By Hugh Satterfield, Pest Control Guides Editor · Updated October 2026 · 5 min read
A Texas WDI report is a wood destroying insect inspection of the home you are buying, documenting evidence of subterranean, drywood and Formosan termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and powder post beetles, plus conditions that invite them. Lenders and VA loans commonly require one, and published inspection pricing runs about $75 to $200. Order it early in your option period so there is time to negotiate.
Key points from this guide
- A Texas WDI report covers termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and powder post beetles.
- Lenders, and VA loans in particular, commonly require a recent report.
- Published inspection pricing runs about $75 to $200.
- Order it early in the option period so there is time to get treatment quotes.
- Ask for previous treatment records and whether any bond transfers to you.
What the report covers
The Texas WDI report covers wood destroying insects as a group: subterranean, drywood and Formosan termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and powder post beetles. The inspector checks the visible, accessible parts of the structure and records evidence of active or previous infestation, previous treatment, and conducive conditions such as wood touching soil, moisture problems or mulch piled against siding.
Conroe-area homes face all three termite types, and the area has heavy carpenter ant activity, so a good WDI inspection here reads the attic and rafters as carefully as the slab line.
Who orders it and when
In most purchases the buyer orders it, often through their agent, during the option period. Some sellers order one before listing to avoid surprises. Lenders, and VA loans in particular, commonly require a WDI report, and they usually want it recent, so ask your lender how current it must be. Booking early gives you time to get treatment quotes if anything is found.
What it costs
Published pest inspection pricing runs about $75 to $200, and many operators credit the fee if treatment follows. The price varies with the size of the house, crawl spaces and outbuildings, and whether a re-inspection is needed after repairs.
Seeing this at your place?
Describe what you found and we will tell you on the phone what it is likely to take.
Call (281) 626-0856Reading the findings
Active infestation means live insects or fresh evidence were found, and treatment is needed. Evidence of previous infestation means damage or old tubes were found without live activity; ask whether there is a record of treatment. Conducive conditions are the problems that invite insects, and they are often cheap to fix.
Old damage is not automatically a deal-breaker. What matters is whether the colony is dead, whether the house was treated, and whether any structural damage needs repair. A treatment quote and, if needed, a contractor's repair estimate turn a finding into numbers you can negotiate with.
Questions to ask your inspector
Ask whether every area was accessible, and if not, which parts could not be inspected and why: a finished basement ceiling, a sealed crawl space or an attic with no access hatch. Areas that could not be inspected are listed on the report, and they matter when you weigh the findings.
Ask the inspector to separate active infestation from previous infestation, and to point out the conducive conditions in person: wood touching soil, moisture at the slab, mulch over the foundation line. Look for signs of previous treatment, such as small patched drill holes in patios or garage floors, and ask the seller for treatment records and any existing bond.
Finally, ask how long the report is considered current for your lender, and whether a re-inspection is needed if repairs are made before closing.
Previous treatment records and bonds
If the home was treated for termites before, ask the seller for the treatment records and any termite bond or warranty. Records show what was treated, when and with what, and a bond may cover yearly inspections and re-treatment if activity returns. Some bonds also cover repair of new damage, and some can be transferred to a new owner for a fee.
Signs of previous treatment are often visible: small patched drill holes in patios, garage floors and walkways, or bait station caps in the yard. Mention them to the inspector so they are noted on the report.
If there is no bond, ask for a treatment quote as part of your decision. Knowing the cost of protection up front makes negotiation easier and avoids surprises after closing. Keep the WDI report, any treatment records and the bond paperwork together with your closing documents. You will need them when you sell, and a new buyer's lender will ask the same questions you are asking now.
Using it in negotiation
If activity is found, common outcomes are the seller treating before closing, a credit for treatment, or a price adjustment. Ask whether an existing termite bond or warranty transfers to you. Keep the report, the treatment record and any bond paperwork together; you will want them when you sell.
Common questions
Questions readers ask about this
No. A general home inspection covers the structure and systems; the WDI report focuses on wood destroying insects.
It covers visible, accessible areas. Hidden activity behind finished walls can be missed, which is why previous treatment records matter too.
That depends on your contract and negotiation. The report gives you the facts to negotiate with.
Ask whether it transfers and what it covers. Some cover only retreatment, others include repairs.
Usually 45 minutes to an hour and a half on site, longer with a crawl space.
Lenders may still require one, and builders often provide pre-construction treatment records. Ask for those documents along with the report.
Yes. Newer homes can still have termite activity, and lenders may require the report regardless of age.