WDI Inspection: What It is and Why You Might Need One

If you’re in the real estate market, whether you’re buying or selling, you might have heard about a WDI inspection. Sellers will often have these inspections performed on a property before they buy it to reduce the chances of a bug-related surprise. In fact, many lenders require these inspections, and it’s for good reason.

But what is this inspection, and is it really necessary? What are they looking for, and how in-depth does it go? We answer all those questions and more in this guide on these inspection services.

What a WDI Inspection Really Is

A WDI inspection is a type of home inspection designed to spot and educate customers on wood-destroying insects. It’s very common in residential real estate. Many home buyers hire a pest control or home inspection service to perform the inspection to buy some peace of mind that there aren’t serious bug-related issues. 

Wood Destroying Insects

It helps to know what types of bugs fall into the WDI category. Wood-destroying insects include carpenter ants, termites, carpenter bees, and wood-boring beetles. These insects eat, chew, or nest inside of wood. They enjoy wall and floor framing (behind drywall and finished flooring), as well as outdoor structures like decks and gazebos. They can easily cause thousands of dollars in structural damage.

These insects can cause an extensive amount of damage, and these damages aren’t usually covered by homeowner’s insurance. Any damage caused by these bugs usually comes out of the homeowner’s pocket.

It’s worth recognizing that these pests aren’t all bad, though they’re all bad in your home. Termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles decompose dead plant matter, which is necessary in nature. Carpenter bees pollinate plants when they’re not boring through your deck joists. This is a similar benefit to “pest” species like earwigs, which eat smaller insects, clean up decomposing organic matter, or snack on aphids.

Why Inspect a Home?

There are many reasons why a home shopper (or even seller) would hire a service to perform this inspection. While each case is different, the following are some of the most common reasons to go through with one.

Ensure the Price is Right

Though today’s market is stiff, no one wants to overpay for real estate. Many homeowners may choose to have an inspection performed, as well as a slew of other tests, in order to save some money on the home. If there is old wood-destroying insect damage present the buyer may be able to offer a bit less money.

In some cases, the bank may not allow the buyer to purchase the home if there is a current infestation and damage. The situation will need to be rectified in order for the home to qualify for financing.

Avoid Issues Down the Road

Most mortgages last 30 years. To ensure that they have the smoothest possible ownership experience, some buyers may request a slew of inspections, one of which may be for WDI damage. They want to know the risk areas, if there is any current damage, and if the inspector believes there are any current infestations. 

After the inspection is performed, the owner will receive a report. This wood-destroying insect WDI report will explain the inspector’s findings, include some recommendations, and also highlight areas where the inspector wasn’t able to access, among other things.

What WDI Inspections Look For

While home buyers should be on-site to ask the inspector any pertinent questions, it’s also good to know what the inspector is looking for. 

Note: All of these termite inspections are surface-level. This means that inspectors will look wherever they can find wood out in the open. They will not remove drywall, pull up carpeting or flooring, or anything of the sort. If they can’t see it with a flashlight and an awkward bend, they will not notice any WDI signs.

Visible Damage

One of the most tell-tale signs of an infestation, whether past or present, is damaged wood. If there is wood that has been chewed through, this visible evidence is a sign of WDI damage. 

Frass

Frass is a type of dropping left by insects that eat or chew wood. Unlike stink bug poop, spider poop, and similar liquid secretions from other bugs, frass looks like small flakes of pepper, sometimes with a bit of a reddish hue, and it will typically pile up in attics, basements, garages, and other areas, with the main nest not far from the most recent pile.

Discarded Wings

After 3 to 6 years of infesting a home, flying termites from the colony will begin to swarm or reproduce to spread out to start new colonies. When this happens, mated males and females break their wings off in piles and leave the nest. As a result, piles of discarded wings are an indication of a mature infestation. 

Bored Holes

Wood-destroying bees and beetles can bore holes in wood with surprising symmetry, and WDI inspectors will look for these signs of visible damage. They’ll check under deck framing, eaves, fascia, and anywhere else a carpenter bee might have drilled. While WDI bees don’t live in colonies, making infestations a non-issue, it’s still part of the WDI inspections.

An interesting note: While you might only see the entry holes, female carpenter bees often bore 4 or 5 tunnels within the wood to lay their eggs.

Moisture

If there is moisture present during the inspection, the inspector will likely note it on the report. Wet wood is particularly attractive to carpenter ants and termites, and even if there aren’t any insects present yet, the problem could be brewing. They’ll probably make recommendations in the report to fix any leaks or drips, which are some of the most common conditions that attract bugs into a home.

Blistering Wood and Paint

Blistering wood can be an indication of a variety of WDIs, including termites, certain ants, and powder post beetles. If these insects are chewing the wood directly behind the outer layer or layer of finish (such as paint or varnish), this could cause gaps behind the wood that appear like blisters. 

Dead Insects

One of the best indicators that there might be a problem is plain-old dead insects. Specifically with ants, these bugs can also curl up and die before the infestation. Also, a host of earwigs that feed on these ants could also be a sign.

Termite Tubes

Termites travel through tubes made from chewed wood, soil, and saliva. They’re able to travel inside these tubes protected from predators. These tubes can travel from the ground to the home, so they’re very common in crawl spaces, but they may also be found outside, within walls, and in many other spots. They’re also one of the easiest red flags for an inspector to pick up.

Do Lenders Require WDI Inspections? 

Many banks do require WDI inspections, especially for folks who live in areas known for WDI problems. In many cases, they refer to these inspections as termite inspections, WDO (wood destroying organism) inspections, and WDIR (wood destroying insect report) inspections. but they are essentially the same thing.

The reason why a lender would require a buyer to get an inspection for wood-destroying insects on a prospective property is to protect the bank’s investment. If the bank lends $300,000 on a home that appears to be worth it, only to find out that there is $100,000 in termite structural damage (costly repairs that are entirely possible!), they’ll lose money if the homeowner forecloses.

But Who Pays?

In general, the homebuyer has to pay for the WDI inspection, and the cost is typically around $250. Paying much more than that should be a red flag, as this inspection doesn’t guarantee that there isn’t a WDI problem, and inspectors aren’t liable for what they couldn’t see. Also, if the technician notices other issues like roaches or bed bugs, they’re not required to mark them, but they will likely point the issue out to the buyer or lender as well as some potential solutions.

But, if there are WDIs, the cost to handle them comes out of the seller’s pocket. They can choose a professional pest control service or they can try to handle it with do-it-yourself treatments.

WDI Inspection Forms

When a WDI inspector prepares a report, they’ll likely use a specific document called the NPMA-33 Wood Destroying Insect Inspection form. This form contains five sections, including the general information about the homeowner and inspector, the inspector’s findings, recommendations, areas the inspector wouldn’t access, and an area for signatures.

This document is the standard for these inspections and the reporting, though some states may have their own forms as well. If you’d like to obtain a hard copy of a blank report, you can do so through:

• National Pest Management Association 
• CBS Forms
• CrownMax Printing
• ServiceMark Pest Control Printing and Marketing

How Much is a WDI Inspection?

A WDI inspection usually costs around $250 to complete. For this price, the inspector will peruse the entire property, including basements, attics, under decks, crawl spaces, and anywhere else that wood is exposed. 

If a company is asking for much more than the $250 noted above, it might be a red flag. This test doesn’t involve tearing down walls or even solving the problem if they find one. Also, inspectors aren’t liable for what they can’t see, and there is no guarantee that an infestation of a WDI problem doesn’t exist—even if they don’t find one. So spending more for an inspection does not necessarily indicate better results.

Also, keep in mind that some pest control companies may offer WDI inspections for free if the client buys the home and signs a contract or termite bond.

FAQ

Even with all that background on WDI inspections, there may be some additional questions gnawing away. The following includes some of the most frequently asked questions (and their answers), so look for an answer listed below. 

What does WDI mean in pest control?

WDI stands for wood-destroying insect, and it’s used to describe a category of bugs that gnaw, chew, eat, and bore through wood.

What states does the VA require a termite inspection?

Veterans Affairs and VA loans require a termite inspection (or WDI inspection) on all properties in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

What insects does a WDI inspection look for? 

WDI inspectors look for visible signs of WDIs, and this includes termites, carpenter bees, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles. 

What if there is evidence of termite infestation?

If there is evidence of a termite infestation, the current homeowner (the seller) must take care of it before selling the home. This will most likely come out of their pocket and be very expensive. 

Is a WDIR required in Louisiana?

Yes, Louisiana requires WDIR inspections, as do Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. These states have their own reports, so the NPMA-33 is not necessary.