Termite damage doesn’t announce itself. By the time you notice something — a soft spot in the floor, a door that won’t close right, paint that looks like it’s bubbling — the damage is already done. And in Florida, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover a single dollar of it. That’s standard across every policy in the state.
What a professional termite inspection gives you is clarity. You either confirm the home is clean and document that for your records, or you catch a problem early — when treatment is still straightforward and the repair bill is manageable. For Ellerslie homeowners specifically, that early catch matters more than most people realize. The sandy soils throughout eastern Pasco County make it easy for subterranean termite colonies to tunnel and expand quickly. Combine that with the proximity to natural wood debris corridors, where termite populations stay high year-round, and you’ve got conditions that demand regular monitoring — not a “check it when something looks wrong” approach.
If you’re buying or selling a home near Ellerslie or Dade City, a WDO inspection isn’t optional anyway. VA and FHA lenders require it before closing. Getting that report from a licensed, credentialed operator means your transaction moves forward without a last-minute scramble.
We’re a family-run, owner-operated business serving Hernando and Pasco counties, including Ellerslie and the surrounding eastern Pasco area. When you call, George Lundin picks up — not a dispatcher, not a call center, not an answering service. George handles the work personally, and most quotes are given right over the phone so you know what you’re getting into before you commit to anything.
We hold FDACS License #LF286842, valid through June 2027, which is the state certification required to legally produce the WDO inspection report — FDACS Form 13645 — that lenders actually accept. That’s not a detail to gloss over. An inspection from an unlicensed or improperly credentialed provider can get rejected at closing, and that’s a problem nobody needs.
With over 100 five-star Google reviews from real customers across Pasco and Hernando counties, and BBB A+ accreditation since 2022, the track record speaks for itself. Ellerslie residents and buyers in the 33525 ZIP code get the same personal, direct service as every other client — no subcontractors, no handoffs, no surprises.
It starts with a phone call. George will ask a few questions about your property — the age of the home, the construction type, whether you’ve had prior treatments — and give you a quote on the spot. No appointment required just to find out the cost. For most properties in the Ellerslie area, that conversation takes a few minutes and answers the main questions before anyone drives out.
When the inspection happens, we focus on every area where wood-destroying organisms could gain a foothold. That means the foundation perimeter, crawl spaces if present, attic framing, window and door frames, and any wood that’s in close contact with soil or moisture. For rural properties throughout Ellerslie and eastern Pasco — where outbuildings, wood fencing, and larger lot sizes are common — those secondary structures get checked too. Subterranean termites don’t limit themselves to the main house.
The inspection covers all four categories required under Florida’s WDO standard: subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-boring beetles, and fungal wood decay. When it’s done, you receive the official FDACS Form 13645 — the specific document that VA lenders, FHA underwriters, and conventional mortgage companies require for Florida real estate transactions. If you’re not in the middle of a sale and just want peace of mind, that report still serves as a documented baseline for your records going forward.
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A WDO inspection is broader than most people expect. It’s not just a termite check. The official Florida WDO standard requires the inspector to evaluate for subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-boring beetles, and fungal wood decay — all in a single visit, all documented on the FDACS Form 13645 that lenders and title companies recognize. For Ellerslie homeowners, that full scope is particularly relevant. Older wood-frame homes in the eastern Pasco County corridor are susceptible to more than one threat at a time, and fungal decay from moisture intrusion is common in structures with crawl spaces or wood in contact with the ground.
For buyers using a VA loan — and Pasco County has a significant veteran population — this inspection is a mandatory part of the closing process. The report has to come from a licensed FDACS operator, and it has to be on the right form. We cover that completely, with credentials that lenders verify and accept without issue.
Beyond real estate transactions, annual termite monitoring is the professional standard in Florida — especially in rural areas like Ellerslie where ambient termite pressure is elevated year-round. Formosan subterranean termites, one of the most aggressive species in Pasco County, swarm from April through July but feed continuously outside of that window. One inspection at purchase is a starting point. Annual monitoring is how you stay ahead of it. We offer special discounts for new homeowners and military families — if that’s you, mention it when you call.
If you’re using a VA or FHA loan to purchase a home in Ellerslie or anywhere in Pasco County, yes — a WDO inspection is required before closing. It’s not a lender preference or a suggestion. It’s a mandatory condition of the loan. The report has to be produced on FDACS Form 13645 by a licensed Florida pest control operator. A basic home inspection does not satisfy this requirement, and a report from an unlicensed provider will be rejected by the underwriter.
Even for conventional loans, most lenders and real estate attorneys in the Dade City and Ellerslie area strongly recommend a WDO report as a condition of the transaction. Florida’s termite pressure is significant enough that skipping it creates real financial exposure — for the buyer, the seller, and anyone involved in the transaction. If you’re under contract and need a report turned around quickly, we respond within 24 hours, seven days a week, including weekends.
A termite inspection is a general term for checking a property for termite activity. A WDO inspection — Wood-Destroying Organism inspection — is a specific, legally defined process under Florida law that covers four categories: subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-boring beetles, and fungal wood decay. It results in the official FDACS Form 13645, which is the only report format accepted by VA lenders, FHA underwriters, and most conventional mortgage companies in Florida.
The practical difference matters. If someone offers you a “termite inspection” but isn’t licensed under FDACS to produce a WDO report, their findings won’t satisfy your lender’s requirements. For Ellerslie homebuyers going through a real estate transaction, making sure you’re getting a proper WDO inspection — not just a visual termite check — is the difference between a clean closing and a costly delay. Always ask for the inspector’s FDACS license number before booking.
WDO inspection costs in the Dade City and Ellerslie area typically range from $75 to $300, depending on the size and type of property. Most standard residential properties fall in the lower end of that range. Rural properties with outbuildings, larger lot sizes, or manufactured housing may take more time to inspect thoroughly, which can affect the final cost.
The more useful number to keep in mind is what termite damage actually costs to repair. In Florida, the average repair bill per termite incident runs $8,000 to $12,000 — and severe structural damage can exceed $20,000. None of that is covered by homeowner’s insurance. Against those numbers, a $75 to $300 inspection is one of the most straightforward investments a homeowner can make. We give most quotes over the phone, so you know the cost before anyone comes out.
Once a year is the professional standard in Florida, and in the Ellerslie area, that recommendation is especially well-founded. Eastern Pasco County’s sandy soils make it easy for subterranean termite colonies to establish and expand. The natural corridors in and around Ellerslie sustain high ambient termite populations year-round. And unlike cooler climates where termite activity slows in winter, Florida termites stay active through every season.
For properties with older wood-frame construction, crawl spaces, or wood structures in contact with the ground — all common in the rural Ellerslie area — annual inspection is the minimum. Some homeowners with elevated risk factors opt for semi-annual checks. The goal isn’t to create unnecessary service visits. It’s to catch a problem when it’s still a treatment issue rather than a structural repair issue. One annual inspection is a small cost compared to what deferred discovery looks like.
Subterranean termites — the most common and destructive type in Pasco County — often leave visible mud tubes along your foundation, concrete block walls, or pier supports. These pencil-thin tunnels are how they travel from the soil to the wood in your home without exposure to open air. You might also notice wood that sounds hollow when tapped, floors that feel soft or spongy underfoot, or doors and windows that suddenly stick for no obvious reason.
Drywood termites, which live inside the wood itself and don’t need soil contact, often leave behind small piles of frass — tiny pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds — near windowsills, baseboards, or door frames. Winged swarmers emerging from walls or ceilings, especially after a warm rain between April and July, are another sign that a colony is established and expanding. If you’re seeing any of these, don’t wait. The damage accelerates faster in Florida’s heat and humidity than most homeowners expect.
Yes. We offer discounts for military families and new homeowners, and that applies to customers in Pasco County including the Ellerslie and Dade City area. Pasco County has a meaningful veteran population, and a significant number of military families use VA loans when purchasing homes in eastern Pasco — which means a WDO inspection is already part of the closing requirement. The discount is a straightforward acknowledgment of that, not a promotional add-on.
If you’re a veteran, active-duty service member, or a family that just closed on a home near Ellerslie, mention it when you call. George handles every call personally, so there’s no form to fill out or code to enter. New homeowners who want to establish a baseline inspection and set up annual monitoring are also welcome to ask about the new homeowner rate. The goal is to make professional termite inspection accessible to the people who need it most in this community.
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