What an inspection looks at and what it hands you
A wood-destroying insect inspection looks for evidence of termites, carpenter ants and similar pests in the accessible parts of a building and reports what it found. The EPA notes that termites rarely appear until a swarm or damage is found, which is why an inspector looks for the signs rather than waiting for the insects. HUD's handbook lists "Form NPMA-33, Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report" among the file documents for a loan, so that title is the closest thing to a standard name for the document you want.
A good report names what was found, where, and what was not accessible; it says whether treatment is recommended and why. Under MCL 324.8313(12), an applicator may not represent that an application is necessary for a pest that is not present or likely to occur, so a report that recommends treatment should say which pest it saw or why one is likely. The guide to inspections when buying a Michigan home takes the same ground from the buyer's side.
Pest inspection pricing: what we can show
Our estimate for a pest inspection in Michigan is $40 to $225 per inspection, and $0 to $285 per termite inspection, often free with treatment. It is a model, not a quote: one published national range for each job, widened 15 percent each side and adjusted for what Michigan pest control workers are paid. An inspection is often priced separately from treatment, and you can ask for that.
Under the estimate, the table has the wage and the state fees. Ask whether the inspection fee is credited if you hire the company for treatment, and what the report will name.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $40 to $225 per inspection | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Michigan pest control worker median wage ratio (0.98). No Michigan pest control company price is shown, because none of the companies we looked at published a regular price. |
| Estimated range for a termite inspection, not a quote | $0 to $285 per termite inspection, often free with treatment | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Michigan pest control worker median wage ratio (0.98). No Michigan pest control company price is shown, because none of the companies we looked at published a regular price. |
| Pest control worker wage, Michigan median | $21.38 an hour | What pest control workers are paid (O*NET republishing BLS, May 2025), not what you are charged. Percentile data, not re-checked against the BLS table. |
| State fee, certified commercial applicator | $75 | Paid by the person, not added to your bill as a line. Michigan statute and MDARD agree. |
| State fee, pesticide application business license | $100 a year, expires every December 31 | Every company that applies pesticides for hire needs one, in addition to its applicators' credentials. |
How we estimate costs: the Estimated range row is a model, not a quote. It takes one published national range for this job (a cost guide from a third-party site that we have not verified and do not cite) and multiplies it by Michigan's pest control worker median wage ratio to the US (0.98, BLS May 2025 data read through O*NET OnLine). The wage and state fee rows in the table are what pest control workers are paid and what the state charges to license them, and neither is a price. We have not collected quotes, and we found no Michigan pest control company that publishes a regular price. Full method. Prices as of Oct 19, 2026.
What a Michigan sale requires
We found no Michigan statute, MDARD page or state form that requires a wood-destroying insect report on a sale, and none that licenses termite inspectors separately from pesticide licensing. Competitor pages that say otherwise had nothing we could verify. What is documented is narrower: the Michigan Seller Disclosure Statement under MCL 565.957 asks the seller for the history of infestation, "termites, carpenter ants, etc.", and says the answers are what the seller knows, not a warranty.
When an FHA loan brings in a specialist
Under HUD Handbook 4000.1, whose footers carry 2019 dates so the live handbook should be checked, the appraiser looks at the foundation and perimeter for evidence of wood destroying pests, though not at the level of a pest control specialist. If there is evidence or notice of infestation, including a prior treatment, the appraisal is made subject to inspection by a qualified pest control specialist, and any required treatment must be obtained. The handbook also says soil poisoning is unacceptable unless it is assured not to endanger the water supply. So the inspection is conditional on what the appraiser sees, not automatic on every FHA purchase. VA rules are outside what this page covers.
Who does the inspecting
A company that applies termite treatment for hire is licensed under MDARD category 7B, with a business license and a certified applicator. Do not accept a claim that a separate inspector license exists without a number you can check, and ask whether the person doing the inspection works for a licensed pest control company. If the inspector also sells the treatment, say so on the call and ask how the report would differ if the same company were not going to do the work.
Inspections: urgent or not
- A closing date is close and the lender has asked for a report: tell the lender and the inspector today.
- A routine check on a house you have owned for years with no signs.
Before the inspection
- Ask the lender or agent whether a report is required for your loan.
- Ask the company which form or format it uses, and whether it is the NPMA-33.
- Ask what areas are not accessible and how the report will say so.
- Ask whether the company is licensed for treatment and gets the work if it finds something.
- Ask the seller for the infestation history on the disclosure statement.
License and rules for inspections
For anything that includes treatment, the company needs an MDARD business license and a certified applicator in category 7B or 7A for the pest named. Ask for the numbers and the report in writing. We do not check licenses for you.
Ask for the company's state pesticide business license number and the applicator's name, and look both up with your state's pesticide regulator before any work starts.
A tool for this job
Pest identification guide
Pick what you noticed and what you have checked. The guide names what that most likely is, using only the distinguishing features a government or university source gives, and says whether the sources point to a professional. It cannot identify a pest from a description with certainty, so treat the answer as where to look next. It runs in your browser and asks for nothing.
Open the toolQuestions people ask
Does Michigan require a termite inspection to sell a house?
No Michigan rule we can cite requires one. The Michigan seller disclosure asks about the history of infestation, and an FHA loan can require an inspection when the appraiser sees evidence.
What does the FHA require for termites?
Under HUD's handbook, an FHA appraisal is made subject to a specialist's inspection when there is evidence or notice of infestation, including a prior treatment. The handbook's footers are dated 2019, so check the live version.
What does the Michigan seller disclosure ask about pests?
History of infestation, termites, carpenter ants and similar, under MCL 565.957. It is the seller's knowledge, not a warranty.
Is a termite inspection the same as a WDI report?
A wood-destroying insect report is the written result of a termite inspection. HUD's handbook names the NPMA-33 form for it.
How much does a pest inspection cost in Michigan?
Our estimate is $40 to $225 per inspection, modeled from one published national range adjusted for what Michigan pest control workers are paid. Ask whether it is a separate fee and whether it is credited toward treatment.
- O*NET OnLine: Michigan Wages 37-2021.00 Pest Control Workers (BLS 2025 data) Read Oct 19, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- PestControlMatch: how we estimate costs (editorial policy) Read Oct 19, 2026.
- MCL 324.8317 (Michigan Legislature) Read Oct 19, 2026.
- MDARD: Pesticide Applicator Business License (PABL) Read Oct 19, 2026.
- HUD Handbook 4000.1 Read Oct 19, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- MCL 565.957 Seller Disclosure Statement (Michigan Legislature) Read Oct 19, 2026.
- EPA: Termites: How to Identify and Control Them Read Oct 19, 2026.
- MDARD: Pesticide Certification-Registration Categories (revised 08/2011) Read Oct 19, 2026.
- MCL 324.8313 (Michigan Legislature) Read Oct 19, 2026.