If you’ve scheduled a termite inspection in Mobile — for a real estate closing, for a bond renewal, or because you saw something that worries you — here’s exactly what happens, who’s qualified to do it, and what document you should walk away with.
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Need a termite inspection? Get matched with a licensed Mobile inspector Enter your ZIP code and our 24/7 dispatch line connects you with a licensed, insured Alabama inspector in our network who serves Mobile and Baldwin County. A real person answers — share why you need the inspection, and you’ll be routed to the right pro. Availability varies by provider and location. → Enter your ZIP to get connected
Quick answer: A Mobile termite inspection is a visual survey of the foundation, crawl space or slab edges, attic, and exterior wood by an ADAI-licensed inspector, and typically takes under an hour for an average home. You walk away with findings on activity, damage, and conducive conditions — and, if it’s for a real-estate closing, the official NPMA-33 form (the “termite letter”).
Who can legally perform a termite inspection in Alabama?
Termite (wood-destroying-organism) inspections in Alabama must be performed by an applicator certified by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) under the WDC (Wood Destroying Organi Certified Operator) category. ADAI maintains the active license list — your inspector will provide their license number when you connect. ADAI rules are codified in Title 80 of the Alabama Administrative Code.
A “termite inspection” performed by an uncertified person is not valid for a real estate closing and cannot back a bond contract.
What a Mobile termite inspection actually covers
A complete inspection takes 45–90 minutes for a typical Mobile home and includes seven structural areas:
1. Exterior perimeter walk. The inspector circles the foundation looking for mud tubes, swarm castings, conducive conditions (wood-to-soil contact, mulch piled against the slab, irrigation spray hitting framing).
2. Foundation wall and crawl space. Slab joints, expansion joints, sill plates. Crawl space: every pier, girder, joist, and the band board. The inspector probes accessible framing with an awl or moisture meter.
3. Garage and attached porches. Garage frames are a common Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) entry route in Mobile homes — the Port-of-Mobile Formosan introduction (documented 1985) shows up disproportionately in attached-garage framing.
4. Interior baseboards and trim. Window frames, door frames, bath traps, kitchen sink cabinets, garage perimeter.
5. Attic. Drywood termite frass and Formosan carton-nest indicators on truss bottom chords and roof-penetration framing.
6. Documentation. Findings recorded on the NPMA-33 form (Wood Infestation Report) or equivalent inspection report. Active evidence is photographed.
7. Recommendation. Species identification (eastern subterranean, dark southeastern subterranean, Formosan, southeastern drywood), treatment-method options, cost ranges, bond category options if active infestation is found.
The NPMA-33 — what you walk away with
For Mobile real estate closings (VA, FHA, conventional), the inspector issues an NPMA-33 form, also called the Alabama Wood Infestation Report. It documents:
- Inspector name and ADAI license number
- Date of inspection
- Areas inspected and any obstructions
- Visible evidence of active or prior wood-destroying organi
- Whether the structure shows signs requiring treatment
The form is valid for 30 days for most closings.
For full WDO inspection context see WDO Inspection / Termite Letter and Termite Letter for Real Estate.
Cost in Mobile and Baldwin
Stand-alone termite inspection (NPMA-33 only): generally in the low hundreds in the Mobile / Baldwin market. Often included with an active termite bond. The 2026 line-by-line breakdown is in the Pest Control Cost Guide — Mobile, AL.
What to prep before the inspector arrives
- Move stored items off perimeter walls and out of garage corners
- Provide access to attic and crawl space
- Make a list of any concerns (areas where you’ve seen swarmers, wings, mud tubes)
- Have your last NPMA-33 ready if you have one
When to schedule
- Real estate closing: 15–30 days before closing date
- Annual bond inspection: spring (Feb–April), before Formosan swarm season peaks
- After suspected activity: as soon as possible
- Post-hurricane: 30–60 days after storm if framing was water-damaged. See Hurricane Pest Prep for Mobile.
Related Mobile pest guides
- Complete Pest Control Guide for Mobile, AL — every pest, every treatment
- Pest Control Cost Guide — Mobile, AL — every service priced
- Termite Treatment in Mobile, AL — Complete Guide
- Formosan Termite in Mobile, AL
- Termite Control in Mobile, AL
Ready to book your WDC inspection? Get matched with a licensed Mobile inspector Enter your ZIP code and our 24/7 dispatch line connects you with a licensed, insured Alabama inspector in our network who serves Mobile and Baldwin County. A real person answers — share your closing date or concern, and you’ll be routed to the right pro. Availability varies by provider and location. → Enter your ZIP to get connected
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