Local WDO Inspection

Certified Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) Inspector, Miami, FL

What is a WDO inspection?

Understanding Wood-Destroying Organisms

The WDO/termite inspection is a visual inspection for wood destroying organisms which includes: termites, certain "wood boring" beetles, and wood decay fungi. Pretty much everyone is aware of termites, but in Florida, we include all types of organisms that "eat" wood.

Florida's humid climate makes it a prime environment for these organisms. Whether you're buying a new home or maintaining your current one, a certified WDO report provides the documented proof you need to ensure your investment is protected from the silent damage caused by wood-destroying pests.

Certified Expertise

Every inspection is performed by our licensed professionals who know exactly where these organisms hide. We provide detailed reports that meet all Florida state requirements.

Certified

Inspectors

Official

WDO Reports

State

Licensed

The Florida WDO Report, Explained

What the document says, and what it does not say

A WDO report is an official Florida document, not a letter from your pest company. It is filed on state form DACS-13645 and signed by an inspector licensed in the wood-destroying organism category. Your lender, your title company, and the buyer all read the same form, so what it records about your property carries real weight.

The three organisms covered

Organism	What it does to a Florida home	Signs the inspector hunts for
Termites	Subterranean colonies tunnel up from the soil, drywood colonies live inside the wood itself	Mud tubes, discarded wings, frass pellets, hollow or blistered wood
Wood-boring beetles	Larvae feed inside structural lumber for years before adults emerge	Round or oval exit holes, fine powder beneath them, weakened joists
Wood-decay fungi	Moisture-fed rot that softens framing, sills, and trim	Spongy or discolored wood, standing damp, poor ventilation under the structure

All three count as wood-destroying organisms under Florida rules, which is why this inspection reaches further than a termite-only check. A house can show no termite activity at all and still be written up for fungi behind a leaking shower wall.

How to read your report

Two findings decide how a transaction moves: whether the inspector saw evidence of an organism, and whether the property has conducive conditions.

Visible evidence means activity or damage was found and identified. The report names the organism and the location.
No visible evidence means nothing was found in the areas the inspector could reach. It is not a promise that the structure is clean.
Conducive conditions are the invitations: wood touching soil, scrap lumber under the house, leaks, blocked vents, poor drainage. These show up on plenty of reports that found no live activity.
Inaccessible areas are named rather than guessed at. A sealed crawl space or a finished attic gets listed as what it is.

Lenders read the first line. Buyers should read all four. Conducive conditions are the cheapest item on the page to fix and the most common reason a clear property turns into an infested one a few years later.

What the report does not do

It is not a home inspection. Roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC sit outside its scope.
It is not a mold assessment. Wood-decay fungi are recorded for structural reasons, not air quality.
It records what can be seen. Inspectors do not open walls or lift flooring.
It describes one day. Florida termites swarm across the calendar, so an old report says little about the property now.

Reports from Florida Termite Guys are issued under our WDO license (#JF288223), the state credential required to sign an official wood-destroying organism report.

Count On Us To Check Everything

Thorough Inspections for Complete Peace of Mind

Baseboards & Walls

Walk along all baseboards and walls to check for droppings.

Windows & Light Fixtures

Look along windowsill and anything near light fixtures for signs of activity.

Attics & Crawl Spaces

Check attics, insulation and crawl spaces for wood damage and wings.

You can trust that we'll leave no space unchecked for signs of infestation.

"You can always count on The Termite Guys being there when needed."

Common Reasons for WDO Reports

Why South Florida Homeowners and Lenders Trust Us

Real Estate Transactions

Most lenders require a clear WDO report (Form 13645) before closing on a home purchase in Florida.

VA Loans

Veterans Affairs loans have strict requirements for WDO inspections to protect the veteran's investment.

Refinancing

Banks often require a fresh WDO report during refinancing to verify the property's structural integrity.

Peace of Mind

Annual inspections help catch issues early, preventing expensive structural problems before they start.

When You Need a WDO Report, and What Sets the Price

Scheduling around the people who ask for it

Most WDO reports get ordered because somebody else asked for one. Knowing who is asking tells you how quickly you need the visit and how long the paperwork stays good.

Situation	Who asks for the report	When to book
Buying a home	The lender, and usually the buyer's agent	As soon as the inspection period opens, leaving room to treat
Selling a home	Buyers, before they commit	Before listing, so findings do not land mid-negotiation
Refinancing	The bank underwriting the new loan	Around the time the appraisal is ordered
VA and FHA loans	Underwriting rules on government-backed loans	Close to closing, because the report has to still be current
Annual homeowner check	You, or a warranty that wants yearly proof	The same month each year, so coverage never lapses

How long the report stays valid

Florida lenders rarely accept a report older than 30 days at closing. Book too early and you pay for a second inspection. Book too late and a finding leaves no room to treat before the closing date.

Tell us your closing date when you schedule and we place the visit inside that window. Completed reports go out the next business day in most cases.

What sets the price

WDO inspection pricing in Florida tracks how long the property takes to inspect properly. Nobody can quote a real number without knowing the address.

Square footage and the number of stories
Detached structures such as garages, guest houses, and docks
Attic and crawl space access, since tight or blocked entry adds time
How much furniture and storage sits against the walls
Rush scheduling built around a closing date

Give us the property address and the reason you need the report, and you get a firm price rather than a range.

Where to go next:

VA Loan Termite Inspection With WDO Report — VA rules, who pays, and closing timelines
Termite Inspection — What happens during the visit and the warning signs to watch
Drywood Termite Treatment — Your options when the report names drywood termites
Subterranean Termite Treatment — Soil and barrier work when the colony comes from the ground