Not only will your ownership be more productive and enjoyable, but tending to the items on this list will also make your property more attractive to a potential buyer if you decide to sell.
- Manage your understory. Keeping your understory under control improves aesthetics, crop tree growth, and recreational usage while reducing the cost of many management activities.
Before and after understory control. - Keep roads and trails maintained. Good access is essential for viewing, managing, and utilizing a property.
- Maintain property boundaries by posting and painting.
North Carolina Purple “No Trespass” Mark - Have quality maps for your property. A complete map file should include surveys, aerials, topography, and soils maps with overlays showing roads, trails, timber types, streams, ponds, and any other significant features. Digital versions are a must.
Aerial Photograph. Color, contrast, and sharpness enhanced with graphics software. 
USGS Topography 
Lidar Terrain Map. Useful for detecting features not visible on topographic maps. - Have a woodland management plan. A good plan will include detailed stand descriptions, volumes, values, objectives, and a projected timber harvest/revenue timeline. If you meet ownership requirements, having a plan will also help qualify you for an agricultural property tax rate.
About Tim Cartner
Tim is a forester, real estate agent, and avid outdoorsman. When he is not managing clients’ woodland, you will find him hiking, trail running, reading, or woodworking. Motto: “Never get too comfortable–there is always room for improvement.”