A friend's neighbor is looking to sell some lumber that belonged to his father, and he needs to clear out his shed. The lumber is rough sawn, around 4/4 thickness and 4" wide, with lengths ranging from 8 to 10 feet. I'm trying to figure out a reasonable offer per board foot without having seen the wood yet. For reference, I once paid about $12 per board foot for 4/4 walnut at a local supplier.
3 Answers
Forget about a per board foot price; just look at the entire pile and estimate the total quantity. Make a cash offer for the whole lot instead. They probably just want to get rid of it, so negotiate a fair price based on what you see and the condition of the wood.
Honestly, I wouldn’t offer anything without checking the wood first. You can't know the condition from a description alone. Ask for some photos to get a better idea. The last thing you want is to pay for wood that’s been ruined by exposure or pests!
Exactly! If the wood's not in good shape, even free wood can become a headache. Definitely ask for some pictures before making any offer.
If it were me, I'd put down a small deposit, like $20-$40, just to show I'm serious, but I'd want to inspect it before paying the full amount. If it's been stacked and looks decent, I might offer around half the usual lumber price. Otherwise, I’d stay on the cautious side and offer way less, something like $0.50 to $1 per board foot for firewood or if it looks bad.
That's smart! Just keep in mind, if you've seen pictures and they looked okay, then you might adjust your offer accordingly when you check it out in person.
I agree! Sometimes it’s better to not get too caught up in the price per foot and go for an overall deal. They’ll appreciate someone willing to clean out the shed too!