WDO Inspection for a Home Sale in Tampa Bay
The wood-destroying-organism report lenders and buyers ask for in Florida, on the state form, by a licensed inspector, across Hillsborough and Pinellas. Call now.
A WDO inspection is the wood-destroying-organism report on Florida's state form, done by a licensed company, that reports visible evidence of termites, wood-boring beetles and wood-decaying fungi in a house. Lenders ask for it on many Florida sales; VA loans require it, FHA loans ask for it when the appraiser sees evidence or the sale contract calls for it, and buyers of older houses order it on their own. It is an inspection, not a treatment, and it reports what was visible on the day.
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What the inspector looks at
The accessible wood: the attic framing and the eave, the window and door frames, the baseboards and the base of the drywall, the sill plate where there is a crawl space, the garage, the lanai and the fence line where it meets the house. The report notes live infestation, old damage, evidence of past treatment and the areas that could not be reached, which in a Tampa Bay house often means a finished attic, a wall behind built-in cabinets or a crawl space with no access.
The report comes on the state form with the company's license number, the inspector's identification number and a diagram. A lender wants it dated close to closing, usually within 30 days.
If the report finds something
A finding is not the end of a sale. Old drywood damage with no live activity is common in the pre-war neighborhoods of Tampa and St. Petersburg and is usually noted and left alone or repaired as a condition. Live subterranean activity means a treatment before closing, with the agreement and the warranty passing to the buyer. The inspecting company can quote the treatment in Florida; a second quote from another licensed company is still worth getting before anyone signs.
- Live termites: treatment before closing, warranty transferred to the buyer
- Old damage, no activity: noted on the report; repair is a negotiation, not a requirement
- Wood-decaying fungus: a moisture problem first, often a roof leak, a sprinkler on the siding or a bathroom fan into the attic
- Areas not inspected: ask why, and whether access can be opened for a second look
Who orders it and when
The buyer usually orders it during the inspection period, alongside the four-point and the wind mitigation inspection the insurer asks for. A seller of an older house sometimes orders one before listing to settle the question early. Either way, book it when the house is accessible, with the attic hatch clear and the garage walls reachable.