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Stolen Trees are Expensive Trees

By
Real Estate Agent with Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified #1 in Forest Land Mgmt

This past week my son Nick who recently earned his Forestry degree conducted what we refer to as a Timber Trespass Appraisal.  timber appraisal

A Timber Trespass Appraisal, is basically an appraisal of the remaining stumps after somebody trespasses on your land and cuts your trees.

After measuring and recording the condition of the stumps we then go out in the remaining forest and measure comparable trees that come close in species, size and condition to the remaining stumps.  The comparable trees are measured and valued in an effort to place a value on the trees that were removed from our clients stumps.

stump appraisalOur clients neighbors decided to forgo the expertise of a Forester and a Surveyor when they clear-cut some timber this past winter and now they get to pay for both along with some of our clients trees for which they will be paying for at double or triple the value.

Wisconsin has strict laws against steeling your neighbors trees and by the time you get done paying for double or triple stumpage, expert witnesses like us, and attorneys, each of these trees will be very costly.

 

It is always a Great investment to hire a Forester BEFORE you harvest any timber.

Comments (9)

Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Oh boy, that is going to be quite costly for those people Bob.

May 01, 2013 08:43 PM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

It's easy to get off the property line when walking up and down mountains. The last timber job I did was only about 20 acres, but I I knew where the lines were and stayed off, and left timeber all the way around. I also had Forestry Dept monitor job, as well s a forestry consultant. I also monitored myself because I have seen timber companies poach nice trees on other jobs, and I have seen them move survey ribbons over. Not worth the risk.

May 01, 2013 09:17 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

I had it happen to me once. I own a 40 acre parcel, which I seldom see, but happen to stop by and found that someone had cut a bunch of trees on one area. The property next door had been harvested, so I surmised it was the same people. I contact the neighbor and sure enough it turned out to be the same company. We eventually worked out and agreement, after I hired someone to do the appraisal you spoke about.

May 01, 2013 09:54 PM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Bob-   I don't think our laws in CT protect the home owner that well.  That is an awesome law!   I know of some folks who poached and cut, and paid pennies for the damage...

May 01, 2013 11:07 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Bob, I am always so interested in hearing about your work...I don't know much about it, but thru you, I am learning!

May 02, 2013 12:04 AM
Sally Crane
WMS - Unity, WI
Woodland appraisal support.

It is amazing the amount of work that goes into processing something like this!  I know, because a number of things have to go through the office here, and I help.   You would think the landowner and loggers would double check EVERYTHING before proceeding with the timber sale -who would intentionally bring all the hassles of timber theft onto themselves.

May 04, 2013 01:03 AM
Roseanne Campagna
John L. Scott RE Maple Valley, WA - Maple Valley, WA
Kent/DesMoines/Blk Diamond/Renton/Maple Valley, WA

Ouch... renewable resources get no respect unfortunately. I cringe everytime someone finds an excuse to cut another beauty down...

Jun 26, 2014 11:35 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Bob Crane How could a neighbor not know they were not on their own land. That is one of the first things I have always done when owning acreage, which is to clearly review the survey, note the boundary posts and make sure I did not stray off my property. Ouch! This neighbor is going to learn a costly lesson. Great post!

Nov 02, 2015 08:26 PM
The Woodland Team of Texas
The Woodland Companies - Austin, TX
Land Specialists

Hi Bob, I am enjoying going through some of your early blog posts and reposts and getting ready to start doing some posts myself soon.

Feb 16, 2019 11:24 PM