The manner in which you go about getting your wood products can be as important as the kind of wood you actually purchase. The process of buying hardwood lumber is not like the process of purchasing other items. It takes a lot of work, oversight, and an understanding of what you actually need and can store. Price is also a factor but if you find you can get a great deal on big leaf maple wood and then you have no place to keep it, that can be a total waste of money. This tips should help.
- Get to know your hardwood lumber supplier. Most people, who work in the business of selling whole log lumber and other lumber products, know a lot about the entire process. It makes sense to develop a decent relationship with the people from whom you will be buying it. Some assume that the relationship is about nothing more than ordering, delivering, and paying for lumber but that is not the best way to go. The people you work with to get the lumber you need know a lot of about what is happening in the industry and in the wood manufacturing process. They want to work with you and be a resource to help you get what you are looking for. Let their expertise and experience help you get your lumber. This can be the most important thing you can do to get the right kind of wood for your needs.
- Be proactive with your supply. Do not wait until your hardwood lumber supply is almost completely depleted before you go about getting some more. You are always going to be behind the Eight Ball if you wait until you are desperate for anything from supplies to services. You will end up paying a lot more if you have to place an emergency order for your hardwoods. This is also where having a good relationship with the lumber yard can help. People are always more likely to help out a friend than someone they have never met or barely talked to.
- Make the most out of each shipment. You need to get the most from every delivery of hardwood lumber that you get. When you order, it always is best to make it a full order rather than only a partial. This is important because you pay a fee to have the truck filled up with product and then unloaded. So buying the same amount of wood in one order or two will cost more for the latter option. Again, this is where your relationship with the lumber yard and your knowledge of your supply will come in handy. You do not have to make the load only one kind of wood. You can split it up to fill up the truck.
- Take some time to visit the lumber yard. You can learn a lot about the process and the people who sell you your lumber if you take some time to go out and take a tour. People like to have others ask them about what they do. A visit or two to the lumber seller will show your interest and may help solidify your relationship with that business and the people who work there. They can also go over your options in greater detail than when you just talk to them on the phone or review their products online.
- Remember, the price tag is not always the most important thing to look at. As with many things, getting the cheapest option may not always be the most cost-effective choice. When you are looking at your options for hardwood lumber, you need to pay better attention to the value. A more expensive lumber may last longer and be a better deal than one that is just cheaper. Lumber that is a better quality will perform better and that will make your customers happy with what you have made for them.
Getting the right hardwood lumber for the work you are doing is not as easy as stepping into a wood supplier’s business and pick some up. These tips can help you get the best hardwood lunber for your needs and projects.
