
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
1.7% 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).
Updated 08/2024. A perennial Oregon topic is how the influx of migrants from California is affecting life here. But it’s Montana and Idaho we should be worried about. And the migrants I’m referring to aren’t people; they are rocks. “In the Portland metropolitan area, a lot of the rocks and soil underneath the Willamette Valley […]

New Portland, Oregon Flood Map
Updated 10/2024. 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 […]

How Much Does it Cost to Decommission an Oil Tank?
Updated 08/2024. If you’re planning to sell your Portland home, you may need to address potential home hazards before putting it on the market, and one is your heated oil tank. If you have an older home, chances are, it has or had one, whether it’s in use or not. Delaying or ignoring the potential […]

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
Updated 06/2024. While shopping for a home in the greater Portland metro area, you might focus on a property’s condition to gauge potential repairs and maintenance, but another crucial factor can extend beyond its borders: its proximity to natural disasters. Unfortunately, Mother Nature isn’t always our friend, and she prioritizes some locations more than others. […]

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
Updated 06/2024. Our awareness of the threat of seismic activity in the Portland area grows each year, causing increasing concerns for sellers and buyers. Recent studies show that at least one local fault is more active than previously thought. This discovery also increases the likelihood that other faults may put Portland at more risk for […]

15 Things you Must-Know Before Leaving your Home Vacant
Updated 10/2024. Leaving a home vacant for prolonged periods of time is sometimes necessary but not something everyone feels comfortable with. Still, it’s pretty common. As a licensed Realtor since 2003, I’ve sold many vacant homes. Sometimes, the sellers lived nearby and could check on the house. Other times, the sellers lived out of state […]

Portland, Oregon Sewer Scope Home Test Guide
Updated 02/2025. If you plan to buy a home in Portland, should you have a sewer line scoped before purchasing? It’s a smart idea for both new and old homes in Portland for more than one reason. One is financial. Sewer lines can cost from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars to […]

Wood Stove Removal in Oregon: A Complete Guide
Updated 11/2024. Selling or buying a home in Portland? Then one item on your to-do list may be decommissioning the wood stove. This is still a hot topic in Portland. Many homes have older wood stoves that need to be EPA-certified. Unless they are classified as “antique,” they are illegal to sell with the home. […]

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?
Updated 01/2025. 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 […]

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 […]
Stephen was just simply a fantastic realtor to work with in selling our home. If we had another 50 properties to sell, Stephen would be in charge of all of them. He was so professional in handling every detail of our sale, and he was so responsive to every question that came up in the course of our transaction. My wife and I are very thankful that we found Stephen.
Alan