I have sugar maple firewood that I want to sell, but I don't know how much it is worth. I think it depends on location, I am in northern Illinois. Any ideas on what I should sell it for ?
Depends on local market. What is a cord of seasoned hardwood bringing? Is it a true cord and is it "seasoned"...internal moisture content under 20%? Sugar maple is excellent firewood. A solid cord could bring a premium. Not knowing your area $300 would be a good price. You could always drop the price.
When I have a few face cords of well seasoned Hard/Sugar maple listed on CL, it goes fairly quick @ $260 a face cord/rick. It has close to the same BTUs as red oak, so I price it accordingly. However, I price it slightly less than white oak and hickory. All firewood takes the same amount of time and effort to create and deliver, but white oak and hickory are viewed as top shelf firewoods in the Nashville area.
I'll take 5 cords at $180 per please!! Bear in mind it also is used by some as smoking/cooking wood. You can get a premium for that.
Cooking woods definitely get a premium here too. Usually apple, hickory and cherry. Firewood For Sale - Split & Seasoned - general for sale - by owner Seasoned firewood - farm & garden - by owner - sale Heck this one might be Farmer Steve: firewood - farm & garden - by owner - sale
Always amazed how cheap firewood is sold around the country. Price of fuel, chainsaws, splitters, trucks and trailers and everything else is basically the same price everywhere (except CA). I've wisened up over the last few years selling firewood. When I find quality hardwood firewood cheap, I buy every stick the dude has in his woodyard. I split it smaller and stack it and let it season perfectly and then sell it for 6-10 times more in the Nashville area. A lot of firewooders just don't bother to do the expense accounting for their production cost and time.
When I determine my firewood prices, I include my IPA and whiskey consumption per face cord. Just another expense like diesel and bar and chain oil which the customer is responsible for.
Like The Wood Wolverine said, its location specific. Firewood is a ton of work, time, labor fuel however. If you live in an impovershied rural area that is wooded firewood goes for a modest amount. $780 a cord requires customers with disposable income not people living hand to mouth. There's a sawmill close to home I can buy oak mill ends for $ 25 a ton loaded into my truck. More power to you if you can charge that much but in many places its just not happening.
I am fortunate to live in a hardwood forested area with a lot of logging and land clearing operations on going. I have people constantly wanting/begging me to clean up their land for free. I can make more money collecting beer cans along side back roads than selling firewood locally. However, I have a vast sea of wealth 60-80 miles from me that doesn't blink an eye at $280 a face cord for oak and hickory that is perfectly seasoned. Diesel is by far my largest expense. Each trip to Nashville runs me about $25 with my truck and $40 with my trailer. Fuel isn't really a concern though when I sell 1.5-4 face cords per run.
Interesting question Brad. Because of the driving time and fuel costs, scheduling efficient deliveries is something I work hard on. From 1 October to Dec 31 I didn't deliver on 12 days and the majority of those missed days were due to nasty wet weather. On the other hand, I had just over 40 multiple delivery days and many times I had to drive back home to reload. I strive to deliver the same or next day no matter what. Any request after 11am I try and schedule the next day in the afternoon. That gives me a chance to get more orders later that day or early the next day. If people want 1/2 face cords, I tell them I will deliver when I have another one scheduled. For repeat customers, they usually let me know they are running low and would like a delivery soon. I schedule them 2-3 days out when I know for certain I will have more booked by then. I can carry a cord in my 18' trailer and 1/2 cord in my HD diesel truck. Love it when I can leave home with a full load. The trailer doesn't always work out though. Streets with no shoulders or tight steep driveways are a no go. Have parked my trailer 1/2 a mile or more away many times and made multiple runs back and forth with my truck in these cases. Still saves me driving time and fuel, but what a pain. Roughly 10% of my revenue is eaten by diesel which I don't see as an issue. And tips pay for a lot of that diesel. Lastly, I had multiple deliveries on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I don't let the calendar get in the way of selling firewood.
I use Google maps to plan order of deliveries. I like to hit the closest ones first to lighten my load. Street view in Google maps is a big help when towing my trailer. I can usually see whether my trailer will work for a delivery. If not, I search for the closest spot to park my trailer. Yes, I use a tongue lock and don't waste any time delivering and stacking when my trailer is parked full of firewood on a side street or parking lot.
A constant logistical nightmare that you have figured out very well. For the price youre getting it's well worth it IMO. Narrow driveways and muddy yards the only problems i face.
I learned the hard way not to drive across wet lawns to gain easy access to a storage spot. Easy to sink to your axles with a full load in the bed. I always haul my wheelbarrow along.
