What a termite inspection actually covers
The inspection is a structured walk of the whole property, outside first and then in. The aim is to answer three questions: is there live activity, which termite is it, and is there damage that needs a carpenter as well as a treatment. Everything visible and reachable gets looked at; anything that cannot be reached is written down as not inspected, so you know where the gaps are.
- 01The foundation line. Block, stucco and piers, looking for the pencil-wide mud tubes subterranean termites build to travel up from the soil without drying out.
- 02Wood touching soil or mulch. Door frames on the slab, fence posts against the wall, planters and decks. These are the easiest way in.
- 03Windows, fascia and soffits. Where drywood termites tend to settle, and where their pellets collect on sills and ledges.
- 04Inside rooms. Baseboards, trim, door jambs, the cabinets under sinks and anywhere with a past leak.
- 05Crawl space and attic. On raised-floor houses the technician looks in from the hatch; in the attic, the rafters, top plates and roof sheathing wherever there is safe footing.
Bring the technician to anything you have noticed yourself. A pile of wings on a windowsill, a soft patch in a door frame or a line of pellets under the eaves usually saves twenty minutes of searching.
Subterranean or drywood: why the answer matters
Pinellas County has both, and they are treated in completely different ways. Subterranean termites, including the Formosan species found around Tampa Bay, nest in the ground and travel up into the house. They are stopped at the soil, with a liquid barrier or bait stations. Drywood termites live entirely inside the wood they eat and never touch the ground, so soil treatment does nothing to them; they are treated in the wood, or with fumigation if they are throughout the structure. Getting the species wrong is the most expensive mistake in termite control, which is why we do not quote treatment before this visit.
WDO reports for buying or selling a home
A wood-destroying organism inspection is the report most Florida purchase contracts and many lenders ask for before closing. It is filed on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services form, FDACS-13645, and it records five things: live wood-destroying organisms, evidence of past activity, visible damage, any sign of a previous treatment, and the areas that could not be inspected. It covers termites, wood-decaying fungi and wood-boring beetles, not just termites.
A few things buyers and sellers in St. Pete should know:
- The report describes what was visible on the day. It is not a warranty, and it does not see inside closed walls.
- Evidence of a past treatment is often a drilled-and-patched slab or a bait station in the yard. Ask the seller for the treatment paperwork and whether a termite bond transfers with the house.
- Lenders want the report to be recent, often within 30 to 90 days of closing depending on the loan, so book it once the inspection period starts, not months before.
- If live activity is found, the report says so plainly. The treatment can often be done before closing, with the paperwork handed to the buyer.
How often to have a house checked
Once a year is the usual advice in Florida, and most termite warranties require an annual inspection to stay valid. Book one sooner after a swarm season with wings indoors, after any work that disturbed the soil against the house, or after flooding. Houses that took on water in the 2024 storm surge are worth a look even if nothing is visible yet, because wet framing and opened-up walls are exactly what subterranean termites find first.
What the inspection costs
| Service | Estimated price | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Termite inspection (no sale) | $75–$150 | Size of the house; crawl space and attic access |
| WDO report for a home sale | $75–$150 | Large homes and rush turnaround can reach $300+ |
| Re-inspection after treatment | Up to $100 | Often included in a treatment warranty |
Inspection figures are estimates. Large or multi-unit buildings, rush turnaround for a closing and re-inspections after treatment can change them; the price is confirmed when you book.
If treatment is needed, the next step is a written proposal. See termite treatment options, tent fumigation, or the full St. Pete price guide.
Last updated October 8, 2026