The termite inspection nobody explains until closing week.

Most Virginia real estate transactions include a Wood-Destroying Insect (WDI) inspection, commonly required within 90 days of closing. It's routine enough that agents mention it in passing, but the details — what it actually checks, who typically pays, and what happens if something's found — often don't get explained until it's already underway.

What a WDI inspection actually is

A WDI inspection is a documented check of a property for current or past termite activity (and related wood-destroying insects), typically completed on a standard report form. It's an inspection, not a treatment — its job is to identify whether activity is present, not to fix anything found.

Why this specific inspection exists

Virginia sits in a moderate-to-heavy termite risk zone, and subterranean termites — the species responsible for most damage in the state — are active underground essentially year-round here. Because termite damage can be extensive and isn't always visible during a standard walkthrough, lenders and real estate contracts commonly build this inspection into the closing process as a condition of sale.

What buyers should know

• A clean WDI report doesn't guarantee zero risk going forward — it reflects conditions at the time of inspection
• If activity or damage is found, it typically becomes a negotiation point in the transaction, not an automatic deal-breaker
• The inspection should be scheduled early enough in the closing timeline to leave room for treatment or negotiation if something's found — not left until the final days before settlement

What sellers should know

Getting ahead of this — having an inspection done before listing, or at least before an offer is accepted — can prevent a closing-week surprise that stalls or reopens negotiations. If there's known past treatment or activity, having that documentation ready tends to smooth the process considerably compared to it surfacing unexpectedly during the transaction.

Why this isn't something every pest control company handles directly

Termite treatment requires a separate state license (VDACS Category 7B) from general pest control. Not every local company holds both, which is worth asking about directly rather than assuming. We connect Hampton Roads homeowners with a trusted, licensed termite specialist for WDI inspections and any needed treatment, rather than operating outside our own licensing.