PestNow Learning Center
WELCOME to the PestNow Learning Center for: Pest Techs - Inspectors - Realtors - Customers
"The purpose of all education is to stimulate thought."
Rusty Markland
Rusty Markland, a three-decade-plus professional in the service industry provides insight, continued education, and innovative approaches to increased sales productivity.
His book, The World Hates a Salesman, changed the perception of service and sales for many over the years.
Realtor Page Wood Destroying Insect Report Clarification:
Building An Economy of Trust.
(For Realtors and Customers)
Our Realtor and customer confidence in PestNow is our primary concern. Trust that we will do the right thing, know the right way and put the safety and liability of the consumer first is is critical in building a professional relationship. Trust that when we do make a mistake, that we will respond immediately to make it right is essential.
To maintain that Economy of Trust we must continue to train and educate our employees and make every effort to offer that knowledge to our customer and Realtor base as well.
That is why we created the Home Owners and Realtor tab above. Answers to legal and treatment questions for Real Estate regarding inspection and reporting as well as advice for homeowners on common house pests that they can do themself. It is all there plus an area for open questions.
Education leads to understanding.
Nothing ruins a potential sell than a last-minute problem found on the Termite Report (WDI Inspection)
The sellers develop doubts and trust issues. The buyers start to question their decision. The sell is now in jeopardy.
As a Realtor, you depend on your inspector to know the requirements, the rules, and trust they will provide accurate and trustworthy information but now, you have doubts.
Questions like:
Is it active?
Do we have to treat it?
Is there damage and if so is it structural?
Are the damages and evidence "old"?
At that time you are at the mercy of an inspector who may or may not know the actual requirements.
THE ANSWERS ARE FROM THE GUIDELINES OF THE NPMA-33 WDI REQUIREMENTS AND VDACS VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES THESE ARE FACTS NOT OPINIONS.
Do you get a second opinion?
What if the second opinion contradicts the original call, as a seller are you out of the woods?
As a buyer are you comfortable with the second opinion?
At this point, everyone is questioning the integrity of all involved.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
The rules and requirements of the inspection and report are clearly written on the WDI report. Knowing the report and requirements of the inspection and treatments is your responsibility as a Realtor. As a homeowner, seller or buyer, it is in your best interest to protect your investment.
This short video will answer EVERY QUESTION and provide reasons why the inspection, report, and requirements are structured in the manner they are.
As a Realtor, you should KNOW this information
As a buyer and seller, it is your due diligence.
Watch the video, don't depend on others to know the answers!
Active or Inactive!?! Know the FULL Requirements!
Realtor Alert!
Did you know the requirements for the WDI Report (Termite Report) CHANGED effective October 2019? If you are selling or buying Real Estate in Virginia, DC, or West Virginia the Requirements have been modified! Not knowing the changes could produce issues at the settlement table or later. Changes were made to the NPMA-33 form (the report).
Maryland uses the MD-1 form (report) and to this date it has NOT changed.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE SHORT VIDEO THAT WILL EXPLAIN EACH CHANGE.
FAQ - How Far Away From the Structure does the WDI Inspection Go?
There is a myth out there called the 3' Rule., any evidence of wood-destroying insect within three feet of the structure... the fact is,there is NO distance, the
evidence has to be on, in or under the structure.
1- On the structure being inspected
2- In the structure being inspected
3- Under the structure being inspected
Any evidence not physically meeting the criteria above may not be listed as evidence of wood-destroying insects, not 3', not 3" has to be either on-in-or under.
This rule can be tricky so make sure you are dealing with an inspector with full knowledge of the requirements. For instance, a woodpile with live termites crawling out of the firewood, six inches from the outside walls of the structure would not, under the requirements, be listed in Section II Box B as Evidence of wood-destroying insects observed. However, it could be listed separately in "Comments" on the report.
That same woodpile, if it were under the deck which was attached to the structure would be listed in Section II Box B as evidence of...
FAQ - Active or Inactive? "Show Me The Bugs"
This is the most frequent question and the most misunderstood. The reports do not mention, in this respect, "Active" or "Inactive" the report requires the inspector to list in Section II either Box A or Box B
Box A- "No evidence of wood destroying insects was observed"
Box B- "Visible Evidence of wood destroying insects was observed as follows..."
*If the Inspector marks Box B there are three sub-boxes below Box B that have to be marked. If ANY of those boxes are marked under Box B it is identified as "Evidence". Any evidence is considered active, the burden of proof to show the evidence has been addressed through treatment previously is on the seller... unless the inspector checks the box in Section III ; "No Treatment
Recommended but the inspector must explain if Box B in Section II is checked WHY no treatment is recommended.
Any Evidence noted in Section II which could be live insects, dead insects, exit holes, damage, staining, etc. would be listed as "Evidence of wood destroying insects and recommendation for treatment would be in order. It is not necessary to have "live" insects.
FAQ - I thought it was a "Termite" report, what other insects are included?
Wood Destroying Insects in all the regions listed above are limited to:
1- Termites
2- Wood borers (Powder Post Beetle / Old House Wood Borer_
3- Carpenter Bees
4- Carpenter Ants
Some states have converted to the WDO (Wood Destroying Organism) which includes wood decay fungi. None of the areas listed above have made the switch, all are still WDI not WDO.
FAQ - Isn't there a "law" that says you have to have a termite or WDI report when sell a house?
NO....the WDI inspection and report is simply a requirement of the lender. Neither is there a "law" that states the seller has to correct any problems found associated with WDI inspections and reports. Again, all requirements are either from the Lender or the Real Estate Contract.
FAQ - If the inspector finds a problem and reports it, do you "have to treat it"?
Of course not, one should always get second opinions. Again the only
requirement to treat would come from the lender or the Real Estate contract possibly. The WDI inspector is nothing more than a reporting agent, they can make no requirements. If the inspector reports a problem the lender in most cases will want it corrected or another report that disputes the original findings. The inspector has no authority other than to report the findings.
FAQ - The WDI Inspector has identified Termite Damage, it is clearly minor, can't theInspector simply list the minor damage on the report as "not structural"
Unless the termite inspector is a licensed structural engineer or licensed carpenter the answer would be no, and be very cautious if one does make the entry you request on the report. Damages can be extensive hidden behind hidden walls and floors, the report clearly states that if Box B is marked any interested party should seek the advice a a structural "professional" to examine the extent of the damage and the severity of the damage. The normal, if not 99% of WDI inspectors are not licensed or qualified to make determinations regarding the limits of "damage".
FAQ - The WDI inspector has found a significant rodent problem in the attic and the insulation has been contaminated. As a Realtor for the buyer you want this included on his report so that the seller will have to address it. Can this be the case?
No .....and yes.
No....The NPMA-33 and the MD-1 form are structural Wood
Destroying Insect reports only. The inspector may not list any issues other than Wood Destroying on the report in Section II (infestation evidence)
Yes.....Both reports have a "comment" section. The inspector may report such findings in that section but it has nothing to do with the WDI
FAQ - As the Realtor for the buyer you have told the inspector you are dealing with an FHA loan and you want the fence included on the report since it adds value to the property and the FHA will require the fence to be inspected. Is there a problem with this.
This is a catch 22 for the Realtor and the inspector. The fence cannot be included on the report since it is not a structure. However, the WDI inspector can inspect it if he/she so agrees to do so but the findings cannot go on the reports in Section II. The ideal method is to make an addendum on the company letter head stating the fence was inspected but it should be noted it cannot be included on the NPMA-33 report or the MD-1 form or any of the graphs associated with those reports. It is questionable to even put the findings in comments, however, it has been done but never in Section II
Have a specific question or wish to schedule training for continued education on this subject for Realtors?
Rusty Markland is a current corporate technical director with over 35 years in the industry.
He is a paid public speaker and educator that offers his expertise on this subject to Realtors through continued education seminars, FAQ on this site, specific questions under the contact button on this page for direct contact or group training at no cost
Understanding the requirements, the regulations and the scope of the WDI report is critical to the working relationship between the two professions.
This is a catch 22 for the Realtor and the inspector. The fence cannot be included on the report since it is not a structure. However, the WDI inspector can inspect it if he/she so agrees to do so but the findings cannot go on the reports in Section II. The ideal method is to make an addendum on the company letter head stating the fence was inspected but it should be noted it cannot be included on the NPMA-33 report or the MD-1 form or any of the graphs associated with those reports. It is questionable to even put the findings in comments, however, it has been done but never in Section II
