Inspection & WDO reports
Termite and WDO Inspection in San Diego
A termite inspection finds wood-destroying organisms before they cost you a sale or a structure. Our licensed inspectors check the interior, exterior, attic, and accessible substructure, identify drywood or subterranean activity, and file a California WDO report. We offer free escrow inspections and turn reports around fast.
What does a termite inspection include?
We inspect accessible interior and exterior wood, the attic, eaves, garage, and substructure for live termites, droppings, mud tubes, prior treatment, wood-destroying fungus, and moisture damage. You receive a California Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms (WDO) report documenting every finding, its location, and the recommended correction.
What is a WDO report, and what are Section 1 and Section 2?
A WDO report is the official California termite report filed with the Structural Pest Control Board. Section 1 covers active infestations and existing damage, which a lender usually requires corrected before funding. Section 2 covers conducive conditions, like wood-to-soil contact or a leaking gutter, that could lead to future problems and are noted for disclosure but do not have to be fixed to close.
- Section 1: active termites, fungus, or existing damage (lender clearance)
- Section 2: conducive conditions noted for disclosure
- Diagram of the structure with each finding located
- Recommended corrections and cost for each item
When do I need a WDO report?
Lenders and escrow officers almost always require a WDO report when a home is sold. Homeowners also get inspections when they see pellets, discarded wings, or mud tubes, after a neighbor tents, or on a periodic basis, since drywood termites are very common in coastal San Diego homes and often go unnoticed for years.
What is a Section 1 clearance?
Once the Section 1 items are corrected, we file a Notice of Work Completed with the state. That document is your Section 1 clearance, the paperwork you hand your escrow officer to satisfy the lender. We complete the work and the filing on your timeline so the closing stays on track.
What if areas are inaccessible?
An inspection only covers what is reasonably accessible. Locked rooms, dense storage, or no attic or subarea access are noted as inaccessible in the report, and we can recommend a further inspection if needed. We tell you honestly what we could and could not examine rather than guessing.
How fast is the report?
We turn escrow inspections around quickly so closings stay on schedule, and we coordinate directly with your realtor or escrow officer. Ask about same-week scheduling when you call, and let us know your closing date so we can work backward from it.
Common questions
A typical single-family home inspection takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on size and access. We examine the interior, exterior, attic, garage, and accessible substructure. The written WDO report follows quickly afterward, and for escrow situations we prioritize fast turnaround so your timeline holds.
Section 1 items are active infestations or existing damage, and a lender typically requires them corrected and cleared before funding the loan. Section 2 items are conducive conditions, such as wood-to-soil contact or a plumbing leak, that could invite future infestation. They are disclosed but usually do not need to be fixed to close escrow.
In most California home sales the lender or escrow officer requires a WDO report and a Section 1 clearance. Even when it is not strictly required, a clean report reassures buyers and prevents last-minute renegotiation. We provide free escrow inspections, so there is no reason to skip it.
We provide free escrow termite inspections for home sales. For standalone homeowner inspections outside a transaction, there may be a modest fee, which we confirm up front. Either way you receive a full written WDO report, not just a verbal opinion.
Call if you see small piles of pellets that look like coarse sand or coffee grounds (drywood), pencil-width mud tubes on the foundation (subterranean), discarded wings near windows after a swarm, blistered or hollow-sounding wood, or tight-fitting doors and windows. In coastal San Diego, drywood termites are common enough that a periodic check is wise even without symptoms.
Yes. A buyer's WDO inspection protects you from inheriting active infestations and hidden damage. We document everything, separate Section 1 from Section 2, and give you the real cost of any corrections so you can negotiate with facts before you close.
An inspection is visual and covers accessible areas, so it cannot see inside intact walls. We read the signs that reveal hidden activity, like pellets, mud tubes, blistering, and frass, and identify the species. If evidence points to a widespread drywood infestation, whole-structure fumigation is what reaches the wood hidden behind drywall and stucco.
Yes. We coordinate scheduling, send the WDO report and Section 1 clearance directly to the parties who need them, and work backward from your closing date. Realtors and escrow officers refer us because we are responsive and keep their transactions moving.
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Get a free termite inspection.
Call (619) 317-1160, book online, or request a free quote. We work with realtors and escrow officers.