The WDO Inspection Found Old Termite Damage in My Spring Hill Home. Do I Have to Fix It?
You got the report back and there is something on it. Not active termites but evidence of previous termite activity. Old damage. Maybe an old mud tube that is dry and hollow. Maybe wood that shows signs of past feeding. Your real estate agent is asking what you want to do and you are trying to figure out whether this is actually a problem you have to address or whether old damage is different from active damage in the eyes of your lender.
It depends on what the report says and what your lender requires. Here is how to think through it.
Active Versus Previous Activity
WDO inspection reports in Florida distinguish between active wood destroying organism activity and evidence of previous activity. Active means live termites, fresh mud tubes being maintained by a colony or current feeding damage. Previous means signs that termites or other wood destroying organisms were present at some point in the past but there is no evidence of current activity.
Your lender cares most about active activity. A finding of active termite infestation almost always requires treatment before the lender will approve the loan. A finding of previous activity with no current evidence is a different situation and different lenders handle it differently.
Some lenders will accept a previous activity finding with no treatment required as long as there is no structural damage noted on the report. Others require documentation that the previous activity was treated even if it is no longer active. Your lender’s specific requirements determine what you actually have to do with a previous activity finding.
What the Report Actually Says About Damage
Previous termite activity that caused structural wood damage is handled differently from previous activity with no visible damage. If the report notes previous activity and visible wood damage to structural members the lender may require a contractor assessment of the damage and potentially repairs before they will approve the loan regardless of whether the activity is currently active.
Old termite damage that is not structural, a damaged baseboard, a cosmetic piece of trim, surface damage to non structural wood, is generally treated differently than damage to floor joists, wall framing or roof framing. The location and extent of the damage matters as much as whether the activity is current or previous.
Getting a Clear Answer From Your Lender
The fastest way to resolve the question of what you have to do with an old termite damage finding is to send the report directly to your lender and ask them specifically what they need to proceed. Do not guess. Do not assume. Different loan types have different requirements and the only way to know exactly what your lender needs is to ask them directly with the actual report in front of them.
Your real estate agent can help facilitate that conversation and your closing agent or title company has likely seen similar situations before and can give you a realistic picture of what lenders in Hernando County typically require for the type of finding on your report.
When Treatment Makes Sense Even If It Is Not Required
Even if your lender doesn’t require treatment for a previous activity finding there are situations where getting treatment done anyway makes sense. If the previous activity was significant and affected structural wood having a licensed pest control company inspect and treat the home provides documentation that the issue has been professionally addressed. That documentation protects you as a buyer if questions come up later about the condition of the home at the time of purchase.
If you’re the seller and a previous activity finding comes up during the buyer’s inspection period getting treatment done proactively rather than negotiating about it keeps the transaction moving and demonstrates good faith. A buyer who sees a previous activity finding and learns the seller immediately arranged treatment is in a very different headspace than a buyer who sees the same finding and watches the seller drag their feet.
Call us and we’ll review what the report found, come out to the property if needed and give you a clear assessment of what the previous activity means and whether treatment is warranted. Our WDO inspection and termite treatment in Spring Hill are available to buyers, sellers and real estate professionals throughout Hernando County.