If you own forested property in Michigan, selling your standing timber can bring in real income while also helping to keep your forest healthy. In fact, it is one of the best ways to make money from raw land that you may have recently purchased or inherited.
As a Michigan sawmill and direct buyer of standing timber, we help landowners understand the value of their woods and make the selling process both straightforward and profitable.
Understanding the Value of Michigan Timber
Michigan’s forests are full of high-demand hardwoods, and the species that you have can make all the difference in value. Commonly harvested species in Michigan include:
- Hard maple & red maple – valued for flooring and furniture.
- Red oak & white oak – in demand for cabinetry, flooring, and barrel-making.
- Black cherry – prized for veneer.
- Black walnut – the most valuable hardwood in Michigan.
Because timber prices vary across the state, it’s important to work with a buyer who understands local markets and current mill demand. As a standing timber buyer and sawmill, we provide accurate appraisals, competitive offers, and guidance through every step of the selling process, so you get the full value for your hardwoods.
Why Work Directly with a Sawmill Buyer like Buskirk Lumber?
Many landowners sell through middlemen or deal with loggers who flip their timber to mills. The problem is, every middle step cuts into your profit. By selling directly to our sawmill:
- You eliminate brokers and get top dollar for your timber.
- You get a clear, honest assessment of your trees.
- You work with a buyer who values long-term relationships, not just one-off harvests.
We buy standing timber across Michigan and handle everything from valuation to harvest. And, as either primary or secondary end users of all products, we take extra care when working with your land and timber.
See How Selling Mill-Direct Benefits You
How the Timber Sale Process Works
1. Timber Evaluation
If you own a large stand of hardwoods, we can help you understand its true market value. Our team walks your woods, identifies marketable species like oak, maple, walnut, and cherry, and provides a clear timber appraisal.
As standing timber buyers in Michigan, we focus on high-volume hardwood harvests, and not small-scale tree removal.
2. Offer
Once we’ve completed your timber evaluation, we provide a clear, competitive offer tailored to the current Michigan hardwood market. Our team factors in species, size, quality, and overall volume to ensure your standing timber is valued accurately.
Selling directly to a sawmill like Buskirk Lumber ensures that the most money goes to you, and not to third parties. Learn more about the benefits of selling mill-direct.
3. Harvest Plan & Contract
Next, we put all the details of your timber harvest in writing. The contract clearly specifies which trees will be harvested, the schedule for the work, and how payment will be handled.
Our goal is to make the process transparent and straightforward, so you have confidence in every step of the harvest. With everything documented, there are no surprises—just a clear plan for turning your standing timber into a fair return.
4. Receive Payment
Upon signing the contract, our sawmill offers 10% down. We pay the remainder of the contract value in full prior to the start of the harvest.
5. Timber Harvest
As a sawmill that buys timber, Buskirk Lumber has all of the resources that your project requires—no outsourcing required. And, as either primary or secondary end users of all products, we take extra care when working with your land and timber.
We follow a selective cutting approach, harvesting only specific trees based on size, age, species, and health. This ensures that forests remain productive and ecologically balanced.
When’s the Best Time to Sell Timber in Michigan?
Michigan logging often peaks in winter, when frozen ground allows for easier equipment access and less disturbance to the soil. That said, we buy year-round, and market demand can sometimes make spring or summer just as profitable. If you’re unsure about timing, we can walk your property and advise you on if it makes sense to sell now or to wait.
Turning Your Forested Land into a Financial Asset
We get this question all the time: “How much can you make harvesting timber?” The answer depends on your forest’s size, tree species, age, and health—but here’s a rough idea:
- Every 10–15 years, a well-managed forest can produce a selective harvest worth $10,000 to $25,000 or more, depending on the acreage and timber quality.
- Mature hardwoods like oak, walnut, and maple typically bring the highest returns.
- Selling directly to a sawmill (like Buskirk Lumber) allows you to skip the middleman and ensure more money from your harvest goes directly into your own pocket.
If your property is mostly forested and at least 20 acres, you may qualify for tax savings and generate thousands of dollars in timber income, even with a modest selective harvest. All without compromising the long-term health of your forest. Learn more.
Sell Your Standing Timber with Buskirk Lumber
As professional licensed and bonded timber buyers with over 100 years in the industry, Buskirk Lumber has what you need to maintain your woodlot profitably. We seek to build lifelong relationships and partnerships to reach these goals. You can trust us to be professional, and transparent, and to treat your property as if it were our own.
We operate a sawmill and timber procurement/harvesting crew in Freeport, MI. We travel throughout Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio to buy standing timber. Reach out to us for an appraisal and find out how much your standing timber is worth!
