Professional Termite and Wood-Destroying Insect Inspections.

What Exactly is a WDO Inspection?

When obtaining a mortgage or a mortgage guarantee to finance the purchase of a home, you most likely will be required to obtain a Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) Inspection by the bank, mortgage comany or guarantor (FHA, VA, HUD, etc.). Although commonly referred to as a "termite inspection", a proper WDO Inspection looks for evidence of infestation by termites (both subterranean and dry wood types), wood decay, wood-devouring beetles, evidence of past infestation, damage to wood, or conditions conducive to infestation, and evidence of past treatments.

Working with a Reputable Inspector.

An inspector is a licensed professional with the State of Florida. A proper WDO inspection consists of several steps, which may not necessarily occur in this order:

An inspection of the exterior of the home, looking for signs of termite activity (such as termite shelter tubes, shown in the picture on the left), as well as conditions conducive to termite and other WDO infestation (such as wood that is too close to the ground, dead tree stumps by the house, improper grading, leaky gutters or downspouts, or tree branches overhanging or touching the home). The inspector will also look for evidence of infestation by other wood-destroying insects.

An inspection of the interior of the home, with special emphasis on the garage, door and window frames, and other areas that are particularly prone to host wood-destroying organisms. This part of the inspection will be both visual and physical, and typically involves visually inspecting, tapping, probing, and sounding susceptible wood.

The inspector will also be looking for live termites or other insects, dead termite "swarmers", other evidence of infestation (tubing, frass, signs of prior treatments, etc.) damaged wood, and conditions conducive to infestation (such as excessive moisture levels). A detailed written summary of the inspection is then completed. This includes a standardized inspection form developed by the NPMA and adopted by various state and federal agencies, and may sometimes include additional documents attached by the inspector to clarify the inspection findings. When evidence of a past or present WDO infestation, damage due to an infestation, or conditions conducive to infestation are found, the inspector will usually attach remediation recommendations and/or an estimate for treatment.

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