As a small logging company here in ohio I agree get a forester most loggers are honest how ever theres a bad one in every lot. One thing to not mentioned and is a previalent problem here in ohio is property lines not properly marked make sure you have a plot map were your logger and yourself can find and mark your lines ( most loggers can do this ) I leave a buffer zone of uncut trees usually 10 to 30 feet from the line this keeps your neighbors happy most the time. Also a side note If im out driving around Ive been know to knock on doors if I come across nice timber. Mead paper is a major force here in southern ohio so it can be slim picking
This is excellent advice
Along with everything else that has been previously mentioned, obviously.
Here in my area I get involved helping to harvest more lots in the 10 to 30 acre size range than in the 100 plus. It's just the nature of the beast as many large tracts of land have been subdivided and sold off. The species and grade of the wood to be harvested is what you'll receive a check for and as mentioned that's where having a Forester watching your interests reaps huge benefits.
Going back to crazytimber's point, be sure your parents' property was properly surveyed, and the pins, markers, flags etc are all still in place. Over the past years some of the guys I've worked for have found themselves shut down, one due to a court injunction, because they wound up in the middle of border disputes between abutting property owners that pretty much hated each other. May not be the situation here, but the point of knowing and having marked boundaries is critical to protecting all, landowners and harvesters.
Oh, and the injunction situation, it was predicated on damage to wetlands, potential Indian burial grounds, and incorrect boundaries from a 75 year old survey. It did not however, have anything to do with the fact the landowner's abutting property owner had a small pot farm growing on the back remote corner his property that he did not want discovered.
Take Care