About Wood Destroying Insect Inspection

The materials that make up our homes are vulnerable to damage from wood destroying insects — damage that can carry serious structural consequences. Whether you're purchasing a new home or staying ahead of ongoing maintenance, a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) Inspection is a smart, proactive step. It's also a requirement by many financial lenders, including those backing VA and FHA loans.

Welcome Home has partnered with Quality Pest Services, Inc. — a trusted name in the real estate industry with over 20 years of experience — to provide WDI Inspections seamlessly alongside your home inspection. Quality Pest Services reports all findings using the standardized NPMA-33 form, meeting VA and FHA loan requirements. We'll coordinate everything, so you don't have to.

The WDI inspection examines your home for termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and re-infesting wood boring beetles. Conducted in a non-destructive manner, the inspection covers all visible and readily accessible areas of the structure — including attics and crawlspaces. Accessible areas are carefully probed to identify any visual evidence of wood destroying insects, signs of previous treatments, and recommendations for treatment where needed.

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Evidence of termite shelter tubes at basement wall

Wood destroying insects can cause damage to the wooden structural components of a house, and may go undetected for a long period of time.

Simple Steps to Keep Termites Away

The good news? Most termite problems can be prevented. Termites need three things to survive — food (wood), moisture, and shelter — and eliminating their access to these goes a long way in protecting your home. Here's where to start:

  • Eliminate wood-to-soil contact around your property, such as trellises, fence posts, railroad ties, and wooden retaining walls

  • Pull vegetation back from the exterior of your home to reduce pathways for insects to enter

  • Cut back on landscaping mulch near your foundation, as it retains moisture and attracts insects

  • Keep exposed wood sealed and protected to prevent moisture damage and rot

  • Seal cracks and openings in your foundation and exterior walls

  • Remove any wood scraps, old stumps, or debris from around your foundation

evidence of wood destroying insect damage to several wooden members of the porch.

evidence of wood destroying insect damage to several wooden members of the porch.