A WDO inspection — also called a Wood Destroying Organism report, termite letter, or NPMA-33 report — is required for nearly every residential real estate closing in Polk County, Florida. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, listing agent, buyer’s agent, or closing attorney working a Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Plant City, Lake Wales, or surrounding Polk County transaction, call the number below to be connected with an FDACS WDO-licensed inspector who can typically perform the inspection within 24–48 hours.
The inspector dispatched through Lakeland Exterminators holds an active Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) WDO category license, completes the inspection using the standard National Pest Management Association NPMA-33 form, and delivers the signed report digitally for transmission to lender, title company, and closing attorney as required by your transaction.
What a WDO Inspection Is — Florida Real Estate Context
In Florida, the standard residential purchase contract used in Polk County and statewide is the FAR/BAR (Florida Realtors / The Florida Bar) Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase. The current version contains a Wood Destroying Organisms inspection addendum — historically paragraph 17, currently referenced as the WDO addendum — which establishes the buyer’s right to obtain a WDO inspection report during the inspection period, and specifies the seller’s repair or treatment obligation if active infestation or damage is identified.
The inspection itself is governed by Chapter 482, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5E-14, Florida Administrative Code, administered by FDACS, Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control. The inspector must hold an active Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDO) category license. The report itself is most commonly issued on the NPMA-33 form — the National Pest Management Association’s standard Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report — which is accepted by virtually all U.S. residential lenders, including conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loan programs.
The WDO inspection scope, as defined by Florida regulation and NPMA-33 standards, covers all readily visible and accessible portions of the structure for evidence of past or current infestation by:
- Subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes — eastern subterranean, the dominant subterranean species in Polk County)
- Drywood termites (Cryptotermes brevis — West Indian, and Incisitermes snyderi — southeastern)
- Wood-decay fungus (often called wood rot, “soft rot,” or brown rot)
- Powderpost beetles and other wood-boring insects
The inspection does not cover inaccessible areas — sealed crawl spaces, finished basement framing, areas obstructed by furniture or stored goods, or any portion of the structure the inspector cannot physically reach without dismantling. The NPMA-33 form has specific sections for noting obstructed areas, and lender protocols generally allow an “inaccessible” notation.
When Polk County Real Estate Transactions Require WDO Reports
Even when not strictly lender-required, the WDO inspection is a near-universal practical requirement for Polk County residential closings. The combinations:
- FHA loans — WDO inspection generally required by the FHA Handbook 4000.1, particularly in known termite infestation probability zones. All of Polk County sits within FHA’s “moderate to heavy” termite probability designation.
- VA loans — WDO inspection required by VA Lenders Handbook, Chapter 12, when the property is located in a “moderate to heavy” termite probability area (all of Florida qualifies).
- USDA Rural Development loans — typically requires WDO inspection per USDA HB-1-3550.
- Conventional loans — WDO inspection requirement is at the lender’s discretion. Many require it for properties older than a certain threshold (commonly 15+ years) or properties in heavy termite probability zones. Most Polk County conventional loans request the report.
- Cash transactions — No lender requirement, but the FAR/BAR contract’s WDO addendum still gives the buyer the contractual right to obtain inspection. Most cash buyers proceed with WDO inspection regardless because remediation costs (especially drywood termite fumigation at $1,500–$5,000) are material.
For sellers: ordering a WDO inspection before listing is increasingly common in the Polk County market as a way to surface and address termite issues during your control rather than during the negotiation phase.
What the FDACS WDO-Licensed Inspector Will Check
When the dispatched inspector arrives at the Polk County property, the typical inspection covers:
Exterior:
- Foundation perimeter — looking for subterranean termite mud tubes on CBS block, concrete slab edges, brick veneer, stucco-on-frame transitions
- Wood-to-soil contact points — porch posts, fence-to-house contact, deck-to-house contact, landscape timbers adjacent to siding
- Plumbing penetrations — water entry/exit points where termites commonly enter
- Bath traps (the slab cutouts behind tubs) — major subterranean termite entry point in Florida slab construction
- Roof line and eaves — for drywood termite frass and damage
- Exterior trim, fascia, soffits — Florida-specific drywood termite damage sites
Interior:
- Baseboards, window sills, door frames — for subterranean termite damage and drywood termite frass
- Bathroom and kitchen plumbing walls — common subterranean entry routes
- Crawl space (if accessible) — for mud tubes, fungal growth, conducive moisture conditions
- Attic — for drywood termite frass on insulation, kick-out holes in attic structural members, ridge beam damage
- Hardwood floors — for drywood termite frass collections at perimeter
- Closets — often missed in casual searches, but commonly hiding drywood damage in trim
Attic (Florida-specific):
In Polk County’s tile-roof homes, the attic is where most drywood termite activity is detected. Inspectors typically check attic structural members, decking, ridge beams, and exposed framing. Drywood termite frass is commonly found on top of insulation, on attic floor surfaces, on stored items, or in the eaves where the roof meets the wall plate.
The inspection typically takes 30–60 minutes for a single-family home, longer for larger homes or homes with accessibility complications.
If the WDO Report Shows Active or Past Infestation
Three possible outcomes:
Clear report (no evidence of infestation): The NPMA-33 form is issued showing no active infestation and no visible evidence of prior infestation. The report is valid for transmission to lender and closing attorney.
Past infestation, treated, no current activity: Most common scenario in Polk County, given how prevalent termite activity is. The form notes “evidence of previous infestation” with details. If the previous treatment was performed by a licensed operator and is documented with a treatment receipt, this is typically not a barrier to closing — the report is accepted with the appropriate notation.
Active infestation: The form notes “evidence of active infestation” with details on species, location, and severity. Under the FAR/BAR contract WDO addendum, the seller typically must either (a) perform treatment at the seller’s expense before closing, or (b) credit the buyer at closing, or (c) the buyer may exercise contractual rights to cancel or renegotiate. Many Polk County transactions resolve this by the seller arranging treatment with an FDACS-licensed operator and providing the treatment certificate to the closing agent. The new owner typically receives a transferable termite bond.
Visible damage (live infestation aside): If structural damage is visible regardless of current activity, the inspector notes it on the form. Repair scope and responsibility is then negotiated between buyer and seller.
Polk County-Specific Timing Considerations
A few timing realities specific to the Polk County market:
- Standard inspection turnaround: Most Polk County WDO inspections can be scheduled within 24–48 hours of the call, and the report is typically delivered electronically within 24 hours of completion.
- Hurricane season scheduling: During Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 – November 30), occasional delays occur during named storm preparation and aftermath. The 2022 Hurricane Ian aftermath produced multi-week WDO inspection backlogs in parts of Polk County. Scheduling 5–10 days ahead during peak season is prudent.
- Drywood termite swarming season: May–August. If the WDO inspection falls during swarm season and shows recent drywood activity, the timeline to closing may include fumigation scheduling (typically 1–3 weeks lead time, 1–2 day fumigation, 1 day re-entry).
- Report validity for FHA/VA: Typically 30 days. If the closing is delayed beyond that window, re-inspection is generally required.
WDO Inspection Cost in Polk County
Typical Polk County WDO inspection pricing:
| Inspection Scope | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard single-family home WDO inspection (NPMA-33) | $100 – $250 |
| Larger home (3,000+ sq ft) or complex inspection | $200 – $350 |
| Condo unit | $75 – $150 |
| Commercial property | $250 – $500+ |
| WDO + general pest inspection bundle | $200 – $400 |
Most Polk County WDO inspections in the standard single-family residential range fall between $125 and $175.
Full termite treatment and inspection cost guide →
When To Call
- You’re under contract on a Polk County home and need a WDO report for the closing
- You’re listing a Polk County home and want to identify and address termite issues during your control before negotiations
- Your existing termite bond is expiring and the renewal requires a fresh inspection
- Your FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional lender has specifically required a WDO report
- You’re refinancing and the lender has requested current WDO documentation
Polk County Areas Served
The WDO inspectors reachable through Lakeland Exterminators serve all of Polk County:
- Lakeland — 33801, 33803, 33805, 33809, 33811, 33812, 33813, 33815
- Winter Haven — 33880, 33881, 33884
- Bartow — 33830
- Plant City — 33563–33567
- Lake Wales — 33853, 33859, 33898
- Auburndale — 33823
- Haines City — 33844, 33845
- Mulberry — 33860
- Davenport — 33837, 33896, 33897
- Polk City — 33868
Related Pages
- Termite Treatment in Lakeland, FL — Treatment options for subterranean and drywood termites
- Drywood Termite Treatment in Lakeland — Fumigation, spot treatment, heat treatment
- Subterranean Termite Treatment in Polk County — Liquid barriers and bait stations
- Termite Treatment Cost in Lakeland — Detailed cost expectations by treatment type
- FDACS Pest Control License Categories →