The Tennessee Termite Letter, Explained

If you have a closing date, put it in your request. The company needs time to inspect and write the report.

What the report is

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture's consumer tips say a Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Report is issued in connection with the sale or transfer of real estate, and that it must be warranted for ninety (90) days for the accuracy of the representations in the report. In plain terms: the inspector looks for termites and other wood-destroying insects, and stands behind what the report says for 90 days.

It is an inspection report, not a treatment. If the report finds active termites, treatment is a separate decision and a separate contract.

Who can issue one

The state's pesticide rules apply to anyone conducting inspections for wood-destroying insect reports, per the Department of Agriculture's charter FAQ. Companies doing that work hold a WDO license under their charter, and the Department requires firms with a WDO licensee to carry errors and omissions insurance of at least $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate. That coverage is there in case a report misses something it should have found.

You can check a company's charter in the state's public search; see how to check a pest control company.

What buyers should ask

• Did the inspector get into the crawlspace and attic? Areas that could not be inspected should be listed.
• Is there evidence of a past infestation or past treatment? Ask whether a current termite contract or bond exists and whether it transfers to you.
• If activity was found, what treatment is proposed and who pays for it? That is a negotiation between buyer and seller.
• Ask to be shown any damage, as the Department of Agriculture suggests before any termite treatment.

In a city where well over half the homes in Midtown and South Memphis were built before 1960 (Census ACS 2020-2024), past termite activity is common. Damage from an old, treated infestation is a repair question; live termites are a treatment question.

What sellers should know

If you have a termite bond, find the paperwork before you list. A transferable bond with a clean history makes the buyer's lender and inspector more comfortable. If your bond lapsed, ask the company what it would take to renew. We explain bonds in termite bonds and contracts.

If something goes wrong

The Department of Agriculture's pesticide section lists Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection Reports among the things it investigates. Its complaint line is 615-837-5148. It does not handle price or payment disputes.

What it costs

This Old House puts a termite inspection at $75 to $325 nationally (June 2026). Expect a fee for a report written for a sale, even from companies that do free inspections for treatment. See the cost guide.