There are two distinct types of pest inspection, and confusing them leads to homeowners either over-paying for something they don't need or under-requesting what their situation requires. A general pest inspection assesses current pest activity and conducive conditions across all pest categories. A Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) report — also called a termite inspection or pest and dryrot inspection — is a formal document typically required by mortgage lenders and real estate transactions that specifically addresses wood-destroying organisms: termites, wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, and wood decay fungi.
What a General Pest Inspection Covers
Exterior Inspection Points
- Foundation perimeter for ant trails, termite mud tubes, carpenter ant frass
- Utility penetrations and structural gaps as rodent and pest entry points
- Roof soffit and fascia for wildlife and wasp nest evidence
- Mulch and landscape bed depth against foundation (conducive condition)
- Wood-soil contact and moisture-damaged structural elements
- Crawlspace vents — condition and potential entry points
Interior Inspection Points
- Crawlspace or basement — moisture levels, termite activity, rodent evidence
- Attic — wildlife entry, rodent harborage, insulation condition
- Kitchen and bathrooms — ant trails, drain fly evidence, moisture conditions
- Bedrooms — bed bug inspection of mattress seams, box spring, headboard
- Garage — rodent harborage, entry gaps at doors and walls
When to Request a Professional Inspection
A professional inspection is warranted when: purchasing a property (WDO report typically required); you're seeing pest activity you can't identify or locate the source of; you've had a pest problem treated and want confirmation of resolution; your property is in a high-risk area (wooded lot, crawlspace foundation, older building stock, adjacent to agricultural or natural land); or annually as part of routine property maintenance on rural Missouri properties. D&D Pest Control provides inspections and WDO reports for Franklin County and rural Missouri — visit ddpestcontrolmo.com.