Wood Destroying Insect Reports for Real Estate Transactions

The Pest Rangers perform wood-destroying insect inspections, which are required before a home is sold or refinanced. Commonly called a "WDIR," its purpose is to look for any signs of visible 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 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 and damage in your house and have it addressed if necessary. This helps ensure your home’s sale ability avoids potential legal problems. If you are the buyer, we recommend that you order the WDIR inspection and accompany the inspector during the examination. In this way, you can know 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 WDIR?

As a protective measure, banks and lending institutions require that homes be inspected for damage of termites or other wood-destroying insects before closing the sale of the home. A Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Report (WDIR) is a document prepared by a licensed pest control company that informs the lending institute and buyer about termite damage or presence.

WDI Reports consist of 5 sections:

Section 1: Consist of general information about the property. Seller, buyer, address and structure(s) to be inspected, main residence or others. Outbuildings, detached garages, sheds, and other detached buildings, structure and fences are not usually included in the inspection unless specially requested by the client. Each separate structure requested will have a separate report issued, for an additional fee.

Section 2: Areas of the property which are deemed to be obstructed or inaccessible. This section answers general questions, such as: Any area that cannot be inspected without opening the structure or removing objects blocking entry is considered inaccessible for the purpose of a WDIR  Examples include: Attic filled with stored materials or with the entrance blocked by stored materials, a garage fitted with stored items, a closet filled with boxes, a crawlspace filled with standing water, or an area under a porch filled with firewood. A section of a crawlspace to narrow to fit (less than 18 inches high), or an attic without stairs or pull-down access or any area that is unsafe. We do not inspect areas that require breaking apart, dismantling, or removal of molding, floor coverings, wall coverings, siding, ceiling (including drop ceilings), insulation, floors, furniture, appliances, personal possessions and similar objects. An area that require the use of a ladder is also considered inaccessible, as in any area where access requires the use of a drill.

Section 3: All Visible evidence resulting from wood-destroying insects, whether to be active or inactive, must be indicated in this section of the report. Whenever any item is checked under section 3, location if that visible evidence must be indicated in the adjacent box.

Section 4: No visible evidence of infestation from wood-destroying insect was observed – is self explanatory.

Section 5:  The following conditions conducive to subterranean termites were noted in this property: Conducive conditions simply mean these factors that tend to attract termites or favor their presence. These conditions must be reported not only because they may increase risk of termite attack, but because they need to be corrected before any treatment can be undertaken.

What a WDI Report is Not?

Now that you know what a WDIR is, let’s talk about what a WDIR is not. A WDIR is not a structural damage report – it is a report about visible damage relating to infestation, not about structural damage for other reasons, such as earth quakes or floods.

A WDIR is not a guarantee of the structure of the absence of wood-destroying insects.

An inspection is an important tool in evaluating the soundness of the 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 WDIR Good For Anyway?

So what good is a WDIR 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, WDIR highlights potential problems areas.

Here are some things that buyers should look for:

   * Excessive wood moisture. Moisture levels 20 percent or higher as determined by a moisture      meter, fungus and rot, staining, or wet surface.

   * Wet wood, Excessive moisture from plumbing leaks, improper installation if insulation, etc.

   * Wet stucco/siding. Roof leak, poor runoff, automatic sprinklers, or direct contact with soil        

     causing stucco or other siding to remain wet. Stucco that is retaining moisture or is in contact 

     with soil.

   * Wood debris. Form boards, grade stakes, scraps of lumber, tree stumps and roots, or paper

     products near or under foundation or in crawlspace or in adjacent planters.

   * Direct wood/soil contact. Untreated structural beams or trim in the soil, untreated wood fence

     attached to building, firewood piled against foundation wall, wood embedded in and throughout

     concrete.

   * Soil piled against brick or siding above the foundation: also raised foundation planters if not

     protected by flashing or poured concrete.

   * Mulch or wood piled up against the wood members of structure.

   * Exterior foundation insulation. Rigid foam board, insulation foams, exterior insulation and finish

     systems (EIFS), or other insulating systems on exterior foundation walls or under slabs below

     grade.

WDIR provides 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 Report for the sale of a structure; it is a requirement of the lending institution. State laws do dictate that only Licensed Pest Control Operators/Inspectors can complete and issue WDIR.