What Is a WDO Inspection?
You're buying a home in Southern California, and your lender just asked for a WDO inspection. You've never heard of it before, and now you're wondering why you need one.
What is a WDO inspection? It's a professional examination that identifies wood-destroying pests and the damage they cause. Lenders and real estate agents require these inspections to protect your investment from expensive structural problems.
Understanding a Wood Destroying Organism Inspection
A wood destroying organism inspection goes beyond a basic home inspection. Licensed pest control professionals examine your property for active infestations, past damage, and conditions that attract wood-destroying pests.
In Southern California, our dry climate creates ideal conditions for certain wood-destroying organisms while discouraging others. You'll rarely find subterranean termites in desert areas, but drywood termites thrive throughout the region. Cities like Upland, Claremont, and Rancho Cucamonga see heavy drywood termite activity because of their older housing stock and warm temperatures.
Inspectors look for three main categories during a WDO inspection:
Active infestations of wood-destroying organisms
Visible damage from current or past infestations
Conditions conducive to future infestations
Unlike general home inspections that cover multiple systems, WDO inspections focus exclusively on pests that damage structural wood. Inspectors crawl through attics, peer into crawl spaces, and examine every accessible area where wood-destroying organisms hide.
What Qualifies as a Wood Destroying Organism
Several pests fall under the WDO category, though not all species exist in Southern California.
Termites
Termites top the list. Drywood termites infest homes throughout our region, living directly inside the wood they consume. Subterranean termites build colonies in soil and travel through mud tubes to reach wood. Differentiating between termite species matters because drywood and subterranean termites require different treatments.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants excavate galleries in wood to build nests. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood; they simply hollow it out for shelter. You'll find piles of sawdust-like material called frass near their entry points.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees bore perfectly round holes into wood to lay eggs. While they don't cause as much damage as termites, repeated activity over the years weakens structural members.
Wood-boring beetles
Wood-boring beetles include several species that tunnel through wood as larvae. Powderpost beetles leave behind fine powder and small exit holes. Old house borers prefer softwoods and can stay hidden for years.
Each organism leaves distinct signs. Recognizing termite damage differs from identifying carpenter ant galleries or beetle exit holes. Inspectors train specifically to spot these differences and determine which pest caused the damage.
What a WDO Inspection Includes
Licensed inspectors follow strict protocols during WDO inspections. California requires specific credentials and continuing education for anyone performing these examinations.
Inspectors start outside, walking the property's perimeter. They check foundation walls, siding, eaves, and any wood-to-ground contact points. Areas where wood touches soil create perfect entry points for subterranean termites.
Inside, inspectors examine:
Attic spaces and roof framing
Crawl spaces and subfloors
Basements when present
Garage walls and ceilings
Interior walls where damage appears
Cabinets, closets, and storage areas
Window and door frames
Inspectors use specialized tools, including moisture meters, probing devices, and high-powered flashlights. Moisture meters detect hidden water problems that attract wood-destroying organisms. Probes help inspectors test wood integrity without causing unnecessary damage.
When inspectors find evidence of WDO activity, they document locations with photos and detailed notes. Professional termite control often begins with these inspection findings, allowing technicians to target treatment areas precisely.
How a Termite Inspection Report Is Structured
Termite inspection reports follow standardized formats required by California regulations. Reports must include specific information about the property, inspector credentials, and findings.
Section 1 lists active infestations and visible damage requiring treatment. Any current WDO activity goes here, along with recommendations for elimination.
Section 2 identifies conditions conducive to infestation. Inspectors note excessive moisture, wood-to-soil contact, faulty grading, plumbing leaks, and other issues that attract pests but don't show active damage yet.
Reports also include:
Property address and inspection date
Inspector name, license number, and company information
Diagram showing affected areas
Photos documenting findings
Treatment recommendations and cost estimates
Accessibility limitations
Inspectors mark areas they couldn't access. Locked rooms, finished walls, and sealed crawl spaces limit inspection scope. Reports clearly state these limitations so buyers understand the inspection's completeness.
Why WDO Inspections Matter in Real Estate
Real estate termite inspections protect everyone involved in property transactions. Buyers discover problems before closing. Sellers address issues proactively. Lenders ensure their investment won't collapse from hidden damage.
Southern California's real estate market moves fast, but skipping WDO inspections costs buyers thousands later. Termites can hollow out structural beams without showing external signs. You might walk through a home that looks perfect while termites destroy it from the inside.
Sellers benefit too. Finding and fixing WDO issues before listing prevents deals from falling apart during escrow. Buyers who discover termite damage during inspections either demand price reductions or walk away entirely.
Choosing effective termite treatment depends on infestation severity and termite species. WDO inspection reports guide treatment decisions by identifying exactly what's happening in your home.
WDO Inspection Requirements for Home Sales
WDO inspection requirements vary by transaction type and lender. Not every home sale requires a WDO inspection, but most lenders mandate them.
FHA loans require WDO inspections in all states where termites pose a significant risk. California qualifies as high-risk, making inspections mandatory for FHA financing.
VA loans also require WDO inspections for veteran home buyers. VA guidelines demand both inspection and treatment of any active infestations before loan approval.
Conventional loans leave WDO inspections to the lender's discretion. Most California lenders require them anyway because termite damage threatens their collateral.
Cash buyers can skip WDO inspections legally, but doing so increases risk dramatically. Paying hundreds for an inspection beats discovering $30,000 in termite damage after you own the property.
Inspection timing matters. Schedule WDO inspections during your due diligence period, giving you time to negotiate repairs or walk away if problems seem too severe.
Need a WDO inspection in Southern California? Contact ProCraft Pest Control today to schedule your termite inspection.
