Updated October 2026
A WDO inspection in Tampa produces the Florida Wood-Destroying Organisms Inspection Report, FDACS form 13645, which buyers and lenders ask for during a sale. It covers termites, powder post beetles, old house borers and wood-decaying fungi in the areas that were visible and accessible on the day. It is not a structural damage report, and blocked areas are listed on the form.
What form 13645 tells a buyer, and what it leaves out
The WDO report is a state form set by Rule 5E-14.142 of the Florida Administrative Code. It records live organisms, evidence such as pellets, mud tubes, exit holes or wings, and visible damage from termites, powder post beetles, old house borers and wood-decaying fungi. It also states where the Notice of Inspection was posted in the home.
The limits matter as much as the findings. The form covers only what the inspector could see and reach, and it lists the obstructed areas, such as storage stacked against garage walls, finished ceilings or a sealed attic. It is not a structural engineering report, so damage noted on it should be judged by a contractor when the extent is unclear. We walk you through each section so nothing on the page comes as a surprise.
What comes with a WDO report
A report only helps if you understand it, so the visit covers more than a signature.
- Inspection of the house and any structures named in the order
- Checks for termites, powder post beetles, old house borers and wood decay
- A completed FDACS form 13645
- A list of areas that were obstructed or out of reach
- The Notice of Inspection posted in the home
- A walk-through of the findings with you or your agent
Closing date coming up? Call and give us your deadline.
Call (813) 471-5363WDO inspections for buyers under contract
Buyers usually order the WDO report during the inspection period of the contract, alongside the general home inspection. We schedule around the listing agent's access, go through the house and any outbuildings named in the order, and complete the form for you and your agent.
Read the findings with the obstructed-areas list beside them. A clean report on a house full of the seller's stored boxes says less than a clean report on an empty one. Where evidence of termites turns up, the report says where, and the treatment conversation happens between buyer and seller with that page in hand.
Pre-listing WDO reports for sellers
Ordering the report before you list puts the information in your hands first. Old drywood damage in a sill or tubes on a garage wall can be treated, repaired or priced in before a buyer's inspector raises them in the middle of negotiations.
A pre-listing report also gives you time to clear obstructions. Moving storage away from garage walls and opening up the attic hatch lets more of the house be inspected, which means fewer areas listed as inaccessible. Buyers and lenders may still want their own report, so ask your agent how recent it needs to be.
WDO reports for lenders and refinances
Some lenders and loan programs ask for a WDO report before they fund a purchase or a refinance. The requirement comes from the lender, not from us, so your loan officer is the person to confirm whether you need one and how current it must be.
These jobs follow the same inspection and the same state form as a sale report. Tell us the name on the loan file and where the report should go, and we send the completed form to the people who need it. Questions about wording on the report are answered by the inspector who signed it.
WDO reports on older Tampa houses
Older houses tend to produce longer WDO reports, mostly because there is more old wood to inspect and more history to read in it. Seminole Heights filled in through the 1919 to 1929 boom and holds local and national historic designation, so many listings there are craftsman bungalows with original porches, sills and trim. West Indian drywood termites do their worst damage in older buildings, so old pellets and patched framing are common notes. We explain on site which findings are active and which are history.
What a WDO report costs in Tampa
- House size
A larger house has more rooms, trim and foundation to inspect. - Outbuildings
Detached garages, sheds and guest houses named in the order are inspected too. - Access
An open attic and a cleared garage take less time than working around storage. - Crawl space
Homes raised on piers add a crawl under the floor to the visit. - Age of the home
Older homes with more original wood and past repairs take longer to inspect and document.
From booking to the finished WDO report
- 1
Book with your deadline
Tell us the address, who ordered the report and the contract date it must meet.
- 2
Access arranged
The agent or owner confirms entry, an open attic hatch and a clear garage.
- 3
Inspection
We check the rooms, attic, garage, foundation and any listed outbuildings.
- 4
Form completed
Findings, obstructed areas and the notice location are written up on form 13645.
- 5
Findings explained
You or your agent hear what the report says and what, if anything, needs treatment.