What is a Wood Destroying Organism Inspection Report?

A Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Inspection Report is a written report of an inspection on a home for visible and accessible evidence of an infestation or damage by wood destroying organisms. Usually this means subterranean or dry wood termites, but will also cover wood destroying beetles and wood destroying fungi.

A WDO report is also commonly called a "Termite Inspection", "Clearance Letter", or "Termite Letter".

A WDO inspection report is provided when a home or other structure is being sold and the mortgage lender or buyer requires the inspection as part of the transaction. If an inspection is performed for these purposes, the inspection must be reported on a specific report form HUD NPMA33.

What does a WDO report tell a buyer?

A WDO report tells the buyer if the pest control inspector saw any evidence of the following:

-Live termites or other wood destroying organisms - evidence of infestation by termites or other wood destroying organisms (including wood destroying fungi) - damage by termites or other wood destroying organisms - previous treatment for termites or other wood destroying organisms The inspector must report the common name of the wood destroying organism identified and the location of the evidence. If any areas are not accessible for inspection these areas and the reason they are inaccessible must be reported. (For example - if an attic is not inspected, this must be noted and the reason, -e.g. "low crawl space" must be put on the form).

What is a "clear" report?

A "clear" report is a report that states that no evidence of wood destroying organism’s infestation or damage was visible and accessible at the time of the inspection.

What does a "clear" report mean?

A "clear" report means that there was no evidence of wood destroying organisms infestation or damage visible and accessible to the inspector at the time of the inspection. It does NOT mean, however, that the buyer can be absolutely assured that there are no wood destroying organisms infesting the structure or that there is no damage from termites or other wood destroying organisms.

Note*** it is very possible for termite or other WDO damage or infestations to be behind walls or in some other inaccessible location even in structures that receive "clear" reports.

Such an infestation or damage may be hidden (therefore not visible and accessible), or may have been repaired by the seller and therefore not visible and accessible to the pest control inspector.

How can a home buyer find out if the home they want to buy is not infested or damaged by termites?

What should a home buyer do if there is evidence of infestation or damage?

In addition to the WDO inspection, home buyers should obtain written documentation of the following:

-Termite treatments and termite protection contracts issued on the structure for at least the last three years (longer if available.

-Reports of annual inspections conducted as part of a termite protection contract. These reports will indicate if signs of infestation or damage were observed during the term of the protection contract.

-Any WDO inspections performed on the structure within the last year (or longer if available.)

The contract and treatment information should be reviewed to determine if the home has been actively protected against termites.

The reports of annual inspection and previous WDO inspections should be reviewed to determine if infestation or damage has been observed in the past. If infestation or damage was observed, documentation on treatment performed and repairs made should be obtained.

The existence of a past infestation or damage does not necessarily mean that the buyer should not purchase the home. The buyer should obtain additional information, however, to determine what steps (if any) are needed to put the structure into an acceptable condition.

What should a home buyer do if "visible damage" is reported on an initial WDO inspection report, and then the damage is repaired so a "clear" letter can be provided to the mortgage lender?

Any report of visible damage or infestation is an indication that termites or other WDOs have been or are present in the structure. Repair of damage may or may not have resolved the problem. Home buyers should investigate further to determine the status of WDO protection on the structure and determine if the damage repaired was a symptom of more extensive infestation or damage.

Key Points:

-Don’t rely on the WDO report alone

-Be present when the WDO inspection is done

-Obtain documentation on termite treatment history and copies of protection

-Contracts issued for the structure -aintain an active WDO protection contract on the structure after purchase.