Georgia Termite Letters: A Kennesaw & Marietta Buyer Guide
Do You Need a Termite Letter to Buy or Sell a Home in Georgia?
Most FHA and VA loans in Georgia require a current Wood Infestation Report — commonly called a termite letter — before closing, and it has to be dated within 30 days of your closing date. The report checks for active wood-destroying organisms and visible damage, not general home condition, and if it comes back clean, you're done. If it doesn't, the repair and treatment negotiation typically runs through the same Due Diligence process buyers already use for the home inspection.
TL;DR
- Georgia's official form is the Wood Infestation Inspection Report (Georgia Department of Agriculture Form WIIR-1) — "termite letter" is the common name.
- FHA and VA loans require one dated within 30 days of closing; most conventional buyers request one anyway.
- The inspection itself typically runs $75–$150; treatment for active infestation or damage can range from $500 to $3,000 or more.
- In Kennesaw and Marietta, sellers customarily pay for the letter and any required treatment — but it's negotiable, not mandatory.
- New construction homes usually substitute a soil pre-treatment certificate instead of a WDO letter.
Buying or selling a home in Kennesaw or Marietta means running into a document almost nobody thinks about until their lender asks for it: the termite letter. It's a small piece of paper with an outsized effect on your closing timeline, and it works differently than most buyers expect.
Georgia Wood Infestation Reports: What the Document Actually Covers
The termite letter's real name is the Wood Infestation Inspection Report, issued on Georgia Department of Agriculture Form WIIR-1 by a licensed pest control operator. It answers one narrow question: is there visible evidence of active wood-destroying organisms — termites, powderpost beetles, wood-decaying fungi — and any related structural damage.
It is not a home inspection. A general inspector looks at systems and condition across the whole house. A WDO inspector looks specifically at wood members, sill plates, crawlspaces, and any areas showing moisture or previous treatment, and reports what they find on that one form.
Here's what triggers the requirement:
- FHA and VA loans require a current WDO letter in Georgia, dated within 30 days of closing. If you're financing with either program, skipping this step isn't an option — read more in our FHA and VA loan guide for Kennesaw buyers.
- Conventional loans don't always require one, but most GAR purchase agreements in Kennesaw and Marietta include a termite letter as a standard due diligence item anyway, because lenders and buyers both want the assurance.
- Cash buyers aren't required to get one by any lender, but skipping it on an older home in Cobb County is a real gamble given how common past termite activity is in this part of Georgia.
Kennesaw & Marietta Closings: How the Termite Letter Fits Your Timeline
The WDO inspection usually happens alongside your general home inspection, early in the Due Diligence period. That timing matters — if the report comes back with findings, you want time left on the clock to negotiate.
Step 1: Order the inspection early. Most agents schedule the WDO inspection in the first week of Due Diligence, at the same time as the general home inspection.
Step 2: Review the findings. A clean report means no active infestation and no unrepaired damage. A report with findings means visible activity, damage, or evidence of a prior treatment that needs updating.
Step 3: Negotiate through the Amendment to Address Concerns. If the report comes back with findings, the request for treatment or repair runs through the same GAR Form F107 process buyers use for inspection issues — our guide on Georgia's Amendment to Address Concerns walks through how that negotiation actually works.
Step 4: Re-inspect close to closing. Because lenders need the letter dated within 30 days of closing, a second inspection or updated letter is often required if your closing gets pushed out or treatment takes time to complete.
This whole sequence sits inside Georgia's broader Due Diligence framework — if you haven't already, it's worth understanding how the Due Diligence period works before you're negotiating a termite finding under a deadline.
What a Termite Letter Actually Costs in Cobb County
The inspection fee itself is modest. Treatment, if you need it, is where the number moves.
- WDO inspection fee: typically $75–$150, paid whether or not anything is found.
- Spot treatment for active termites: often $300–$800 for localized treatment.
- Whole-house treatment or termite bond setup: commonly $800–$1,500 for a full perimeter treatment with an ongoing renewable bond.
- Structural repair for termite damage: varies enormously — a damaged sill plate or joist repair can run into several thousand dollars depending on severity and accessibility.
Who pays is customary, not required by law. In Kennesaw and Marietta, sellers have traditionally covered the termite letter and any needed treatment, since it's tied to proving the home is free of active infestation at the point of sale. That said, nothing in the GAR contract mandates this — it's a negotiated point, and in a more balanced 2026 market, buyers are seeing more pushback on who picks up the tab.
Termite Bonds: The Difference Between the Letter and Ongoing Protection
A termite letter tells you the condition of the home on inspection day. A termite bond is a separate, renewable service contract with a pest control company that provides ongoing treatment and retreatment coverage — and in some cases, repair coverage — for a set number of years.
Many homes in West Cobb already have an active bond from a previous owner. If the bond is transferable, ask the seller to assign it to you at closing rather than paying to set up a new one. If there's no existing bond, budget for a new one separately from the closing termite letter — they're not the same expense.
New Construction in Kennesaw & Acworth: A Different Process
If you're buying new construction, you likely won't see a traditional termite letter at all. Builders typically handle soil pre-treatment before the foundation is poured and provide a pre-treatment certificate instead, which serves a similar purpose for lenders. It's worth confirming this certificate exists and asking whether it comes with its own renewable bond, since builder pre-treatment coverage terms vary by builder and aren't standardized the way a resale termite bond usually is.
What Buyers and Sellers Each Need to Watch For
If you're buying: don't waive the WDO inspection to strengthen your offer in a competitive situation without understanding what you're giving up — termite damage in older Cobb County homes with crawlspaces is common enough that this is one due diligence item worth keeping. Your specific number depends on your home's condition, location, and timing — that's where a local market analysis comes in.
If you're selling: get ahead of it. If your home has an existing termite bond, locate the paperwork before you list. If you're aware of past treatment or damage, disclosure obligations apply regardless of whether a buyer orders their own inspection. Every situation is different, and the only way to know for sure is to run the numbers with someone who knows this market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a termite letter in Georgia, and is it required?
It's formally called a Wood Infestation Inspection Report, issued on Georgia Department of Agriculture Form WIIR-1. FHA and VA loans require one dated within 30 days of closing — see our FHA and VA loan guide for Kennesaw buyers for how this fits into your overall loan requirements. Conventional and cash buyers aren't required to get one, but most still do.
Who pays for the termite letter and treatment in Kennesaw or Marietta?
Sellers customarily pay for the inspection and any required treatment, but this is a negotiated contract term, not a legal requirement. In a more balanced market, it's increasingly something buyers and sellers split or negotiate case by case.
What happens if the termite report finds active infestation or damage?
The findings get addressed through the same negotiation process used for general home inspection issues. Our guide to Georgia's Amendment to Address Concerns explains how to request treatment or repairs and what the response deadlines look like.
How long is a Georgia termite letter valid before closing?
For FHA and VA loans, the letter must be dated within 30 days of your closing date. If your closing timeline shifts, plan on a re-inspection — this comes up often in Marietta closings that get delayed by appraisal or underwriting timelines.
Do new construction homes in Kennesaw need a wood infestation report?
Usually not in the traditional sense. Builders typically pre-treat the soil before the foundation is poured and provide a pre-treatment certificate instead. Explore all West Cobb communities at masoudpour.com to see how new construction options compare across the area.
The Bottom Line
A termite letter is a small line item that can slow down or reshape a closing if it's ignored until the last minute. Order it early, understand the difference between the letter and an ongoing bond, and know that who pays is a negotiation, not a rule.
If you're buying or selling in Kennesaw and want to know exactly how this fits into your specific timeline and contract, schedule a 15-minute call and we'll walk through it together.
