fair market price.
Two of the most in-demand tree species harvested by MK Timber are black walnut and white oak. At the time of writing this article in 2022, the price of black walnut per tree ranges from $300 to $1,000 and $5 to $10 per board foot. White oak tree value is $100 to $500 per tree. These prices could be even higher in certain situations if the tree is above average in size and/or quality.
Of course, there are market fluctuations to consider. However, swings typically are limited to 15% higher or lower than average.
You must also take into account the factors that impact current timber prices. They include:
Supply & Demand – The higher the demand, the higher the price you can expect.
Tree Details – What is the tree species, and how big is it? Is the quality high, or are there defects in the wood?
Property Details – Is your property easy to navigate? Can the trees be easily accessed? If your timber buyer can save fuel and time, you could receive more for your trees.
Additional Costs – Are there any “additional costs” like regulations that result in higher operating costs for your logging company that will impact how much they will pay for your trees?
Related reading: What are Current Timber Prices & What Factors Influence Timber Prices?
Confidently Find the Best Timber Companies Today
Feeling better about answering the question, who are the best timber buyers near me? We hope this guide provided information and advice you find useful in your search. If you have any other questions or would like to learn even more, don’t hesitate to contact us. And if you know anyone else who is looking for a good timber company, share this guide with them!
Related reading: What are Current Timber Prices & What Factors Influence Timber Prices?
Learn Why MK Timber is Among the Best Logging Companies in Illinois
Are you in central Illinois and interested in selling trees like black walnuts or white oaks? MK Timber is one of the best logging companies in Illinois and would like to work with you. We are headquartered in Lacon, Illinois, and have a service area that includes many counties and communities. Our customers will vouch for us based on our consistent prices and tree harvesting processes, which have enabled us to build a strong reputation.
Something we hang our hat on that our customers appreciate is that we give our best price the first time. You don’t need to worry about wasting your time going back and forth just to get a fair price for your trees.
Expect a smooth and enjoyable process from start to finish. Our knowledgeable and experienced loggers will answer all your questions and address any concerns you have. To put it simply, MK Timber provides expert tree harvesting services, competitive prices and exceptional customer service.
To learn more or to start the discussion about selling your timber, contact us today.