WDO Inspection in Bellingham, WA

Real Estate Pest Inspections from a Whatcom County Pest Control Company Since 1998

A wood destroying organism inspection is one of the last things standing between a buyer and the closing table, and it needs to be done right. Bio Bug Pest Management has been locally owned and operated in Whatcom County since 1998, conducting WDO inspections for real estate transactions throughout Bellingham and the surrounding area. We’re a pest control company first, which means our inspectors understand pest biology, not just what to check off on a form.

Steve Cornwell, our co-founder and president, holds the Associate Certified Entomologist (A.C.E.) credential from the Entomological Society of America, a voluntary advanced certification endorsed by the National Pest Management Association. That depth of knowledge informs every inspection we conduct. We’re also a member of the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, keeping us connected to the local real estate and construction community.

Buyers, sellers, and agents in the Bellingham area can reach us at (360) 813-6590 to schedule a WDO inspection. We can walk you through what to expect before we arrive.

What a WDO Inspection Covers

Washington state WAC 16-228-2005 identifies the wood destroying organisms that must be addressed in a complete inspection. In Bellingham and across Whatcom County, the wet Pacific Northwest climate creates persistent moisture conditions that elevate risk for several of these organisms year-round.

Organisms & Areas Inspected

A complete inspection covers six organisms: subterranean termites, dampwood termites, carpenter ants, moisture ants, wood-boring beetles of the family Anobiidae, and wood decay fungi (rot). Our inspectors examine the accessible structural exterior, interior, substructural crawl space, and any attached garages, carports, and decks.

Finding an organism is only part of the job. We also document past damage and conducive conditions: circumstances such as moisture intrusion, earth-to-wood contact, or inadequate ventilation that make WDO activity more likely.

Who Needs a WDO Inspection

In Washington state, a complete WDO inspection is defined as an inspection conducted in connection with the transfer, exchange, or refinancing of a structure. That covers the most common triggers: a buyer wants to understand the structural risk profile before closing, a seller wants to get ahead of findings before listing, or a lender requires the report as a condition of financing, particularly for government-backed loans.

Because we’re a full-service pest control company, we can do something many inspection-only providers can’t: place findings in context. Our inspectors can distinguish active infestation from past damage, identify what’s driving it, and explain what it means for the property. Buyers and agents in the greater Bellingham area get a report backed by real treatment knowledge, not a form with boxes checked.