Wood Destroying Insect Inspections
Each year, 1-877-INSPECT performs hundreds of wood-destroying insect inspections, which are required before a home is sold or refinanced.
Commonly called a “WDI report,” its purpose is to look for any signs of visibl
e evidence of termites, old house borers, powder post beetles, carpenter ants, or carpenter bees that may be present in the structure. The current owner is usually responsible for treating any reported infestation before the transaction can be completed.
Both seller and buyer should be aware that this report covers only what an inspector concludes from what is visible on the date of the inspection. Wood-destroying insects choose secretive hiding spots that are often impossible to detect. This means that a report indicating no visible infestation is no guarantee that these insects are totally absent from the home. Homeowners are sometimes reluctant to admit to potential buyers that their homes are damaged by termites. For some people, the mere mention of the words “termite damage” conjures up images of tiny insects with very big teeth dining on weight-bearing wood beams until a home collapses in a heap of sawdust. Thankfully this is not usually the case. If you are the seller, your best approach is to openly acknowledge any insect activity and damage in your house and have it addressed if necessary. This helps ensure your home’s sale ability and avoids potential legal problems. If you are the buyer, we recommend that you order the WDI inspection and accompany the inspector during the examination. In this way, you can know what was seen and what was inaccessible and make your own decision about the home you are considering.
What You Should Know About Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Reports:
What is a WDI report?
As a protective measure, banks and lending institutions require that homes be inspected for damage from termites or other wood-destroying insects before closing the sale of the home. A Wood-Destroying Insect inspection report (WDI) is a document prepared by a licensed pest control company that informs the lending institution and buyer about termite damage or presence.
WDI reports have two-pages. The first page provides basic information about the inspection such as the address of the property, and answers general questions, such as: Are there any obstructions or areas inaccessible to inspection? Is there any visible evidence of infestation or evidence of a previous treatment? The second page of the WDI report provides important consumer information regarding the scope and limitations of the inspection.
What A WDI Report Is Not?
Now that you know what a WDI report is, let’s talk about what a WDI report is not. A WDI report is not a structural damage report – it is only a report about visible damage relating to infestation, not about structural damage for other reasons, such as earthquakes or floods. A WDI report is not a guarantee of the absence of wood-destroying insects. An inspection is an important tool in evaluating the soundness of a structure, but there are limitations. After all, an inspector can’t pick up a house and look under it, or take it apart and put it back together.
What Are WDI Reports Good For Anyway?
So what good is a WDI report if it does not guarantee that a house is free from termites or other wood-destroying insects? Well, aside from identifying obvious infestations and previous treatment, WDI reports highlight potential problem areas.
Here are some things that buyers should look for:
Cracks in foundation walls. It only takes a crack 1/32 of an inch wide to give termites and other wood-destroying insects hidden access to a house.
Leaking pipes and faucets. Termites as well as other insects, seek out moisture for survival. Leading pipes can keep wood and soil continually damp and create a perfect home for termites.
Wood debris around and under a house. Pieces of scrap lumber or firewood kept next to a structure can support a colony of termites.
Sprinkler systems or bubblers placed near the outside wall of a structure. Excessive watering can dilute pesticide treatments around foundation walls.
Flower planters. Planters allow hidden and direct access to unprotected siding and cracked stucco when built in direct contact with a house.
Trellises and wooden fences. If a trellis or wood fence touches soil and is in contact with a structure, it provides a direct link between the subterranean termites in the soil and wood in the structure.
WDI reports provide valuable information for the sale of a home, and document its present condition for future reference. Unfortunately, there is no state law that requires a WDI inspection for the sale of a structure; it is a requirement of the lending institution. State law does dictate that only Licensed Pest Control Operators can complete and issue WDI inspection reports. Because we possess this license in addition to our home inspection license we are one of the few home inspectors that can provide this service to you at the same time as your home inspection.
