Sell the timber, or sell the land?

Much of the rural land in the Carolinas carries planted pine. Owners often ask whether to cut it first and then sell, or sell with the trees standing.

If the land is headed for homes

Mature timber has value, but a developer will clear most of it for roads and lots anyway. Cutting first can make sense, as long as the timber buyer leaves the land in decent shape: no deep ruts, and good erosion control.

If you might keep the land

A forester can tell you whether the stand is better thinned now and cut later. Young pine grows in value every year, so timing matters.

Questions to ask first

• How old is the stand, and what is it worth today?
• Is the land zoned and served by utilities for homes?
• Are there streams or wetlands where cutting is restricted?

The simple version

Tell us about the trees when you send your land. Sometimes we buy land and timber together, and sometimes we will suggest you sell the timber yourself first.