Termites are not just a pest control issue, but they can compromise the structural integrity of the home.  Make sure all Termites are evicted before you occupy your new home!

Protecting your investment from potential termite activity is a service many buyers desire when purchasing a home here in the South West Florida.  Most of the time this damage is not visible to the untrained eye and this inspection can save the home buyer thousands of dollars and countless headaches when identified before the purchase of the home.

Termite Inspections are also known as WDO (Wood Destroying Organisms) Inspections.  WDO Inspections must be performed by a State Licensed Business with a Certified Operator in the category of Termite Control as issued by the department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Wood destroying organisms can describe a variety of pests, but what this inspection is specifically reporting is the presence or absence of two different types of structure infesting termites (Subterranean and Dry wood), wood destroying beetles such as (Powder post Beetles and Old House Borers and more) as well as the various kinds of Wood Decaying Fungi.  This report does not reflect the presence of carpenter ants which can be a wood destroying organism but the Florida carpenter ant is not as destructive as carpenter ants observed in places such as the Northern Pennsylvania and other northern states. 

The most important and damaging pest that are inspected for are the termites.  It has been said that termites do more than five billion dollars of structural damage per year in the United States which is more than fire and natural disasters combined.  In Florida, it is especially important to have your home inspected each year as well as before you buy your new home to help mitigate potential problems and correct the current infestation that might be observed.

The inspection process involves searching the entire home while looking for signs of any wood destroying organisms as mentioned.  This is a visual inspection using simple tools such as a flashlight and probing tools such as a screwdriver.  Any probing that may be done is minor as the qualified professional is not allowed to pull off trim or other wood surfaces for a deeper look.  Probing it may go deeper into areas such as the attic where suspect areas may be found.  These inspections typically start in the lower portions of the home with a focus on the perimeter walls where moisture and subterranean termite entrances are most likely.  The inspection then moves to the upper portions of the home including the attic where the presence of dry wood termites would typically be found.  The inspection then moves to the exterior to look for the presence of termite mud tubes, possible droppings from facia boards or even termite swarmer’s that have been caught in spider webs.  The inspection will conclude in the crawlspace when a crawlspace is present.

A portion of the Florida statutes regarding WDO inspections requires that the licensed company leave a sticker on the property to note that date of the inspection and identify the treatments if necessary.  As a buyer, you will also be provided with an official form 13645 WDO report which details the findings of the inspection.  This report is a part of your documentation used when purchasing the house and may be required by some lenders.