Security deposit

It is not uncommon for sellers of standing timber to require a security deposit from the buyer. It could be in the range of 5 - 20% of the full value of the sale. By holding the security deposit, the landowner selling the timber has some "insurance" that all provisions of the contract will be met (e.g., smoothing the roads, seeding the landing, controlling erosion, lopping slash). Of course this part of the contract should also specify the conditions for full return of the security deposit.