The WDI Report When You Sell a Home in Plano, TX

What is a WDI report?

A WDI report is a written record of an inspection for wood-destroying insects, mainly subterranean termites, and for the conditions that attract them. It lists what the inspector saw, such as live insects, mud tubes, damaged wood or past treatment, and what could not be inspected. It is a snapshot taken on one day.

WDI stands for wood-destroying insects. In North Texas that mostly means subterranean termites, though carpenter ants and other wood-damaging insects may be noted as well. A licensed technician inspects the accessible parts of the structure and records the findings on a form that goes to the person who ordered it, and often to the buyer, the seller, the agent and the lender.

The report is limited to what can be seen and reached. Wall voids, areas behind finished surfaces, and spots hidden under patios, planters or stored belongings cannot be examined, and the report should say so. That is why you should read the limitations as closely as the findings.

Our WDI report for a home sale page describes how this works with a local technician. This guide covers what a Plano seller or buyer should expect, and what to do with the result.

When does a buyer or lender ask for a WDI report?

Buyers and lenders often ask for a termite inspection report during a sale, and some loans require it. Whether one is needed depends on your sales contract and on the lender, so check with your agent or lender early. Asking in the first week of a listing avoids a last-minute scramble.

We cannot say which Plano sales require a report, because that depends on the contract language and on the loan type. What can be said safely is that termite reports are a routine part of many home sales across North Texas, and that Plano's active resale market means they come up often. If you are selling, assume a buyer may ask and plan for it.

For sellers, the practical question is timing. A report that is done after a buyer's request leaves little time if it turns up something. A report ordered at the start of a listing leaves room to treat, repair and re-inspect. For buyers, ordering a report during the option or inspection period lets findings be raised while there is still room to negotiate.

Ask your agent who orders the report and who pays for it. That is usually settled in the contract and can be negotiated, so we do not state a rule.

What does the inspector check in a Plano home?

The inspector checks the exterior slab edge, plumbing penetrations, expansion joints, garage, patios, attic and any crawl space, plus wood trim, doors and fences touching soil. They look for live insects, mud tubes, frass, swarm wings, damaged wood, moisture and signs of earlier treatment.

Many Plano homes from the 1980s to the 2000s are brick-veneer houses on slabs, so the slab perimeter takes up much of the visit. Across the Plano area the soil is often Blackland Prairie clay that shrinks and swells; the Blackland clay and termites guide explains why gaps at slab edges and pipes matter.

Inspectors also look at the conditions around a house. Mulch piled above the slab line, a sprinkler soaking the foundation, a downspout dumping beside the wall and landscape timbers resting on soil are all noted, because they invite termites even when none are present. Old railroad-tie borders and timber walls are worth special attention in North Texas, since Formosan termites, found in Collin County, are thought to have arrived in such ties.

• Slab edge and brick veneer ledge around the full exterior.
• Plumbing penetrations in kitchens, baths, laundry and hose bibs.
• Garage floor joints, door frames and wood near the floor.
• Patios, porches and decks touching the house.
• Fences, trellises, sheds and timbers in contact with soil.
• Attic framing and any crawl space, where accessible.

What can the report say, and what happens next?

A report can show no visible evidence, evidence of past activity, evidence of active insects, damage, or conditions conducive to infestation. Each leads to a different next step, from nothing to treatment, repair or further inspection. Active findings usually mean a treatment discussion, with the price explained and approved first.

Reading a report calmly saves a lot of stress. Termite findings are common in older and newer homes alike, and what matters is what the finding is and what is proposed. The table shows the usual outcomes and the typical responses, in general terms; what applies to your sale depends on the contract and the lender.

Past treatment is not the same as active infestation. A record of earlier treatment tells you someone dealt with a problem at some point, and the questions then are what was done, when, and whether anyone has monitored since. If documents exist, ask the seller for them.

How should a seller prepare for a WDI inspection?

Clear access to the garage, attic, utility closets and the foundation perimeter, pull mulch below the slab line, fix leaks and move stored items from walls. Gather any treatment records. Doing this before the visit reduces the areas marked as not inspected and gives the report its best chance of being clear.

The details inspectors care about are not always the ones a listing agent notices. Garage walls stacked with boxes, attic access blocked by storage, mulch beds built up against brick and a planter pushed against a slab edge all limit what can be seen.

If you have a termite contract, a past treatment or a bait-system record, gather the paperwork, since buyers and lenders may ask for it. For an HOA community, check whether the association controls any fences or landscaped strips next to your foundation, because a condition there may need the HOA's cooperation. The HOA and irrigation guide explains how those rules often affect pests.

If you are not sure what an inspection will find, a separate termite inspection before listing can give you a head start. That is different from the formal sale report, so ask which one you are getting.

What should a buyer do with a WDI report?

A buyer should read the findings and the limitations, ask what was treated and when, and check whether the lender requires anything specific. Raise concerns during the inspection or option period while there is room to negotiate, and ask for treatment records and written proposals instead of verbal assurances.

If you are buying in Plano, the report is a tool for deciding what to ask for, not a verdict on the house. A clean report on a slab-on-grade brick home is reassuring but covers only what was visible that day. A report with activity is a reason to ask questions about method, scope and follow-up, and to find out whether any monitoring continues after the sale.

Ask who performed the inspection and request the licence number of the company, which Texas requires to hold a Structural Pest Control Service business licence. Look at the yard as well as the house. Mature trees, irrigated beds, a creek-side greenbelt or an old landscape-timber wall are the kinds of features that change which pests you may meet after you move in. Our pest control page explains ongoing general service for a new homeowner.

What if the report finds termites?

Finding termites does not end a sale. Sellers and buyers typically discuss treatment, repair and price. Ask for a written proposal naming the method, the areas treated and the follow-up, with the price explained and approved before work begins. Compare options if time allows, and keep the paperwork for the file.

A liquid treatment and a bait system are the two broad approaches, and each is described on the termite control and termite bait systems pages. A buyer may prefer one method over another, so a conversation between the parties and the technician can save time.

Treatment and repair are separate. A technician treats the insect problem; a contractor repairs damaged wood. Keep the two quotes distinct, and ask each for a written scope. The cost guide explains how termite work is structured so you can compare proposals.

Who should perform the inspection, and what should you ask?

Texas pest-control businesses must hold a Structural Pest Control Service business licence from the Texas Department of Agriculture. Ask any company for its number before the inspection, and ask who will perform the visit, what the report covers and when you will receive it. Do not pay for work you do not understand.

Termite and wood-destroying insect control is one of the licence categories the state recognises, alongside general pest control and lawn and ornamental work. A reputable company will give its licence number on request, and callers on this line may ask for the number of the local company that would do the work.

Same-day scheduling happens only when a technician is free, and we do not promise an arrival time, so give the closing date when you call (855) 974-4733. Phones are answered 24/7, and the price is explained and approved before any treatment begins.