Our Florida homes are subject to attack from wood destroying organisms such as wood decaying fungi (white or brown rot), subterranean, Formosan and drywood termites, powderpost beetles, and old house borers. Before purchasing a home, the buyer should always have the structure inspected for the presence of wood destroying organisms. Note: Carpenter bees and ants […]

WHAT IS A WOOD DESTROYING ORGANISM AND HOW IT RELATES TO YOUR LENDER Unlike most states, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) requires the licensed WDO Inspector to report on Wood Destroying Organisms. Most states only require the reporting of Wood Destroying Insects. Quite frankly, very few inspectors and no property appraisers […]

The Aedes mosquito is responsible for the Zika Virus outbreak. As of February 4th, Governor Scott has declared a state of emergency in five counties in Florida, the Miami-Dade/Broward area and Santa Rosa county. The Florida Department of Agriculture predicts the Aedes mosquito will affect all counties in Florida this year and they are recommending […]

What you consider to be a “sudden, catastrophic” leak may be considered a “systemic” leak by your insurance carrier, and your claim may be DENIED. Welcome to the field of forensic water assessment. Forensic assessment compiles the study of building materials as they relate to water absorption in differing environments, mycology of mold and other […]

The Veterans Administration (VA) has backed off forcing the Seller to pay for the WDO upfront. Buyers using a VA loan can, once again, pay for the WDO and get reimbursed from the Seller at closing. Of course, the Seller may still pay for the WDO upfront although that rarely happens. WDO v. WDI: The […]

I’m not a marketing expert and unless you appreciate technical truth, I’m not a very good salesman either. Heck, I don’t even “clean up” that well. There is always the telltale sign of a guy who “works for a living,” no matter how fresh the clothes are. While the intent of this blog is to […]

News reports of devastating termite damage, homes lost to wood destroying termites, lawsuits against unscrupulous pest control companies and distressed families are commonplace today. Insurance carriers, engineers and building inspectors are determining structural loss following major storms are connected to structures weakened by wood destroying termites. Termites weaken trees and buildings which makes it easier […]

A growing number of pest control operations are promoting “green” pest control to people who are passionate about environmental stewardship or who are concerned about chemical exposure. Pesticide Registration and Classification The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) provides for regulation of pesticide distribution, sale and use and that all pesticides sold or distributed […]

Our homes provide shelter, nesting sites, food and water for many pests and insects. Some prefer to live in our homes while others are foraging for food/water and some are seeking shelter from prolonged rain or flooding. Proper identification of the insect, by specie, is important to controlling pests safely and economically. For example, all […]