WDO inspections and pest control
A WDO inspection is not just a termite check — it covers subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-boring beetles and wood-decaying fungi†. It is reported on state form FDACS-13645†, and WDO inspectors are licensed by FDACS under Chapter 482, not by DBPR†, which is a different regulator from your home inspector.
People ask for a termite inspection and receive a wood-destroying organism report, then read only the termite section. Wood-decaying fungus — rot — is frequently the more expensive finding in a humid Florida house, and beetles turn up in older heart pine. The report is broader than the request, and the extra breadth is where the surprises live.
Do you need one?
| Situation | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Buying with a VA loan | Yes — required, and the state form is accepted |
| Buying any older Florida home | Strongly advisable, and it is cheap alongside the general inspection |
| Buying new construction | Less critical, but a soil treatment record is worth asking for |
| Refinancing | Usually not |
| You have seen frass, mud tubes or swarmers | Yes, and promptly |
| Selling an older home | Often worth doing pre-listing to avoid a late surprise |
The four organisms, and how they differ
- Subterranean termites live in the soil and come up. Treatment is about the soil and the perimeter, and evidence is mud tubes on foundations and piers.
- Drywood termites live in the wood itself and need no soil contact, which is why treatment can mean tenting the whole structure. Evidence is frass — small pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds.
- Wood-boring beetles, most often in older or reclaimed timber, leaving small exit holes.
- Wood-decaying fungi. Rot, which needs moisture — so finding it is really finding a water problem, and treating the fungus without fixing the water achieves nothing.
Subterranean and drywood termites need different treatments, and a property treated for one is not protected against the other. Ask specifically what any existing warranty or bond covers, and whether it transfers to you on sale — many do not, and many cover only one category.
How to read the report
- Visible evidence versus live activity. These are different findings. Old damage from a treated infestation is a very different position from an active colony.
- Damage versus infestation. A report can find damage with no live organisms, which raises the separate question of whether the damage is structural.
- Inaccessible areas. The report lists what could not be inspected, and that list is frequently long — behind cabinets, under flooring, in a full attic. Read it, because it defines the limits of what you have been told.
- Recommendations. Treatment, further inspection, or repair by others. “Repair by others” means the inspector is not assessing the structural consequence, and someone should.
How to choose an inspector
- Confirm they are licensed for WDO work specifically. Licensing here is through FDACS under Chapter 482 rather than DBPR, so it is a different check from your home inspector’s.
- Prefer an inspector who does not also want to sell the treatment — or at least know that they do. It is the same conflict Florida legislated away in mould work, and it is not regulated the same way here.
- Ask what they will not be able to see at that property before they attend.
- Bundle it with the general inspection where you can. It is cheaper and the scheduling is simpler.
Warranties, bonds and what transfers
Many Florida homes carry an ongoing termite bond or warranty with annual renewal. It is worth asking three questions rather than one: what does it cover, does it include repair or only re-treatment, and does it transfer to a new owner. Repair cover is materially more valuable than re-treatment cover, and plenty of bonds provide only the latter.
If you are selling
Known termite or wood-destroying organism damage is disclosable. The duty from Johnson v. Davis (Fla. 1985)† covers what you know, materially affects value, and a buyer cannot readily observe — and damage inside a wall or under a floor meets all three. A pre-listing WDO report turns a potential late shock into a known, priced item.
Related
Common questions
What is a WDO inspection in Florida?
A wood-destroying organism inspection covering subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-boring beetles and wood-decaying fungi, reported on state form FDACS-13645 by an inspector licensed under Chapter 482.
Is a WDO report the same as a termite letter?
It is broader. Termites are two of the four categories — beetles and wood-decaying fungus are also covered, and in a humid Florida house the fungus finding is frequently the more expensive one.
Do I need a WDO inspection for a VA loan in Florida?
Yes. Every VA purchase loan in Florida requires a WDO report, and the state form is accepted in place of the national one.
Does a termite bond transfer when I buy a house?
Sometimes, and it is worth asking three questions: what it covers, whether it includes repair or only re-treatment, and whether it transfers. Repair cover is considerably more valuable and many bonds do not include it.
Who licenses WDO inspectors in Florida?
FDACS, under Chapter 482 — a different regulator from DBPR, which licenses home inspectors. So verifying a WDO inspector is a separate check.
Do I have to disclose past termite damage when selling?
Yes, if you know about it. It materially affects value and a buyer cannot readily observe damage inside a wall or under a floor, which is exactly when the Florida disclosure duty applies.
WDO inspection and reporting requirements sit in §482.226 of the Florida Statutes and the associated administrative rules, administered by FDACS. Report scope and exclusions are defined on the form itself — read the inaccessible-areas section before relying on a clear result.