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

Wood Stove Removal in Oregon: A Complete Guide

March 28, 2023

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 sales contracts will let you choose to make the seller or the buyer responsible for the removal, but the removal of the wood stove in Oregon is not negotiable. It doesn’t matter if the wood stove is not in use, if it is in a shop or garage, or if the wood stove installation is otherwise up to code. If the stove itself is not...

Six Portland, Oregon Earthquake Maps

November 2, 2022

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 managing the certainty of an earthquake in Portland is to equip yourself with resources to keep you informed. Fortunately, science is making great strides in understanding seismic changes beneath the earth’s surface and finding ways to relay what they know to the layperson. Several helpful earthquake maps exist, and we’re including them in this article. Be sure to take a look at them before you...

Portland, Oregon Radon Map 2023 Update

September 12, 2022

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). Honestly, it’s a good idea to check radon levels in your home whether selling or not, as they change regularly. This is especially true if any of the living area in the home is below ground. The reason for fluctuating radon readings in any given area is that radon levels can be affected by a number of things, like wind, ground pressure, shifting soil, cold...

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

August 29, 2022

In the past, we’ve written about a variety of Portland home hazards all home owners need to be aware of, from underground oil tanks and radon to mold, floods, earthquakes, and landslides. There’s another one to keep in mind when preparing to invest your hard-earned money into a new home—no matter its age—or preparing your current home to list it on the market. Asbestos! As real estate agents serving the Portland metro area, we understand the importance of not only helping clients successfully sell their homes for the highest possible price, but to provide both sellers and buyers the latest information about potential hazards Portland homes might have. Most of us think of asbestos as a material used in construction...

How Much Does it Cost to Decommission an Oil Tank?

August 5, 2022

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, you may need to get a certification letter from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and/or have a new site assessment done. This can apply even to those who have had their oil tanks previously decommissioned but not certified through Oregon DEQ. Testing and then decommissioning is voluntary during your home ownership, but often becomes involuntary after a buyer’s home inspection. Discovered leaking oil tanks...

Portland Home Mold Inspection, How to Test 2022

July 13, 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 through the air and because they love moisture, they thrive here in Portland. One of your tasks as a homeowner is to keep mold at bay to prevent damage to your home and reduce health risks. In many cases, mold can be cleaned with a mild cleaning solution and cloth—for example on the grout in your shower. In other cases, mold can become pervasive enough...

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

June 27, 2022

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 Portland does have its fair share of past and potential natural disasters to keep in mind. While we don’t want to alarm anyone and scare you away from buying a home here, we do want to make visible some of the natural disasters all Portland residents need to know about. In fact, we’re sharing this information because we DO want you to invest in Portland....

How to Test your Home for Mold: 2021 Update

July 16, 2021

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 out of your home, the mold won’t grow there. But we all know that can be a hard thing to do! Most of the time, a little mold in the bathroom is a quick cleaning job. Sometimes, though, a more pervasive moldy area becomes what we call a mold growth problem. We’re not talking toxic black mold, which thankfully doesn’t grow here. But you could...

Top 6 Portland Natural Disasters: Is Your Home at Risk?

June 30, 2021

Portland: a fantastic place to live, on many levels. But like any fantastic place to live, it comes with its own risks, and natural disasters are a part of the bargain. The threat of natural disasters looms large on the West Coast in general, and Portland is not immune. Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development identifies six natural hazards it prepares for: tsunamis, coastal erosion, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and landslides. Two of these, tsunamis and coastal erosion, mainly apply to the coast. So let’s take a deep dive into the remaining four, all of which threaten the Portland metropolitan area. Before we scare you off, though, remember that preparedness is the key – and that the state of Oregon...

Top 5 Preventative Roof Repairs: What to Look For

June 23, 2021

Roof problems: one of the greatest sources of anxiety for sellers and buyers alike. It should go without saying that the roof is integral to the structural integrity of the home. But perhaps because it’s such a big deal, the roof can feel easy to avoid keeping up with. For one thing, it’s not a part of the home you interact with on a day-to-day basis. For another, no one wants to find serious problems with such an important part of the home. But the adage “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” doesn’t apply in this case. Severely damaged roofs are dangerous, but even minor problems can still spell greater problems for the rest of the home. And problems...