The Forestry Forum

started cutting a patch of private this October just finished up today the land owner has a shop on the property and I can count on my hand the amount of times hes even came around... ive asked him a few times if I could cut him a check for whats owed to him for timber he just says oh son don't worry about that just keep up with the good work and will square up one day so I called him on the 24th thinken he could maybe use the chunk of money for Christmas he said nope come on down to the shop when the mills square with u in the new year and you can pay me up then!! point of the story is its so nice to work for a trusting fellow who isn't hounding me every time a truck leaves for some money and following the skidders around the bush to see what there up to lol!

I had a client similar to that.  They wanted the money in the next year due to tax reasons.  It worked out well for all parties concerned.

I like to be the one bugging the landowner when they can take the money from me. haha its cool when they aren't that concerned.

I think it speaks volumes about you too ;)

DGDrls

I've run into this too. Even had 1 out of state land owner refuse my stumpage offer and say just pay half of what you offered and keep and eye on the property for me.

I've had customers as far away a Syracuse, but owned land in my area who were about the same as what Cutter88 is talking about.

They would e-mail me a cut sheet and then I'd go look at the logs that someone local cut and give him an estimate via e-mail.

They would show up some time after the lumber was all cut and square up with me, and most always would include a tip!

This thread happens to go against every piece of business advice I've ever received from attorneys to State forestry in safe-selling of private timber. Are we saying to allow someone to cut your trees without contract and pay whenever there's a blue moon?

Logging is a tough competitive business, full of dangers and mishaps. Price of timber could fall, mills could go under, heavy repair bills, I could go on and on. Logger could be seriously injured, and long term recovery. And then, there's bankruptcy.

Always go by a contract, and try to protect everyone.

 i agree with chain.
pete