WDO

I took the wood WDO classes on InterNachi and thought that allowed me to tell people I do WDO in my inspection. Then someone on the message board said I could not say that. They said I need a license. I looked online for WDO License Florida and came up empty handed.
Is there anyone out there that can confirm. I get clients asking me if I can do a WDO and I’m not sure how to answer them. I tell them I am able to identify WDO’s if they are present.

You need to be an ID card holder under a Certified Pest Control Operate(or the operator) as certified and licensed under the Florida Department of Agriculture.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Agricultural-Environmental-Services/Business-Services/Pest-Control

What you have been telling you customers can get you into trouble.

You can’t perform WDO inspections OR identify WDO in a home inspection report in Florida. You need to be a licensed pest control company or card carrying employee of one. There are many threads on this. Fines are stiff.

Do many home inspectors get this ID card? So if I see evidence of termite damage I can’t report it? What do I tell a client who is looking for WDO with their home inspection?

What I have been telling clients is if there is evidence of WDO I let them know then they’d find a specialist. It’s only happened twice and I didn’t land either of the jobs. But I need to know for the future. The last thing I want is to be doing something wrong.

Definitely not allowed.

Keep looking, go to the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and research Pest Control.

You can’t identify WDO unless you meet the requirements. You can’t report on WDO unless you meet the requirements. They have stiff penalties, $5K and up, per offense.

You can certainly report damaged wood; just watch what you say about the cause.

Dom.

Actually, I believe that you guys may be mistaken and giving out incorrect information with respect to calling out wood rot, WDO, or evidence of bugs and associated damage in a home inspection report.

If I see at turd, and call it a turd in my report, is it factually incorrect? Also, if we, as licensed home inspectors, see damage and do not call it out in our inspection and report, would that expose us to liability for missing something?

I believe that we, as licensed home inspectors, are obligated to call out wood rot, wood decay fungi, bug infestation and associated damage and within the scope of our license.

Roy L. actually wrote to DACS and received a written response indicating that we can identify these issues/defects in our home inspection report in compliance with our licensing statute. We cannot, however, hold ourselves out as a licensed pest control operator or fill out the official WDO form unless we are licensed in pest control or have an ID card while working in the employ of a licensed pest control operator.

Here is a copy of the questions and response Roy L. received from DACS:
*
*Ms. Czerniak
As a Florida licensed home inspector if I see live termites and evidence of such as subterranean mud tubes and include such finding in my report to my client would I be in any violation.
When I find evidence of WDO’s I always recommend a licensed pest control contractor evaluate further.

Here is an example that maybe see in my report.
“Evidence of wood destroying insects was noted… I.e. Subterranean termite mud tubes. Live organisms was noted at the time of inspection. Recommend a licensed pest control contractor evaluate further.”

Would I be in any sort of violation as a Florida licensed home inspector with the above statement in my report?

Thanks
Roy Lewis

Her Reply…
Dear Mr. Lewis:
Thank you for your inquiry. As long as you are not advertising WDO inspections as being part of your service and collecting fees for a WDO report, you are in compliance with Chapter 482 Florida Statutes. The way you are handling your WDO observations in the report is acceptable, and further recommending that the homeowner contact a licensed pest control company for evaluation is a good practice also.

Sincerely,

Marlene Czerniak

Assistant Chief/Environmental Administrator

Division of Agricultural Environmental Services

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services**

I am not an attorney and the above is my opinion only. Of course, you should do your own research and seek advice from your legal consel- blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda.

I agree with Steve, but you can not tell people you are doing a WDO or WDI inspection. You can report damage or insects you see. Just do not call them out wrongly, and always refer them to a proper specialist.

A lot of good information here. Wish it was in the courses I took to get my license. So I tell them I do not do WDO but if I see damage report it and refer to a specialist.

The class is for the nation/world, not the state.

You nailed it down Steve.
Say anything you feel is proper in your HI report & recommend
further evaluation by a licensed contractor.
DO NOT hold yourself out as a termite operator/inspector though.
I’'m sure you can locate a licensed company to sub-contract for the regulated WDO form.

Many inspection companies advertise they “offer” termite inspections with the legal wording something like “performed by a state licensed termite company”.

Dale,

Respectfully, you should have found a mentor to help get you started, even if travel to that mentor’s area was required.
There is a LOT and I mean a LOT of FL specific things and issues not covered in the online courses.
Even with construction experience, I just can’t imagine all the things I would have learned the hard way.
Again, respectfully…