Termite Inspection/WDI Inspection in Cleveland

WDI Inspection and Termite Inspection: Ensuring a Pest-Free Residence

When you’re in the process of buying, selling, or refinancing a home, a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) Inspection or Termite Inspection might be a requirement. This is especially true if you’re considering an HUD, FHA, or VA loan. It’s important to highlight that a WDI Inspection is not the same as a regular home check; it necessitates a specially licensed technician to perform.

While many associate the Termite Inspection primarily with termites, our expertise extends beyond. We delve into inspecting for other culprits like carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powder post beetles. All our inspections are carried out using Ohio’s sanctioned Termite Inspection form (NPMA-33).

What is the Cost of Termite Inspection and WDI Inspection in Cleveland?

This Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Termites In Cleveland, OH!

Single Family Home Under 3,000 Square Feet

$150⁰⁰Plus Sales Tax

Fast service to keep the ball moving on your realty transaction. Detailed service to insure your home is in good shape going forward.

What is a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection?

“The purpose of the WDI Inspection is to provide the parties with a factual report of the inspector’s observations as to the presence or absence of visible evidence from WDI, damage due to any such infestation, and recommendation(s) for treatment(s) necessary for control of any infestation(s) noted, based upon a careful and professional visual inspection of the areas which were open and accessible for visual inspection with in or on the structure(s) listed on the Real Estate Contract on the day that the inspection was performed. – The Ohio Department of Agriculture

Signs of Infestation

Our inspectors are not required to find live insects on or inside the covered structure for the structure to be considered infested. Below are some factors that warrant a determination of “infested.”

Covered Pests

Most homeowners are primarily concerned about termites. However, there are actually a number of more common wood-destroying insects in Ohio. Carpenter ants, for example, are a huge problem in our area. In 2017, they were our third most popular service. That’s why our W.D.I. Inspection covers all of the following pests.

Carpenter ants are nocturnal. Therefore, our team is trained to search for the damage they leave behind.
Many homes in our area are prone to carpenter bees. While they won’t eat your home from the inside out, they can still cause plenty of damage.
We’ll also search for powder post beetles. Powder post beetles are a big concern in older structures. You can also find them in areas with high moisture.
Aside from these major wood-destroying insects, we also sometimes find weevils and other such insects. We’ll list these on the report if we come across them, or signs of their damage.

Where We Inspect

We will, of course, thoroughly inspect the main structure. In addition, we’ll also inspect anything connected to the home, such as attached garages, additions, and decks. If an attached structure has termites, the pests can easily get to the main structure. If you require a detached structure to be inspected, you must request so specifically.

On the other hand, we do not inspect things like wood piles, mulch, and landscape timbers as part of the W.D.I. report unless they are inside a covered structure. In addition, our inspection does not cover fence posts.

Keep in mind that there are other environmental situations that could eventually lead to a structural issue, but won’t be marked against you on the inspection. For example, if a tree in your your is infested with carpenter ants, we will only note this in the additional comments section; it will have no bearing on whether you pass or fail the inspection. Additionally, many homes have soil piled up too high against the garage foundation, which creates a highly conducive environment for wood-destroying organisms. This is another scenario that won’t influence pass/fail, but will be noted in the additional comments section.

Signs of Previous Treatment

We will note any signs of previous treatment for wood-destroying insects on your inspection report. If professionals have treated a property in the past, they will often leave behind printed stickers. Look for them on the furnace, hot water tank, or electric panel.
We also sometimes find old termite bait stations left on the property. This bait indicates that the property has been professionally treated sometime in the past.
Liquid termite treatments often require injecting products below ground. Therefore, incremental drill holes are another sign of previous termite treatment. You might be able to spot these holes yourself, along foundation walls and through concrete slabs.

How To Prepare For Your WDI Inspection

Gather relevant information from the other parties involved. Know what structures are included in the purchase contract. Anything in the contract will need to be inspected.
Share pertinent information about closing conditions and timelines. By doing so, you ensure sufficient time for inspection.
Obtain a copy of the Seller Disclosure Form. Here, the Seller discloses structural problems, water leaks, roof damage, and past W.D.I. treatments. These can be very beneficial for your inspector.
Give your inspector access to all necessary parts of the home by removing clutter. Start by relocating belongings away from the perimeter walls.
Clear crawlspaces and attic entry points. Clear the undersides of decks and porches, too. We will also inspect access doors greater than 18″ by 18″.
Secure your pets. We will not be responsible for pets left on the property during service.
Notify adjacent property owners if we will require access to their property to inspect certain areas of the structure.
Do not clean or remove possible evidence of wood-destroying insects.