Including subterranean, drywood, and invasive species like the Formosan and Asian subterranean termite.
Including powderpost beetles and old house borers, which bore through wood as larvae and can cause significant structural damage over time.
Including dry rot and wet rot, which break down wood fiber and are often found in conjunction with moisture damage.
Primarily carpenter ants, which excavate wood to build nests rather than consuming it as food.
A WDO inspection is not required by Florida law for every real estate transaction, but it is required by most mortgage lenders — particularly FHA and VA loans — and is standard practice in the vast majority of Florida home sales regardless of financing type.
Even in cash transactions where no lender is involved, a WDO inspection is strongly recommended. Termite damage repair costs in Florida average around $8,000 and standard homeowner’s insurance covers none of it. Purchasing a home without a WDO inspection in Florida is one of the riskiest financial decisions a buyer can make.
Evidence of active or past infestation by termites, wood-destroying beetles, wood-decaying fungi, and carpenter ants. The inspector examines accessible areas of the structure including the interior, exterior, attic, crawlspace if present, and garage.
Stored items, finished walls, or closed crawlspaces may render certain areas inaccessible for review. Because hidden damage inside walls often shows no surface evidence, it is not covered by this assessment. Furthermore, this inspection does not determine structural integrity or predict future risks, as it serves only as a snapshot of visible conditions at the time of the visit.
This is an important distinction. A WDO inspection that comes back clean does not guarantee a home is termite-free. Subterranean termites often cause damage for years before any visible signs appear, and if those signs are hidden behind finished walls the inspector cannot see them.
Florida law requires sellers to disclose known material defects including termite damage and infestation. A WDO report documenting active termites or prior damage becomes a material fact that must be disclosed to buyers. Sellers who fail to disclose known WDO issues face significant legal liability.
A WDO report finding active infestation or prior damage gives the buyer the right to negotiate repair credits, require treatment before closing, or in some cases walk away from the transaction entirely depending on the terms of the purchase contract.
Most Florida real estate contracts specify who is responsible for treatment costs when WDO activity is found. Sellers typically bear the cost of treatment for active infestations. Repair costs for existing damage are subject to negotiation and contract terms.
A WDO inspection and a termite bond serve related but distinct purposes. A WDO inspection is a point-in-time assessment of current conditions. A termite bond is an ongoing protection agreement that provides continuous monitoring and treatment coverage going forward. For Florida home buyers, the ideal scenario is a clean WDO inspection at closing followed immediately by establishing a termite bond with a licensed pest control company. The WDO inspection confirms the home is clean. The termite bond ensures it stays that way. Given that Florida ranked number one in the country for termite activity, treating a clean WDO inspection as a reason to skip ongoing protection is a common and costly mistake.
A standard WDO inspection in Florida typically costs between $75 and $150 for a single-family home. Larger homes, commercial properties, and inspections requiring attic or crawlspace access may cost more. This is one of the lowest-cost inspections in the real estate transaction process and one of the highest-value. The cost of a WDO inspection is negligible compared to the potential cost of discovering a termite infestation after closing.
At Wise House Pest Control, we have seen firsthand how WDO findings affect real estate transactions and how undetected termite activity discovered after closing devastates homeowners across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. We use safer, more effective treatments that target termites where they hide, breed, and travel. Not just where you see them.
1177 Hypoluxo Rd Suite C-31 Lantana, FL 33462 (561) 727-8239
464 NW Peacock Blvd, Unit 106 Port St Lucie, FL 34986 (772) 783-4300
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: WDO Inspection Requirements
National Pest Management Association: Termite Damage Statistics
Pest Control Technology Magazine: Terminix Reveals Top States for Termite Activity (Feb. 2026)
University of Florida/IFAS: Invasive Termites Spreading Farther Than Predicted (Feb. 2026)
