Closing on a home in Tampa Bay? Our FDACS-licensed inspectors deliver VA/FHA-compliant Florida Form 13645 WDO reports within 24–48 hours of scheduling. Trusted by home buyers, realtors, and mortgage brokers across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. 50% off your first inspection — call or schedule online now.
A WDO inspection — Wood-Destroying Organism inspection — is a specialized examination conducted by a Florida-licensed pest control operator (licensed under FDACS, Chapter 482, F.S.). It is legally distinct from a standard home inspection and can only be performed by a licensed pest control company. The resulting document — Florida Form 13645 — is the official statewide report format required by VA, FHA, and most conventional lenders for real estate transactions in Florida.
A WDO inspection is not the same as a home inspection. Your home inspector is not qualified to provide a WDO report under Florida law — they are licensed differently and assess different things. You need both reports for most Tampa Bay real estate closings. The WDO inspection focuses exclusively on four categories of wood-destroying organisms that are endemic to our subtropical climate:
The requirement depends on your loan type. Here is exactly what each loan program mandates for home purchases in the Tampa Bay area — including VA loan termite inspection requirements that trip up buyers and sellers alike.
If you are purchasing a home in Tampa Bay using a VA loan — as a veteran, active-duty service member, or eligible surviving spouse — a WDO inspection is mandatory. The VA will not approve a loan on a property where a WDO inspection was not completed. This applies to all properties in Florida regardless of property age or prior treatment history.
FHA loans do not mandate a WDO inspection as a blanket federal rule, but FHA-approved lenders operating in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties routinely require one — particularly in Central and South Florida where the USDA termite infestation probability map rates our area as "very heavy." If your FHA appraiser observes any evidence of wood-destroying organisms during the appraisal, a WDO inspection becomes required before the loan can close.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines do not universally mandate WDO inspections, but individual conventional lenders in the Tampa Bay market commonly require them — especially for properties built before 2000 or located in high-termite-pressure areas like South Tampa, Westchase, Carrollwood, and Temple Terrace. Older construction in Brandon and Riverview is frequently flagged by underwriters.
Florida law does not require a WDO inspection for cash purchases — with no lender involved, there is no regulatory mandate. However, buying a Tampa Bay property without a WDO inspection is a significant financial risk that most experienced buyers' agents advise against.
Every Florida WDO inspection results in a standardized document: the DACS-13645, officially titled the "Wood-Destroying Organism Inspection Report." This form is promulgated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and is the only report format accepted by VA and FHA lenders for real estate transactions in Florida. It is divided into six major sections:
An active finding means the inspector observed live wood-destroying organisms, fresh mud tubes, fresh frass, live insects, or other indicators of current infestation. This is the most urgent finding category. For VA loans, active infestation must be treated and confirmed clear before closing can proceed — no exceptions. For FHA and conventional loans, lenders typically require either seller-paid treatment with documentation, or a price adjustment allowing the buyer to fund treatment post-closing.
Previous damage indicates that wood-destroying organisms were active in the past and caused structural or cosmetic damage, but are not currently active. The inspector may observe damaged, hollowed, or stained wood — without finding live organisms. Prior treatment history (termite bonds, tent fumigation records) is relevant here. Lenders often accept previous damage findings if the buyer can document that repairs were made and no active infestation is present. Buyers should request all prior treatment records from the seller as part of due diligence.
Conducive conditions are environmental factors that increase the likelihood of future WDO infestation — but do not document current or past infestation. Common findings in Tampa Bay include: wood-to-soil contact at deck posts or sill plates, standing water or moisture under the structure, inadequate crawl space ventilation, and wood debris left in or near the foundation. Most lenders do not require remediation of conducive conditions before closing, but they are a significant negotiating point — particularly moisture issues in South Tampa or older Brandon homes.
Six steps from scheduling to lender-ready report delivery. Every step follows Florida Chapter 482 requirements — and we never shortcut documentation of inaccessible areas.
Call us at (813) 548-6341 or use the contact form below. We schedule WDO inspections within 24 to 48 hours of your request across Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Westchase, Carrollwood, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and all surrounding Bay Area markets. If you are closing soon and need an expedited appointment, tell us your closing date and we will accommodate.
Your FDACS-licensed Tier 1 inspector conducts a thorough visual inspection of all accessible areas of the property. The inspection is systematic and methodical — not a quick walk-through. We access and examine every accessible area that could harbor or sustain wood-destroying organisms, producing documented findings for the Form 13645 report.
We inspect: attic spaces (for drywood termite frass, beetle exit holes, fungal damage to rafters and trusses), crawl spaces and subfloor framing, garage framing and door frames, all interior baseboards and windowsills, exterior siding and soffit lines, porches, decks, and any outbuildings on the property. We probe suspect areas for soft wood, tap structural members, and use moisture meters in known problem zones like South Tampa slab-edge areas and older Brandon homes with wood subfloors.
Our inspectors know the specific diagnostic signs for each WDO category relevant to Tampa Bay properties: mud tubes and shelter tubes (subterranean termites), frass pellets and exit holes (drywood termites and beetles), stained or soft wood with fungal growth (wood-decaying fungi), swarm wings near windowsills or light fixtures (post-swarm evidence of either species — see our termite swarm season page for timing detail), and wood-to-ground contact points that create direct infestation pathways.
Florida law (Chapter 482, F.S.) requires that any area the inspector cannot access must be explicitly documented in Section V of the Form 13645 — with written explanation of why access was not possible. We do not simply skip areas. If a finished garage ceiling blocks attic access, a locked crawl space, or stored belongings prevent full examination, we document it with specificity. This protects you legally and gives your lender a complete, compliant report.
The completed, signed Form 13645 is delivered via email in PDF format within 24 hours of completing the physical inspection. Digital delivery is fully accepted by VA, FHA, and conventional lenders. Forward directly to your lender, mortgage broker, or title company. If you need the report addressed to a specific lender or closing agent, let us know at the time of scheduling. We can also provide same-day follow-up if your closing is imminent.
Florida WDO inspection costs are competitive and vary based on property size, the number of structures on the property, and accessibility. Standalone WDO inspections in the Tampa Bay market typically range from $75 to $150 for standard residential properties. Tier 1 Pest Solutions offers competitive rates within this range — and because we currently offer 50% off your first inspection, your out-of-pocket cost is often lower than you'll find from larger national franchise companies.
Call us at (813) 548-6341 for a specific quote. We will tell you exactly what your inspection will cost before you schedule — no surprises at billing. For realtors and mortgage brokers who refer multiple inspections, ask about our referral program pricing.
For context: a WDO inspection typically costs a fraction of what the findings can save you. If our inspection identifies an active subterranean termite infestation, treatment in the Tampa Bay area typically runs $800–$3,000 depending on treatment type and structure size. That is a cost you can negotiate the seller to absorb before closing — but only if you have the inspection report.
Get a Price QuoteComplete Florida Form 13645 WDO inspection for Tampa Bay home buyers. FDACS-licensed inspector, electronic report delivery, VA/FHA compliant. Call for exact pricing — typical residential range $75–$150 before discount.
A WDO report with findings is not the end of a deal — it is negotiating information. Here is what each finding type means and what action to take.
If Section II of the Form 13645 documents an active infestation, treatment is required — especially for VA loans, which prohibit closing on a home with live WDO activity. Your immediate steps:
Prior WDO damage without active infestation is a documentation and negotiation issue, not necessarily a deal-killer. How to proceed:
Conducive conditions in Section IV do not block your loan in most cases, but they represent real risk — and negotiating leverage. Common findings in Tampa Bay homes:
Most Tampa Bay buyers think of the WDO inspection as a compliance checkbox — something the lender requires before closing. But experienced buyers and their agents use the Form 13645 report as active negotiating leverage. Here is how to convert inspection findings into real financial benefit at the closing table.
The WDO report is one of the few due diligence documents that creates documented, lender-acknowledged evidence of a property defect. Unlike verbal claims or informal walk-through observations, findings on a Form 13645 are legally documented, signed by a licensed professional, and carry authority in a contract negotiation. Use that.
If you are a real estate agent or mortgage broker working in the Tampa Bay market, you know that WDO inspection scheduling and report delivery are friction points that can threaten closing dates. We built our WDO inspection service specifically to eliminate that friction for the professionals who refer us.
We work in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties every week — in all the submarkets your buyers are purchasing in. We understand transaction deadlines. Call us directly with your inspection needs and we will make your clients' closings easier.
A failed or delayed WDO report is one of the most common causes of closing postponements in our market. We exist to prevent that. When you refer a buyer to Tier 1, you are referring them to a licensed company that has the inspection, the treatment, and the documentation — under one roof — with a turnaround that fits transaction timelines, not just inspection schedules.
We conduct WDO inspections throughout the greater Tampa Bay area — Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Wherever you are closing, we can be there.
Not on the list? We serve all of the greater Tampa Bay area. Call (813) 548-6341 to confirm coverage and schedule your WDO inspection.
We are a Tampa-based, FDACS-licensed pest control company — not a national franchise, not an inspection-only firm. When you need a WDO inspection in the Tampa Bay area, you want a company that understands the local termite species, the construction patterns, and the specific lender requirements in our market. That is what we are.
Our WDO inspectors are licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) under Chapter 482, F.S. — the only type of licensure that legally permits WDO inspections in Florida. Our license numbers are printed on every Form 13645 we issue. This is the compliance detail that makes our reports lender-acceptable — and that distinguishes us from unlicensed or under-licensed competitors.
We are not a franchise operation routing calls to a distant call center and dispatching contractors who have never been to your neighborhood. We are headquartered in Tampa, operating in the same counties where your buyers are closing. Our inspectors know Formosan termite pressure in South Tampa, subterranean termite activity patterns in Riverview and Brandon, and drywood termite behavior in older Carrollwood and Temple Terrace construction. That local knowledge shows up in the quality of the report.
If our WDO inspection finds an active infestation or conditions requiring treatment, you do not have to find a separate pest control company. We are already there. We can quote treatment immediately and begin as quickly as same-day in most cases — which is the difference between a closing that stays on track and one that gets pushed two weeks for treatment coordination. See our termite control page for our full range of treatment options.
Our reports are issued on the official DACS-13645 form, signed and dated by our FDACS-licensed inspector, and delivered electronically in PDF format. We format reports specifically for direct lender submission — no reformatting, no missing fields, no compliance gaps that trigger lender requests for supplemental documentation. For VA loan termite inspections in Tampa, FHA WDO inspections, and conventional loan reports, our reports are ready for submission the moment you receive them.
Everything home buyers, realtors, and mortgage brokers ask us about WDO inspections, Florida Form 13645, VA/FHA requirements, and termite inspection costs in Tampa Bay.
Fill out the form and we'll reach out to confirm your inspection date and time within a few hours. We serve Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, and all of Tampa Bay. Closing soon? Note your closing date in the message — we'll prioritize accordingly. Or call us directly right now.
