Portland Home Hazards

Portland, Oregon, like any other city is home to many hazards for home buyers and sellers. We have flood risks, earthquake risks, mold problems, lead poisoning, radon risks, landslide zones, and more. We believe it is part of our job as Portland real estate agents to inform our clients of potential home hazards, how to test, how to get more information, and how to mitigate these everyday home hazards.

If you’re considering buying a home in the next twelve months and want an agent that will look out for your safety and best interest, Kami Price, buyers specialist would love to hear what you’re looking for. Call today to set an appointment.

Kami Price, Realtor
Represented Hundreds of Buyers
Licensed since 2004
503-773-0000

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the next twelve months and want an agent that knows what problem issues to address before going to market, Stephen would love to tour your home. Call today to set an appointment.

Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor
4% Max. to Sell a Home
Cancel Anytime Policy
Licensed Since 2003
503-714-1111

Top 5 Portland, Oregon Earthquake Maps

Yes, there is a certain amount of earthquake risk in Portland. Still, the good news is that geologists are getting better and better at understanding, mapping, and even predicting seismic activity. Maps can also help us be better prepared for disasters by showing resources and hazards. Take a look at these Portland maps before you […]

Portland, Oregon Radon Map – Plus Free Tests (for some)

Portland, Oregon Radon rates change. A perennial hot topic in Portland is the influx of Californians, but it’s the Montana and Idaho migrants that we should be worried about, according to health officials. Actually, they’re not talking about people, but rocks. “In the Portland metropolitan area, a lot of the rocks and soil underneath the […]

New Portland, Oregon Flood Map

Floods don’t just destroy homes and carry away vehicles; they also destroy infrastructure and cut off access to the outside world, sometimes for days at a time. When shopping for a home in Portland, having the right tools at hand to understand flood risk is essential. Sometimes, it can be pretty clear that a home […]

How Much Does it Cost to Decommission an Oil Tank?

If you’re planning to sell your Portland home, you’ll want to think about potential home hazards that might need to be addressed before putting it on the market. If you have an older home, chances are, it has (or had) a heating oil tank, whether it’s in use or not. To ultimately make the sale, […]

Test for Portland Mold, Home Inspection Tips

An unmistakably mold-stained wall, ceiling, or shower stall ranks among the least appealing sights in any home, let alone one you’re shopping on the red-hot Portland real estate market. Today, we’re going to take a look at how to identify and test for mold, how to clean it up, and how to hopefully mitigate some […]

Portland, Oregon Natural Disasters: Riskiest Neighborhoods to Buy a Home

We don’t want to scare away potential homebuyers, but Mother Nature has some potentially powerful disasters to unleash on Portland. Are some neighborhoods safer than others? That depends on which disaster we’re talking about. Before you make a home investment in Portland, get to know what the hazards are and the best way to be […]

Asbestos in Your Home. What to Look for, How to Test.

In the past, we’ve written about various Portland home hazards all homeowners need to be aware of, from underground oil tanks and radon to mold, floods, earthquakes, and landslides. There’s another one to remember when preparing to invest your hard-earned money into a new home or preparing your current home to list it on the […]

Portland Seismic Retrofit Guide: Earthquake Readiness

Our awareness of the threat of seismic activity in the Portland area increases every year, and with it, concerns for both sellers and buyers. Recent studies show that at least one local fault is more active than previously thought. And this discovery increases the likelihood that other faults in the area may put Portland at […]

15 Things you Must-Know Before Leaving your Home Vacant

Leaving a vacant home is sometimes a necessary life choice, and not one that homeowners ever feel completely comfortable with. Licensed since 2003, I’ve sold a lot of homes that the sellers chose to sell vacant. Sometimes the sellers were still nearby and could check on the home. Other times, the seller lived out of […]

Portland, Oregon Sewer Scope Home Test Guide

Having the sewer line scoped before you purchase a home in Portland, Oregon is a very good idea. Sewer lines can cost a few thousand, to tens of thousands of dollars to repair or replace, but a sewer scope typically costs just $100-$200 in the Portland area. Sometimes after a sewer scope, the city of […]

Wood Stove Removal in Oregon: A Complete Guide

Selling or buying a home in Portland? You may have this item on your to-do list: Dealing with decommissioning the wood stove.  Wood stove decommissioning is still a hot topic in Portland because many homes have older wood stoves that are not EPA-certified, and therefore are illegal to sell with the home. Period. Real estate […]

Six Portland, Oregon Earthquake Maps

As with every city, Portland, Oregon doesn’t come without its hazards, one of which is the potential for earthquakes, given that our city rests on a fault line. But there are ways to deal with this particular hazard, including retrofitting your home and being prepared in the event an earthquake does happen. Another step in […]

Portland, Oregon Radon Map 2023 Update

There are a variety of home hazards Portland homeowners need to be aware of, especially when selling. In addition to earthquakes and landslides, mold, and flooding, radon should be at the top of your list for items to check when you’re preparing to put your home on the market (or when buying a new home). […]

Portland Home Mold Inspection, How to Test 2022

Mold is something we all contend with here in Portland, no matter where we live or the ages of our homes. Of course, mold occurs in varying degrees and can be more prevalent in some homes than others, especially if left unchecked and untreated. But the truth is, mold is everywhere. Microscopic mold spores travel […]

Portland, Oregon Natural Disaster List. Is your Home Safe?

It’s no secret that the climate in Portland, Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest is changing. Natural disasters happen everywhere, and certain areas are more prone to certain types than others. So, what about Portland? Here, we’re generally spared the tornadoes and cyclones of the Midwest and the tsunami that threatens the west coast, but […]

How to Test your Home for Mold: 2021 Update

Think your Portland home might have mold? Well, you’d be correct – but don’t panic! Airborne mold exists just about everywhere. And since mold loves moisture, it also loves Portland. The trick is that mold spores float through the air looking for a wet place to land and grow. If you keep those wet spots […]

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What My Clients Are Saying

When my wife and I decided to sell our home we started to search for agents who work for less than the 6% standard commission. Slightly skeptical, I decided to call Stephen for a consultation. Stephen came very prepared with comp sales, marketing techniques, and several other items pertaining to the sale I never would have considered. We sold in six days.

Denny