Resources for Home Buyers & Owners | Trusted Home Inspections Portland
Trusted Home Inspections · Portland, OR

Resources for Home Buyers & Owners

Straightforward guides on what to expect from an inspection, what Portland homes are known for, and how to protect yourself before you close. Written by a Certified Master Inspector with 10 years in the field and 2,000+ inspections completed.

Schedule an Inspection →
🏅
Credential
Certified Master Inspector, dual-licensed in Oregon (#1898) and Washington (#1856).
🔍
Free Thermal Imaging
Included on every inspection. Finds moisture, electrical issues, and insulation failures invisible to the naked eye.
📱
Modern Reports
Digital, detailed reports with photos and video throughout. Clear enough to share with your agent and contractor.
📅
7-Day Availability
Available Monday through Sunday across Portland metro and SW Washington.
🪖
Veteran-Owned
Military discount available. Proud to serve the military community in Portland and SW Washington.

Everything below is written by Russ Motyko, Certified Master Inspector, with 12 years as a licensed general contractor, 10 years of home inspection experience, and over 2,000 completed inspections in the Portland metro and SW Washington. No filler, no fluff. Just what you actually need to know before making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

🏁
New to Inspections
Start Here: The Inspection Process
First-Time Homebuyer's Complete Guide to Home Inspections
Everything you need to know before your first inspection: how to hire an inspector, what happens on inspection day, how to read the report, and how to use findings in negotiations.
Start here →
What to Expect on Inspection Day
A timeline of your home inspection from arrival to report delivery. What your inspector is doing at each stage, and what you should be doing while they do it.
Read guide →
How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?
Most Portland inspections run 2.5 to 4 hours. What affects that time, and what it means if an inspector is done in under 2 hours.
→
First-Time Buyer Inspection Checklist
Use this to prepare for your inspection, know what questions to ask, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
→
The Home Inspection Process at Trusted Home Inspections
From booking online to receiving your detailed report: how the process works, step by step. No surprises.
→
How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost in Portland?
Real pricing information for the Portland area: what affects the fee, and why the cheapest option is rarely the best value.
→
🔎
Hiring Right
Choosing the Right Inspector
7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Inspector
Your agent will give you names. These are the questions that actually separate a thorough inspector from one who just goes through the motions.
→
What Is a Certified Master Inspector?
Not all inspectors hold the same credentials. What the CMI designation requires, why fewer than 1% of inspectors earn it, and why it matters for your inspection.
→
Why Choose a Certified Master Inspector?
A deeper look at what sets a CMI apart, including 12 years as a licensed general contractor and what that background finds that a career inspector might miss.
→
Free Thermal Imaging: What It Finds
Thermal imaging reveals moisture, electrical hot spots, and insulation failures invisible to the naked eye. Included on every inspection at no extra charge.
→
Home Inspection vs. Home Appraisal: What's the Difference?
Two completely different things, often confused. What each covers, who orders it, and why you need both before closing.
→
📄
After the Inspection
Understanding Your Inspection Report
10 Most Common Problems Found in Portland Inspections
After 2,000+ inspections, these are the findings that show up most often in Portland and SW Washington homes, and what they typically cost to address.
Read guide →
What Happens After Your Inspection?
Got your report. Now what? Your options explained: request repairs, negotiate a credit, bring in specialists, or walk away. How to make each decision.
Read guide →
How the Inspection Contingency Protects You in Oregon
The inspection contingency is your most important buyer protection. How it works, what your options are, and what happens when findings come back.
→
Unpermitted Work: What It Means and What to Do
Your inspector flagged unpermitted work. What that actually means, your options as a buyer, and how Oregon disclosure laws affect the seller.
→
🌧️
Know Before You Buy
Portland-Specific Problems to Know About

Portland's climate, soils, and older housing stock create inspection issues that come up here more than anywhere else. These are the findings that show up in this market, explained by someone who inspects homes here every week.

Underground Oil Tanks in Portland
Which neighborhoods are most affected, what decommissioning costs, how a buried tank affects your purchase, and Oregon DEQ requirements for sellers.
→
Crawlspace Problems in Portland Homes
Portland crawlspaces are moisture-prone by nature. What inspectors find most often, what causes it, and what remediation actually costs in this climate.
→
Foundation Cracks in Portland Homes
Not all foundation cracks are equal. Which ones are serious, which are cosmetic, and when to call a structural engineer.
→
Moss on Your Portland Roof
Moss looks harmless. It isn't. How it damages shingles, what removal methods actually work, and what a home inspector looks for on a mossy roof.
→
Cast Iron Plumbing in Portland Homes
Thousands of Portland homes still have original cast iron drain lines. How long they last, what failure looks like, and what replacement costs.
→
Radon Gas and Portland Homebuyers
Radon is colorless, odorless, and causes lung cancer. Why Portland area homes are at risk, what safe levels look like, and how testing works.
→
Mold Inspections: When You Need One
Portland's wet climate makes mold a real risk. What a mold inspection involves, when to add one to your home inspection, and what to do if mold is found.
→
Earthquake Preparedness and Your Portland Home
Portland sits in a seismically active region. What inspectors look for, what seismic retrofits reduce your risk, and what to ask before buying a hillside home.
→
Lead Paint and Asbestos in Portland Homes
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint. Homes built before 1980 may have asbestos. What this means for buyers in Portland's older neighborhoods.
→
⚡
Systems Explained
Electrical, Plumbing & Mechanical Issues
Federal Pacific Panels: What's the Problem?
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels are in thousands of Portland homes. Why they're flagged on inspection reports and what your options are.
→
Zinsco or FPE Panel: Replacement Costs in Portland
Inspector flagged a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel? The fire risk, why lenders and insurers care, and what replacement actually costs.
→
Aluminum Wiring: Fire Risk and Your Options
Aluminum wiring was installed in thousands of Portland homes from 1965 to 1976. The actual risk, what remediation costs, and how to handle it in a transaction.
→
Galvanized Plumbing: Should You Be Worried?
Many older Portland homes have galvanized steel water pipes. What this means for water quality, pressure, and your decision to buy.
→
GFCI Outlets: Why They Keep Showing Up on Reports
One of the most commonly flagged items on inspection reports. What they are, where they're required, and what it costs to bring a home into compliance.
→
AFCI Protection: What It Is and Why It's Flagged
Arc-fault circuit interrupters prevent electrical fires. Where they're required, why inspectors flag their absence, and what upgrading costs.
→
Septic System Inspections Near Portland
Rural and semi-rural properties outside Portland often have septic systems. What a septic inspection covers and why it's a must-have before closing.
→
🏡
Your Situation
Specific Property Types and Buyer Situations
New Construction: Why You Still Need an Inspection
Many buyers skip inspections on new builds. What's commonly found in new construction and why a builder's walkthrough is not a home inspection.
→
11-Month Warranty Inspections Explained
Most builders offer a one-year warranty. An 11-month inspection finds defects while the builder is still on the hook. Timing is everything.
→
Condo Inspections: What's Different
Condos in Portland and Vancouver have different inspection considerations than single-family homes. What the inspector covers vs. what the HOA is responsible for.
→
Inspections for Real Estate Investors
Investors buying rentals, flips, or multifamily homes in Portland have different inspection priorities. How to get the most from your inspection when numbers matter.
→
Buying a Fixer-Upper: Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away
Not every fixer-upper is a diamond in the rough. The specific findings that separate a manageable project from a money pit, from a CMI with a contractor background.
→
Buying in Vancouver, WA: What's Different
Buying in Vancouver, Camas, or Battle Ground? Washington home inspections have different licensing requirements, housing patterns, and inspection concerns.
→
Pool Inspections: What Gets Checked
Buying a home with a pool? A pool inspection covers safety, equipment, and structural condition. What a Portland area inspector checks and why it matters.
→
🔑
Selling Your Home
For Home Sellers
Pre-Listing Inspections: Sell With More Confidence
A pre-listing inspection finds problems before buyers do. How Portland sellers use it to get better offers, avoid surprises, and close without drama.
→
Prepare for a Buyer's Inspection: Seller Checklist
A buyer's inspector is coming. Exactly what to do before they arrive, and what sellers waste time and money doing that doesn't actually matter.
→
Pre-Listing Home Inspection Services
What Trusted Home Inspections covers in a pre-listing inspection, and what sellers typically learn before their first showing.
→

Ready to schedule your inspection?

Certified Master Inspector. Free thermal imaging on every inspection. Modern, digital reports with photos and video. Available 7 days a week across Portland and SW Washington. Call or text (971) 202-1311. Oregon CMI #1898 | Washington CMI #1856 | Veteran-Owned.

Book Online →
Call Schedule Inspection