Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms Inspection Report (“Certification”)

Wright Realtors does not personally do pest control inspections, mouse over the top left button that says "Termite Companies" for a dropdown list.

A thorough and detailed inspection of your home is your best defense against damage caused by termites and other wood-destroying organisms. A trained inspector can spot termite evidence of even the beginning of an infestation or infection. This allows the homeowner, the opportunity to correct the problem before it becomes too costly.

Each finding and recommendation is specific, no multiple options in one finding, especially regarding termite treatments. This allows you, the homeowner to know exactly what service your inspector is proposing to perform for you. Reports are are in full compliance with all the rules and regulations as specified by the Structural Pest Control Act.

Homeowners are usually reluctant to admit to potential buyers that their homes have been damaged by termites. For some people, the mere mention of the words "termite damage" conjures up images of tiny insects with very big teeth dining on weight-bearing wood beams until a home collapses in a heap of sawdust. Thankfully, this is not usually the case

Benefits of a complete termite inspection:

A. Early detection of termite infestation before damage occurs.
B. Full inspection of difficult to reach areas.
C. Peace of mind.

A. Eliminates surprises in real estate transactions.
B. Knowledge of problems prior to placing home on market.

What is a Wood Destroying Pest Report?

As a protective measure, banks and lending institutions require that homes be inspected for damage from termites and other wood-destroying insects before closing the sale of the home. A Wood Destroying Pest Inspection Report (WPI) is a document prepared by a licensed pest control company that informs the lending institution and buyer of the results of the inspection.

WPI provides basic information about the inspection such as the address of the property and which structures were inspected. Also, general questions are answered: Are there any obstructions or areas inaccessible to inspection" Is there any visible evidence of infestation or previous treatment? Will the inspecting company or another company correct the damage? WPI pinpoints special areas or concern such as locations of previous treatment and areas that are inaccessible to inspection.

What a WPI is not

Now that you know what a WPI is, let's talk about what a WPI is not:

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  Joey Farria hard at work
  A WPI is not a structural damage report. WPIs tell you only about damage relating to infestation (but not the extent of same as that is the expertise of a building contractor). In addition, it does indicate the presence of structural damage for other reasons such as earthquakes or floods.

• A WPI is not a guarantee of the absence of wood-destroying insects. An inspection is an important tool in evaluating the soundness of a structure, but there are limitations. An inspector can't pick up a house and look under it, or take it apart and put it back together.

What are WPIs good for then?

What good is a WPI if it can't guarantee that a house is free from termites? Aside from identifying obvious infestations and previous treatment, WPIs highlight potential problem areas. Here are some things that buyers should look for:

Tubing termites



Tubing termites One visible sign of an infestation of subterranean termites is a dirt tube built by the pests as they burrow into a house. Expert assistance from a licensed pest control applicator is necessary in such cases.

 

 

 

 

Exposing termites



Breaking open a dirt tube built by subterranean termites will expose their activity in exterior or interior walls. If you find such evidence of termites in your house, call in a licensed pest control applicator.

 

 

 

 

 

Termite damage



The larger a dirt tube built by termites penetrating a house, the longer the pests have probably been there. In such cases, not only should a licensed pest control company be called in to deal with the termites but also a contractor to inspect for any structural damage.

 

 

 

 

Signs of termites



Any house can and should be regularly checked by its owner for signs of wood-destroying insects. One sign is a dirt tube, which can be broken open to inspect for live termites. Live termites will appear as small white specks and should be dealt with by a licensed pest control applicator. The dirt tube shown here was broken to see if any termites were present. The small white specks inside the circles are live termites. A pest control applicator needs to be hired to treat this structure.

Inspecting for termites



Any house can and should be regularly checked by its owner for signs of wood-destroying insects. One sign is a dirt tube, which can be broken open to inspect for live termites. Live termites will appear as small white specks and should be dealt with by a licensed pest control applicator. The dirt tube shown here was broken to see if any termites were present. The small white specks inside the circles are live termites. A pest control applicator needs to be hired to treat this structure.

Termites in the ceiling



If termites are infesting any portion, such as the ceiling, of the garage of a house, the entire house should probably be at least inspected, and probably treated, by a licensed pest control company.

 

 

 

Termites in the studs



When termites have infested wall studs and other major support members of a house or garage, not only should a licensed pest control company be called in to treat the buildings but also a qualified contractor or structural engineer to evaluate structural damage.

 

 

 

 

Preventing termites



Any spot in a home or on a property where wood makes contact with the soil on a property is an area ripe for the invasion of subterranean termites. Homeowners should correct the condition without delay

 

 

 

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Termites in the wall



If termites are found to be infesting the exterior wall of a home or garage, and no pest-control treatment has ever been applied, a pest-control company should be called in as soon as possible

 

 

 

 

Termites on the roof deck



Termites on deck When termites are found on roof decking or any other major support members of a home or garage, and no pest-control treatment has ever been applied, a pest-control company should be called in as soon as possible. A qualified contractor or structural engineer also should be consulted about possible structural damage.

 

Termites on the roof



When termites are found on any other major support members of a home or garage, and no pest-control treatment has ever been applied, a pest-control company should be called in as soon as possible. A qualified contractor or structural engineer also should be consulted about possible structural damage.

 

Interior termite problems



It not surprising to uncover evidence of termites when making inside the wall repairs. If termite damage is found, you will need to call in both a licensed pest control operator and a carpenter to deal with the damage.

 

 

 

 

Water leaks and termites



Termites need three things to thrive: dirt, wood and water. Most houses have plenty of dirt and wood to chew on. Therefore it is important to fix water leaks around the house, such as a slowly dripping faucet, as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

Form boards and termites



It is not uncommon to find wooden form boards and scrape wood left behind when the foundation of a new home is completed. Steps should be taken to either remove the wood or prevent any wood-to-earth contact, which can attract termites.

 

 

 

Firewood and termites



Firewood stored right next to a house will draw termites in a relatively short period of time. The wood should be moved at least 10 feet away from the home and the house inspected for termite activity.

 

 

 

 

Wood and dirt attract termites



Any time a piece of wood touches the earth, it can attract termites. The wood should either be moved or the dirt dug out from around it. The area, and possibly the entire structure, should next be inspected for termites

 

 

 

Defective shower pan



When the pan beneath a shower stall is defective, and water seeps into the space, it can attract termites. If this occurs, it would be necessary to contact a qualified pest control company to spot-treat the area, and possibly the entire structure, for termites.

 

 

 

 

Remove form boards



Occasionally a contractor will leave a form board in place after finishing the construction of a foundation. It should be removed as soon as possible because of its potential for attracting termites. After its removal, the area should be inspected for termites.

 

 

 

 

Wood on the patio



Any wood located between a cement patio and a home, such as a wooden expansion joint, is a potential home for termites. The wood should be removed immediately and the area inspected for active termites.

 

 

 

 

Termite hiding places



The best way to avoid termites is to regularly inspect likely locations for them to show up. Without these regular checks, termites often are able to infest a spot for months, even years, before being found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPIs provide valuable information for the sale of a home and document its present condition for future reference. Unfortunately, there is no state law that requires a WPI for the sale of a structure; it is normally a requirement of the lending institution. State law does dictate that WPIs meet certain minimum standards.