A couple was recently offered an unsolicited bid of $20,000 for their 20 acres of mature pine saw timber. Realizing the complexity of selling timber, the couple hired a consulting forester to watch out for their interest.

The consulting forester, who worked on a contract price for a percentage of the gross revenue, conducted a sealed-bid timber sale. Gross revenue from the sale was $39,895 - $19,895 more than the original unsolicited bid. This increase in income was significantly higher than the fee charged by the consulting forester.

Source: NCSU Cooperative Extension, Association of Consulting Foresters of America

First ... See a Consulting Forester

More than 75 percent of North Carolina forestland is owned by private, non-industrial landowners. But much of this valuable resource is not actively managed. By properly managing your forest, you can generate extra money from the sale of timber products;
improve wildlife habitat, aesthetics, recreation, and water quality; and increase land value. By seeking the assistance of a professional consulting forester, you can maximize the return on your forestlands.

Seek Professional Advice ...things to look for in a consulting forester:

There are a number of factors to consider when seeking professional advice.
Here are some questions to ask:

• Are you an ACF (Association of Consulting Foresters of America) consulting forester?
  
  
  >> ACF is the platinum standard for consulting foresters. An ACF forester adheres to a strict code of ethics, holds a B.S. degree or higher in Forestry, has at least 5 years experience in consulting forestry, and participates in continuing forestry education.
  
  
• What are your qualifications? (i.e. professional background, education & years of experience)
  
• What is the difference between a consulting forester and a registered forester?
  
  
  >> To call oneself a consulting forester, a registered forester must sign an affidavit, stating: "I am not engaged and will not engage in any practice that constitutes a conflict of interest or in any way diminishes my ability to represent the best interests of my clients", i.e. to avoid a conflict of interest, and to have your best interests represented exclusively, make sure your forester uses the title, consulting forester.
  
  
• More: Read the entire document (700k Adobe Acrobat file)