A termite inspection report, a treatment invoice and a repair estimate answer different questions. Before selling a Houston house, separate those documents so neither you nor a buyer mistakes one for proof of everything else.
The useful question is not simply whether someone once treated the house. It is what was observed, what was done, what any warranty actually covers, and what remains uncertain about the building.
Understand what the WDI report covers
WDI means wood-destroying insect. The Texas Department of Agriculture’s termite guidance explains that this inspection looks for visible evidence in readily accessible areas. It does not involve dismantling objects to reach concealed areas. TDA explicitly distinguishes it from both a guarantee that insects are absent and a structural damage report.
That distinction matters when a seller finds an old report in a drawer. Read its date, inspected structures, observations and limitations. Ask the issuing professional to explain an unclear entry rather than turning it into a stronger statement than the report supports.
The Texas Real Estate Commission’s guidance on termite reporting also points to the separate state licensing involved. Confirm the provider’s relevant credentials instead of assuming every general home inspection includes the same pest assessment.
Sort the documents into four groups
A small document list can prevent the offer conversation from becoming a pile of disconnected receipts.
| Document | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| WDI report | What evidence was observed and which areas were inspected? |
| Treatment paperwork | What work was proposed or completed, and where? |
| Actual warranty agreement | What coverage and conditions are written in it? |
| Damage assessment and repair scope | What building work is recommended, separately from pest treatment? |
Label a document you do not have as missing. Keep a completed service receipt separate from a proposal for future work. If a report discusses an inaccessible area, preserve that limitation when sharing it.
This is a preparation worksheet, not a new disclosure form or a determination that any particular document is required for every cash transaction.
Ask about warranty terms before promising a handoff
TDA’s consumer guidance tells owners to review treatment and warranty details, including coverage, renewal terms and conditions that can void protection. Do not assume an agreement includes repair coverage merely because the word warranty appears on its first page.
Ask the issuing company for written answers to three practical questions:
- What protection is currently in force, and for which structures or areas?
- What renewal, service or ownership-change steps apply under this agreement?
- What would a future owner need to receive or do?
Keep that reply with the agreement. Avoid promising that a buyer can take over a plan until the provider has confirmed what its actual terms allow. The question may be resolved by documents, not another round of spraying.
Separate treatment from the repair decision
An invoice for pest treatment does not establish the condition of every affected board or structural member. If there is suspected damage, ask an appropriately qualified building professional what assessment and scope are needed. Do not conceal uncertain areas with cosmetic work to make the sale conversation easier.
For budgeting, use written scopes rather than adding together unrelated verbal estimates. Check what each proposal includes, what it excludes and whether further access or investigation could change it. This guide does not diagnose insects or recommend pesticide application.
Our major-repair selling guide covers the wider sale decision. The seller-disclosure checklist helps keep known information and unanswered questions organized.
Compare offers on a consistent property picture
You can consider completing appropriate work and listing, or ask for a direct proposal based on current condition. A listing may support a better price when the house and timeline fit the market. A Cash As-Is offer may reduce the repair coordination you personally undertake, while reflecting the condition and remaining uncertainty.
Use the same reports when comparing those paths, and review the likely proceeds and responsibilities in our cash-versus-listing comparison. Tell Cash As-Is what was observed, what work is documented and what still needs clarification. Requesting an evaluation does not require you to describe a treated house as problem-free.