How We Sell Timber
The Southeast Forestlands timber sale process, step by step. Same process whether the tract is in Mississippi or Alabama, whether it's a first thinning or a final harvest.
1. Review the property and agree on the scope
We start by discussing your goals and the property location. Our initial property review generally begins online, using available aerial imagery, maps, and parcel information. Eric Entrekin brings more than 30 years of photogrammetry and aerial-image interpretation experience to this planning process. On-site inspections are typically scheduled after a forestry services agreement is in place.
2. Inspect and cruise the timber
On-site inspection of the stand, access, and boundaries, followed by a field cruise sized to the tract — sample plots, product call (chip-n-saw, sawtimber, pole, hardwood grade — we do not cruise pine pulpwood), and any condition factors (storm damage, beetle, mortality, access).
3. Prepare the sale package
Mapped sale area, volumes by product, terms of sale, seller-protective contract template, and a list of qualified buyers to invite.
4. Invite qualified buyers
We identify prospective buyers for the timber products being offered and provide each invited buyer with the same sale information and terms. The bid window is typically 2–4 weeks. Every bidder works from the same package, on the same terms.
5. Open sealed bids
Bids opened with the landowner. The spread between high and low bid is shown in full — that spread is the practical case for competitive bidding.
6. Help the landowner choose
Not always the highest number. Contract terms, bonding, references, and harvest plan matter. See why the highest bid isn't always the right one.
7. Seller-protective contract
Defined sale area, defined product, defined haul road and decking locations, BMP and SMZ requirements, performance bond or deposit, dispute language, and a holdback against post-harvest cleanup.
8. Oversee the harvest
On-the-ground oversight during the cut. We visit the tract during harvesting to review operations against the timber sale contract and document site conditions, including BMP items, boundary lines, decking, and product separation.
9. Closeout and final inspection
Final walk with the landowner, review of required road and loading-area cleanup and stabilization, documentation of any corrective work required by the contract, and completion of the sale closeout. Scale tickets and settlement reconciliation apply to pay-as-cut sales rather than to every lump-sum sealed-bid sale.
Landowner FAQ
Independent representation. Transparent results.
Whether you have ten acres or ten thousand, our team works for the landowner — never the mill. Based in Meridian, MS and serving timberland across Mississippi and western Alabama.