Softwood Standing Sale

[N1ck]

I've been asked to make an offer for a standing sale parcel of about 200m3 of Scots and Norway from a privately owned 11 acre site in the south east. The timber is pretty bony and will mostly go for chip, I might get a load of sawlogs but more likely bars. Most buyers are not interested unless they can get an artic in and this isn't possible without re-engineering the entrance which costs money. The owner is prepared to put some additional surfacing down in the gateway and the stacking area but hadn't anticipated moving the gate etc.

It would be a nice little job for later in the winter and I'd like to be able to offer the owner a fair price but so far the sums just don't add up hand cutting and extracting with a tractor based forwarding trailer, and the site is too small to justify putting a harvester in there. I've tried to find a local market for the chip to keep haulage costs down but failed.

Any thoughts on what I should offer or should I just walk away?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Shame, we've got a job like this soon except that artic access is excellent. We're only going to cut and sell the 3.7s and keep the rest for our own firewood - that way you hang on to more £ but obviously firewood sales determine the speed of (good) return. Said sawlogs are quite good right now, sounds like you might struggle to get many if the crop is like you describe; what's the proportion of pine to spruce and the form height / size etc?

[N1ck]

About 50 / 50 pine and spruce, average dbh 30cm top height 20 / 21m both species moderately heavily branched, the pine in particular is often swept and quite a few are forked in the top, any sawlogs would come from the spruce.

What are 3.7m sawlogs making at roadside at the moment assuming I can make up a 26 tonne load?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I knew you were going to say the pine was swept! Same here! Cut it off for pallet (?), see if something after that. Quoted £32/metre for 3.7s. Looks like v low standing price...

[Chris Sheppard]

From what you've said, (so based on it being nearly all chip) if it was up here, any money for it standing would be a token gesture.

[N1ck]

I offered £0.50 / tonne for the chip and £1 / tonne for bars and to be honest I think that was generous although I doubt the owner would agree. I'll wait and see what comes of it.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

How did this come off? or

[N1ck]

I never heard any more, and to be honest I haven't chased it, and this is despite spending half a day visiting the site and phoning round timber merchants and hauliers.

 

I know the owner already had a quote on the table from a contractor who runs a small sawmill, and I suspect I was being used to give a comparative quote but in reality had little chance of getting the work.

 

Since then other work has come up and I am currently booked up till past Christmas so I'm not too gutted.

 

Cheers

 

Nick

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I never heard any more, and to be honest I haven't chased it, and this is despite spending half a day visiting the site and phoning round timber merchants and hauliers.

 

I know the owner already had a quote on the table from a contractor who runs a small sawmill, and I suspect I was being used to give a comparative quote but in reality had little chance of getting the work.

 

Since then other work has come up and I am currently booked up till past Christmas so I'm not too gutted.

 

Cheers

 

Nick

 

Lost count of how many of those I've done

[N1ck]

It's a shame because small privately owned woodlands is a market I'm trying to tap into as there are loads around me, often undermanaged, and you can usually avoid all the BS of working for an agent

 

The problem is that most private owners have unrealistic expectations.

 

Oh well, next time!!

 

Nick