If you’re buying, selling, or representing a property in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Plant City, Lake Wales, or anywhere else in Polk County, you’ll need a Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection report — often called a “termite letter” or simply “the WDO” — to close. Enter your ZIP below to get matched with an FDACS-licensed Polk County inspector.
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Need a Polk County WDO inspection? Get matched with an FDACS-licensed inspector Enter your ZIP code and our dispatch line connects you with an independent, FDACS-licensed and insured inspector who serves Polk County. Share your closing timeline and property, and you’ll be routed to the right pro. Scheduling typically runs 24–48 hours; actual timing varies by provider, season, and demand. → Enter your ZIP to get connected
This post walks through what to expect — for buyers, for sellers, and for real estate professionals.
What a WDO Report Is
A WDO inspection is a structural pest control inspection performed by an FDACS-licensed inspector (Termite/WDO category) on the standard NPMA-33 form (National Pest Management Association’s Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report). The inspection 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 Polk County subterranean species)
- Drywood termites (Cryptotermes brevis and Incisitermes snyderi — Florida’s drywood species)
- Wood-decay fungus (wood rot, brown rot, soft rot)
- Powderpost beetles and other wood-boring insects
The report itself is a one-page form documenting the inspection findings. It’s accepted by virtually all U.S. residential lenders — conventional, FHA, VA, USDA — and is the standard documentation for Polk County real estate transactions.
Florida Legal Framework — FAR/BAR Contract
Most Polk County residential real estate transactions use the FAR/BAR Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase (Florida Realtors / The Florida Bar standard form). The contract contains a WDO inspection addendum — currently referenced as the WDO addendum (paragraph 17 in current versions).
The addendum:
- Gives the buyer the right to obtain a WDO inspection during the inspection period
- Specifies who pays for the inspection (typically the buyer)
- Specifies the seller’s repair or treatment obligation if active infestation or damage is identified
- Provides remedies if the inspection reveals issues (treatment, credit, or contract cancellation)
The WDO inspection itself is governed by:
- Chapter 482, Florida Statutes (Structural Pest Control)
- Chapter 5E-14, Florida Administrative Code
- Administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control
When the WDO Is Required
Lender-required:
- FHA loans — Generally required per FHA Handbook 4000.1 for properties in moderate-to-heavy termite probability zones. All of Polk County qualifies.
- VA loans — Required per VA Lenders Handbook, Chapter 12, for moderate-to-heavy termite probability areas.
- USDA Rural Development loans — Typically required per USDA HB-1-3550.
- Conventional loans — Lender’s discretion. Most Polk County conventional loans request the report, particularly for older properties.
Contract-required:
- Standard FAR/BAR contract WDO addendum gives the buyer the right to inspect regardless of lender requirement.
Practically:
- Nearly every Polk County residential closing involves a WDO inspection, regardless of loan type or strict requirement.
What the Inspector Will Check
The FDACS-licensed WDO inspector typically performs a 30–60 minute inspection covering:
Exterior:
- Foundation perimeter (mud tubes, slab edge evidence)
- Wood-to-soil contact points (deck-to-house, porch posts, fence-to-house)
- Plumbing penetrations
- Bath traps (slab cutouts behind tubs/showers)
- Eaves, soffits, fascia (drywood evidence)
- Trim, siding, exterior wood elements
Interior:
- Baseboards, window sills, door frames (both species evidence)
- Bathroom and kitchen plumbing walls (subterranean entry)
- Closets (drywood evidence often hidden here)
- Floor perimeter (drywood frass collections)
- Wood ceiling beams (drywood evidence)
- Hardwood floors
Attic:
- Structural members, decking, ridge beams
- Insulation surface (drywood frass accumulation)
- Eaves and roof line
- Storage items in attic
Crawl space (if accessible):
- Piers, beams, floor joists
- Sub-floor framing
- Moisture conditions
- Mud tube evidence
Areas not typically covered:
- Sealed crawl spaces
- Areas obstructed by furniture or storage
- Finished basement framing
- Behind drywall (visual only — not invasive)
The NPMA-33 form has a section for noting inaccessible areas.
Three Possible Report Outcomes
1. Clear report — no evidence of infestation.
- Ideal outcome
- Report submitted to lender, closing proceeds normally
2. Past infestation, treated, no current activity.
- A common Polk County outcome given how prevalent termite activity is
- Form notes “evidence of previous infestation” with details
- If treatment receipt available, typically not a barrier to closing
- The treatment receipt and any existing termite bond should be transferred to the buyer
3. Active infestation.
- Form notes “evidence of active infestation” with details
- Under FAR/BAR contract addendum, seller typically must:
- (a) Perform treatment at seller’s expense before closing
- (b) Credit buyer at closing
- (c) Buyer can negotiate or cancel
- Most Polk County transactions resolve by seller arranging treatment and providing treatment certificate
4. Visible damage even without current activity.
- Notes structural damage
- Repair scope and responsibility is then negotiated between buyer and seller
For Buyers — Practical Tips
Order the WDO inspection early in your inspection period. Polk County WDO inspectors can typically schedule within 24–48 hours and deliver the report within 24 hours of the inspection — but during peak season (March–July) or after major storms, scheduling can extend.
Don’t share your inspection date with the seller’s pest control company. If the seller’s existing pest control operator performs the inspection, there may be conflict of interest. Use an independent operator.
Ask about transferable termite bonds. If the property has an existing termite bond (often the case in Polk County), it can typically be transferred to you at closing — the licensed operator holding the bond sets the transfer fee, which varies by provider. This is valuable: it provides ongoing coverage without starting fresh.
Understand what “clearance” means. A clear report doesn’t mean termites are absent forever — it means none were detected on the inspection day. Annual re-inspection is reasonable for any Polk County home.
Validity window: Most reports are valid for 30 days for FHA/VA/conventional purposes. If your closing is delayed beyond 30 days, re-inspection may be required.
For Sellers — Practical Tips
Consider ordering an inspection before listing. Surfacing termite issues during your control rather than during negotiation gives you treatment options (and avoids price negotiation pressure).
Maintain documentation of all past treatments. Treatment receipts, termite bond records, repair invoices — these documents support a smoother closing if the report shows past activity.
If the report shows active activity, treatment options include treating before closing (your cost) or offering a credit at closing (buyer arranges treatment). Most Polk County sellers choose to treat — it gives you control over the operator and treatment quality.
Don’t wait until closing crunch time. If you list in May and the inspection in July reveals active drywood termite, fumigation lead time (1–3 weeks scheduling, 1–2 day tenting, 1 day aeration) can push closing back significantly.
For Real Estate Professionals
Standard recommendation for buyers: Get the WDO inspection done within the first week of the inspection period. Don’t wait.
Standard recommendation for sellers: Pre-listing inspection is increasingly common practice in Polk County, particularly for properties more than 10–15 years old.
For new construction: Even new construction homes require WDO inspection in most lender scenarios. Pre-construction pretreatment is required by Florida Building Code but doesn’t substitute for the inspection report.
For investor portfolios: Annual WDO inspection of rental properties is a defensive measure that catches issues early and preserves termite bond coverage.
What Drives WDO Inspection Cost
There is no fixed fee for a WDO inspection — the independent, FDACS-licensed inspector sets the price based on the property. The factors below are what typically move that number up or down; the exact figure comes from the inspector who walks the property.
| Scope | What Moves the Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard single-family WDO inspection (NPMA-33) | The baseline scope most Polk County homes fall into |
| Larger home (3,000+ sq ft) | More square footage and structure to walk raises the time on site |
| Condo | Smaller footprint typically means a shorter, lower-effort inspection |
| Commercial property | Scope, access complexity, and building size push this the highest |
When to Get Matched
- You’re under contract on a Polk County home
- You’re listing a Polk County home
- Your termite bond is expiring and renewal requires fresh inspection
- Your FHA/VA/conventional lender has requested current WDO documentation
- You’re refinancing and the lender requested WDO
- You’re an agent or attorney coordinating a closing
Ready to schedule? Get matched with an FDACS-licensed Polk County inspector Enter your ZIP code and our dispatch line connects you with an independent, FDACS-licensed and insured inspector who serves Polk County. Share your closing timeline and you’ll be routed to the right pro. → Enter your ZIP to get connected
Related Pages
- WDO Inspection in Lakeland
- Termite Treatment in Lakeland
- Drywood Termite Treatment
- Subterranean Termite in Polk County
- Termite Treatment Cost in Lakeland
- WDO (Termite) Inspection Checklist for a Home Sale
Disclaimer: Lakeland Exterminators is a local dispatch and referral service, not a licensed pest-control operator. We connect Polk County, Florida homeowners with independent, FDACS-licensed and insured pest-control companies. All inspections and treatments are performed by those independent providers, who set their own pricing, scheduling, and service terms.
Any reference to same-day, emergency, or 24/7 service describes the typical scheduling of matched independent providers and is not guaranteed; actual response times vary by provider, season, location, and demand.