Home Buying and Pest Inspection

Spring is the busiest season for buying and selling homes. Whether you’re preparing your own home for the market or starting to look at buying a house, you likely know that there are a lot of forms, inspections and contracts that have to be completed in the process.

One part of the entire home-buying and home-selling process is a pest inspection. This is built into the process by laws in the state to ensure that buyers don’t make purchases on homes with significant damage that likely can’t be seen by the naked eye. To protect and inform buyers, states therefore require a WDI Report.

What is a WDI Report? What is a CL-100?

WDI stands for “wood destroying insect.” This report has many names, including a WDI Inspection or Termite Report. In South Carolina, it is called the Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report, or a CL-100, but is also known as a Damage Warranty and Termite Letter.

The Wood Infestation Report is a document produced by a pest-management technician who has done a thorough inspection of the home for termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and the damage they can all cause. The technician will also check for water damage. The report lists any evidence of current or past infestation or damage.

Who orders the inspection?

Usually, the report is scheduled and paid for by the home buyer as a way to check their potential future investment (banks or other groups offering loans will also want to know that their investment is secure). A real estate agent should let you know the timing of when to schedule the report. Your agent may recommend an inspector, but you can choose to hire the company of your choice.

Buyers should always hire licensed, professional pest control experts to perform the wood infestation report, like those at Thompson Brothers Exterminating. If you’re about to make a purchase as significant as a home, you want to make sure that no wood or foundations are damaged, and that no termites or other threatening insects are present.

What if the house has damage or pests?

A CL-100 that shows past damage will likely be used to make the seller repair the home. Other times, the seller may be asked to reduce the cost of the home to cover the cost of repairs. The same goes for infestations – the buyer can either request that the seller treat for pests or that the sale price reflects the need for pest control. Thompson Brothers’ licensed professional technicians can provide one-time pest control services to prepare homes for sale, or on-going pest control services for newly purchased homes.

If you’re buying or selling a home this season, you need a South Carolina or North Carolina termite inspection expert. Contact Thompson Brothers today to schedule a time to perform a wood infestation report.