Lenders in most states require clear WDO (Wood Destroying Organisms) letters as part of the loan process and some states will allow home inspectors to do them as long as they have the right certifications. For the most part, the State of Tennessee requires a licensed pest control company to provide this service.
Although home inspectors are not considered part of the pest control process, we must be on the look out for damages to structural components from WDO’s. Oftentimes, shelter tubes along foundation walls are an indication of an active colony. Like any living organism, termites need food, water and a conducive environment in which to thrive. The crawlspace provides the ideal environment for sub-terrianian termites.
When I see evidence of past or more recent activity, there is normally a cause. Builders and contractors alike do not police after themselves and leave wood in direct contact with the earth and cover it up with the moisture barrier. Once out of sight, the material is out of mind - that is, until the expanding 
colony discovers the bait and now they are inside your home.
It is not unusual to see termites in the mulch beds one puts around the perimeter of the house. Once in the mulch, it will become a matter of time before they enter the house. Keep in mind, that termites can pass through a crack 1/64th of an inch wide and most crawlspaces have ‘normal’ settling or mortar cracks that fall well within these dimentions.
It is advisable to have the crawlspace of your home inspected annually for termites. If you have not done so, have a contractor or handyman pull back the moisture barrier and remove all instances of wood and paper that is often left during construction or remodeling processes. If the moisture barrier is old and damaged, have it replaced. Although the removal of construction debris is in the Standards of Practice, it is not always done. Don’t let WDO’s eat you out of your house and home.
;-)
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