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Nothing about owning a home is inexpensive, especially when you’re dealing with termites. In fact, the average cost of termite damage repair is about $3000, and that doesn’t include the inconvenience of disrupting your otherwise comfortable home and upending your routine. Not to mention, most insurance policies won’t cover repairs related to termite damage.
If you’re planning a real estate transaction in East Nashville, pest control should be on your to-do list. A Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report (also known as a WDI letter or “termite letter”) could save you thousands of dollars and lots of headaches.
All-American Pest Control’s experts are experienced in termite inspection and removal. Here’s what you need to know about WDI letters, including what to do if you don’t get a clean letter after your inspection.
WDI Letters: a Buyer (or Realtor)’s Best Friend
WDI Letters are drafted by state-certified pest control technicians following a professional inspection for subterranean termites, carpenter bees, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles. They include inspection results and professional recommendations regarding remediation and removal of any wood-destroying insects on the premises.
WDI letters are an important part of due diligence for buyers and realtors in East Nashville. Pest control by both parties ensures transparency and proper planning before closing or refinancing. While most sellers use ethical companies for their termite inspection, for your own peace of mind, it’s important to secure your own termite letter.
If a seller presents a “clear” letter from a pest control company they have “connections” with, despite termites or other wood-destroying insects remaining on the property or perimeter, your home (or your client’s home) can be at risk. In fact, a clear letter is a misnomer, since there’s no absolute guarantee a home is clear of insect damage or activity. All WDI inspections and reports are simply acknowledging the presence or absence of visible wood-destroying insect signs, activity or damage at the time of the inspection.
A buyer or realtor conducting their own termite inspection and securing their own WDI letter ensures the integrity of the transaction and greatly reduces the likelihood of unexpected pest control costs. Suppose the home you are purchasing has current termite protection with a professional pest control company, even if termites have been present in the past. In that case, it’s a good sign that the seller has taken good proactive care of their property.
Ask An Expert: Termite Letter FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions our pest control experts get about WDI letters from homeowners and realtors in East Nashville and Middle Tennessee:
Are termite letters legally required in TN?
Termite letters aren’t required by Tennessee State Law. However, most lenders require them as part of the closing or refinancing process. Lenders that are most likely to require WDI Inspections and reports for real estate transactions are VA and FHA loans.
When are WDI letters requested? Who requests them?
Anytime there’s an important real estate transaction, including buying, selling, or refinancing a home, a realtor or buyer should request a termite letter as part of their due diligence for a successful closing. Since the inspection usually takes place during the inspection window, and that service may be in high demand, it’s important to call your pest control company as soon as possible to get it done in time.
How much does it cost to get a termite letter in Nashville?
All-American Pest Control charges about $135 for your wood-destroying insect inspection and report. Any treatments recommended as a result of the inspection will be an additional cost, depending on the nature (and extent) of the pest problem on the property. Our Termite Protection costs about $595. Treatments for carpenter bees or ants are about $195 per service.
If structural damage is present from termites, wood-boring beetles (like powderpost beetles), carpenter ants or carpenter bees, the lender may require repairs for the home (at additional cost).
What might a buyer, realtor, or homeowner learn from a termite inspection?
Your pest control technician may find evidence of wood-destroying insects, including dead or live insects, structural damage, and other signs of their current or past activity. Because termites and other wood-destroying insects are drawn to moisture, their activity may also be an indicator of moisture damage on the premises.
You Have a Termite Letter: What’s Next?
If no evidence of termites, carpenter ants, or carpenter bees is found on your property, no additional pest control services are required before completing your real estate transaction. [However, your technician might recommend a preventive pest control program, to keep the risk of future damage and activity at a minimum.]
If the inspection indicates wood-destroying insects are present, your technician will recommend treatment to remove them and prevent them from establishing more colonies in the future. When treating termites in East Nashville, pest control goes beyond inspection and spraying. We trust and recommend the Sentricon® System. Our technicians place small stations (about the size of a grapefruit when viewed from above) extending about a foot underground around the perimeter of the home. These stations act like a net, intercepting any termite colonies before they can do damage to the home or structure.
Whether removing insects found during a termite inspection or as part of a proactive plan to protect the home from structural damage, All-American Pest Control has reliable, effective solutions to get rid of termites, carpenter bees and carpenter ants and keep them from coming back. If your technician suggests a combination of services, we offer cost-saving bundles to help protect your home year-round.
Need a WDI Inspection and termite letter as part of a real estate transaction? Contact All-American to schedule your termite inspection today.