Russ did a wonderful job inspecting our house. He was very flexible with his scheduling and made time for us on a Sunday morning. His inspection was very thorough and detailed. I appreciated that he took extra time to walk us through everything and answer any questions that we had. He made several great suggestions to us for repairs/improvements. I have been through a couple of different inspections over the years and Russ' was the absolute best. I highly recommend him if you are a buyer and looking for a very detailed home inspector.
Salmon Creek, Washington Home Inspection: When the Whole Subdivision Turns Thirty
Salmon Creek first showed up on the census map in 1990 with 11,989 people. By 2020 it held 21,293, and nearly all of that housing went in during one long build-out. So the roofs, the CPVC supply lines, the furnaces, and the lot grading are all coming due in the same handful of years. Russ Motyko is a Certified Master Inspector® and a licensed general contractor, licensed in Washington (DOL #1856) and Oregon (OCHI #1898).
Salmon Creek Know-How
These Homes Aren't Old. They're All Thirty at Once.
Salmon Creek, Washington
Salmon Creek sits about six miles north of downtown Vancouver, and it became a place on paper in 1990. That is the year the census first counted it, at 11,989 people. Thirty years later it held 21,293 across roughly 6.3 square miles. Almost every street here was platted, graded, and framed inside that window, from the Mount Vista slopes down through the WSU Vancouver corridor and out toward the cul-de-sacs off NE 139th. The other thing to know is the elevation: 49 feet, which makes this the low ground compared to the Clark County neighborhoods around it. Buyers here often shop against Hazel Dell, Five Corners, Orchards, Brush Prairie, and Vancouver, and most add radon testing at booking.
I have 10+ years of inspector experience, and I am also a licensed general contractor. High-end and difficult framing is my specialty, but I've replaced roofs, run wiring, poured concrete, waterproofed showers, set tile, replaced siding and windows, hung drywall, and set doors. That is what lets me read a production-built house the way the crew that framed it did, and see where the schedule won.
When I walk a 1996 two-story off NE 139th, I have a short list before I open the door. Where the downspouts actually discharge. Whether the soil has crept up the siding since the sod went down. CPVC fittings at the water heater and in the laundry wall, because that is where heat and vibration find them first. The original roof, counted by layer and by year. And if the elevation is clad in synthetic stucco, the window heads, the kickouts, and the terminations at grade. I enter every accessible crawlspace myself.
I hold Certified Master Inspector® certification, Washington DOL license #1856, and Oregon OCHI license #1898. Every inspection includes free infrared thermal imaging. On a house full of hidden plumbing runs and 30-year-old blown insulation, that camera pays for itself in the first hour.
Salmon Creek (Clark County) Housing Market
Showing Clark County, WA data
(Redfin does not publish city-level stats for this area).
$548,767
Median sale price
41 days
Median days on market
536
Homes sold per month
2,121
Homes for sale now
Before You Buy
Salmon Creek Homes by Construction Era
Most places have housing spread across a century. Salmon Creek does not. The bulk of it went up between 1985 and 2005, which means the era tab that matters most here is the third one. The first two are thin, and worth understanding for the rare house that predates the subdivisions.
Pre-1965 Homes
There aren't many. Before the subdivisions arrived, this was open ground with a few houses strung along the older road grid near Highway 99 and the county roads that fed it. Those houses are still here, and when one hits the market it is usually the oldest thing on its street by 30 or 40 years.
They also tend to be the most modified. A house that sat through the entire build-out of a suburb around it has usually been added onto, re-roofed, re-wired in pieces, and hooked up to services that arrived long after it did. My job on one of these is to sort out what was done when, and what looks like it was done without a permit. Permit records come from the separate property history report add-on.
Galvanized steel supply pipe is the single most common surprise. Sixty years of internal corrosion narrows the pipe, drops pressure, and stains fixtures. A full repipe can run $10,000 to $25,000, which is not a number you want to meet after closing.
Common findings in pre-1965 Salmon Creek homes
Galvanized steel supply pipes
Corroded from the inside. Low pressure and rust-colored water are the tells. Repipe can run $10,000 to $25,000.
Undersized service and fuse panels
60-amp service was plenty in 1958. It is not enough for a modern kitchen, a heat pump, and a car charger.
Cast iron drain lines
Scale, joint seepage, and root intrusion after decades in the ground. A camera scope is the only way to be sure.
Crawlspaces with no vapor barrier
These foundations were built before vapor barriers were standard. On low ground, that shows up as rot at the sill and joist ends.
Layered additions with thin permit history
Older houses here were added onto while the suburb grew around them. County records for that work are often incomplete.
1965 - 1985 Homes
This is the layer right before the boom. A scattering of ranches and split-entries on lots that were generous by later standards, built while this was still county land north of Vancouver rather than a named place. If you're touring a Salmon Creek house with a two-car garage, a big yard, and a brick fireplace, you're probably in this era.
Electrical is the first stop. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels turn up regularly in builds from the 1970s and into the early 1980s, and their breakers have a documented record of failing to trip. Insurance carriers flag them. Finding one before closing turns it into a known item instead of a phone call from your insurer in month two.
The mechanical systems in these homes have usually been replaced once already, in the 1990s or 2000s. That replacement is now the old system. I document the age of the furnace, the heat pump, and the water heater by the data plate, not by the seller's memory.
Common findings in 1965 - 1985 Salmon Creek homes
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels
Documented failure-to-trip record. Carriers flag or decline. Common in 1970s and early 1980s builds here.
Second-generation HVAC now aging out
The original unit was swapped in the 1990s. That swap is now 25 to 30 years old and near or past typical service life.
Aluminum-frame single-pane windows
Original units sweat, rot the sill below them, and read cold on thermal. Partial replacements are common and worth mapping.
Thin or torn crawlspace vapor barriers
Where one was installed at all, 40 years of service calls have shredded it. On the low ground here that matters.
Grading changed by later development
Newer subdivisions were built uphill of these lots. Where the water goes now is not where it went in 1978.
1985 - 2005 Homes
This is Salmon Creek. Population went from 11,989 in 1990 to well over 20,000, and the housing that absorbed that growth is what you tour on a Saturday here. Two-story production homes, vinyl and hardboard siding, attached garages, blown attic insulation, CPVC or early PEX supply lines, and a first-generation composition roof.
Here's the part buyers miss. In a mixed-age neighborhood, one system fails at a time and you deal with it. In Salmon Creek the whole house was assembled in one season, so the roof, the water heater, the furnace, the dishwasher, and the exterior paint all reach the end of their service lives inside a few years of each other. A clean-looking 1994 house can carry $30,000 of deferred replacement that nothing in the listing photos hints at.
Two specific items get extra attention. CPVC supply lines go brittle with age and heat, and the fittings crack before the pipe does, usually near the water heater or in a wall that shares a stud bay with a furnace flue. And some builds from this window used EIFS, the synthetic stucco system, where water gets in at a bad window head or a missing kickout flashing and has nowhere to drain. Both are easier to spot with a camera and a moisture meter than with a glance.
Common findings in 1985 - 2005 Salmon Creek homes
First-generation composition roofs
25-year shingles from the 1990s are near or past typical service life. Layers, granule loss, and moss are all documented. Replacement can run $10,000 to $20,000+.
Brittle CPVC fittings
Age and heat make the fittings crack first. Slow weeping behind drywall can show on thermal long before it shows on the ceiling.
EIFS and synthetic stucco details
Used on some builds from this window. Window heads, kickouts, and terminations at grade are where water gets trapped.
Grading that drifted on a maturing lot
Thirty years of settling, added beds, and removed downspout extensions send water back at a foundation that used to shed it.
Original HVAC and water heaters
Data plates from the build year are still common. Furnaces, heat pumps, and tanks all land in the same replacement window.
New Construction
Salmon Creek is mostly built out, so the new work here is infill: the last lots on a cul-de-sac, a short plat carved out of a large parcel, a teardown replaced with something twice its size. Small projects, often by smaller builders, and that changes what turns up.
Buyers sometimes assume a brand-new house doesn't need an inspection. County inspections check minimum code at set stages of framing and rough-in. Nobody walks the finished house on your behalf. What I find on new builds here is consistent: lots graded back toward the foundation because the soil hasn't settled yet, duct runs that were never properly sealed, flashing gaps at window heads, and attic insulation that is thin or shoved aside around the can lights.
The 11-month warranty inspection is the one that can save real money. Your builder warranty usually runs a year from closing. Book at month ten and you still have time to hand the builder a written report while the warranty is open.
Common findings in new Salmon Creek construction
Grading and drainage on disturbed soil
Fresh fill settles for a year or two. On the low ground here that first winter is when the problem shows itself.
Unsealed and disconnected duct runs
Loose boots, unsealed joints, and bath fans venting into the attic instead of through the roof.
Flashing gaps at windows and doors
The wall looks finished. The water path behind it does not. These are cheap to fix now and expensive to fix later.
Attic insulation gaps
Thermal imaging can help spot them in minutes. Invisible from the hallway, and often covered by the builder warranty if you document it in time.
Radon, even in a brand-new house
A tight new build can hold radon better than an old one. If a passive stack was roughed in, a test is the only way to know it works.
Home Risk Quiz
Is Your Dream Home Hiding Significant Issues?
See Your Potential Home Through an Inspector's Eyes.
Transform your observations into a clear risk profile. In just two minutes, you will receive a breakdown of what a professional inspector would be concerned about based on what you saw.
2 minutes
Based on what you saw at the showing
No technical knowledge needed
Free Assessment
Begin
Assessment
8 quick questions. No contact info required.
1 of 8
01
How old is the home?
You'll have the year built from the listing or the seller. Home age is the single biggest driver of inspection risk.
02
What did the roof look like from the street?
Look for curling shingles, dark patches, missing granules, or visible moss. A good look at the roof from the ground can tell you more than you'd think.
03
Did you notice any musty smell inside the home?
A musty or earthy odor is the most reliable clue buyers can detect about crawlspace moisture or mold, even without going under the house.
04
Did you see the electrical panel? What did it look like?
It's usually in a utility room, garage, or hallway. Federal Pacific (orange breakers) and Zinsco panels are known fire risks and still common in Portland-area homes from the 1960s to 1980s.
05
Did you notice any water stains on ceilings or walls?
Look near the corners of ceilings, under windows, and in bathrooms. Even old-looking stains matter, they show water has been in places it shouldn't be.
06
How did the overall condition of the home feel?
Trust your gut. A home that feels well-loved and maintained usually is. One that feels neglected almost always has deferred items hiding out of sight.
07
Did the home have a finished basement, addition, or garage conversion?
These are some of the most common places to find unpermitted work. A finished space isn't automatically a problem, but without permits, there's no record of whether it was done safely.
08
Where are you in your homeownership journey?
This helps us tailor your results to your situation.
Know Your Neighborhood
Salmon Creek Area by Area
Six square miles, built mostly in one long stretch. What changes from street to street here is the year, the slope, and how far down the basin you sit.
Mount Vista
1990s - early 2000s
The high side of Salmon Creek, and the water that lands here has to go somewhere. Larger two-story production homes on sloped lots, most of them 25 to 30 years old now. Retaining walls, side-yard swales, and downspout discharge are the first things I look at, because a small grading problem on a slope becomes a foundation problem fast. Roofs on this era are at or past their first replacement.
WSU Vancouver & NE 134th
Late 1990s - 2000s
Housing here filled in alongside the campus and the interchange, which makes it slightly younger than the rest of Salmon Creek. Late-1990s and 2000s builds, some of them rentals for most of their lives. Deferred maintenance is the theme: original water heaters, missed gutter cleaning, and roofs on a schedule nobody tracked. A rental history is not a defect, but it changes what I expect to find and how hard I look at the crawlspace.
Klineline & the Creek Bottom
Mixed eras
The lowest ground in an area whose average elevation is already only 49 feet. Homes near the greenway and the park sit closest to the water table, and that shows up under the floor. Crawlspace moisture, standing water in the low corner, rusted supports, and vapor barriers that were installed once and never checked again. I go all the way in on these, and I bring the moisture meter with me.
NE 139th & the Medical Center Area
2000s
Some of the youngest full subdivisions in Salmon Creek, built out around the hospital and the arterials that serve it. These homes are past their builder warranty but not yet at the big replacement wave, which puts them in a useful window. Original roofs still have life. Water heaters usually do not. Early PEX and CPVC both appear depending on the builder, and knowing which one you have matters.
West Toward Felida & Lake Shore
1990s - 2000s
Bigger houses, bigger lots, and more custom work than the production streets east of I-5. That means more variety in what I find: mixed cladding on the same elevation, additions and bonus rooms of uncertain permit status, and finish-level details that a production builder would never have attempted. Synthetic stucco shows up on this end more than anywhere else in Salmon Creek, so window heads and grade terminations get a slow look.
Infill Lots & Cul-de-Sac Ends
2005 - present
Salmon Creek is close to full, so new houses go in one or two at a time on leftover parcels and short plats. Fresh fill, new grading, and small crews working next to homes that have been settled for 30 years. These are the buyers who should be booking an 11-month warranty inspection. The defects are the same ones every new build has, and they are worth documenting while the builder's warranty may still cover them.
Clark County, WA Risk Factors
What Makes Salmon Creek Homes Different to Inspect
An area built in one burst, sitting on the lowest ground around, produces a risk profile you won't find on the older side of the county.
The Low Ground at 49 Feet
Salmon Creek's average elevation is 49 feet. Hazel Dell sits at 233, Five Corners at 213, Orchards at 272. Water moves downhill, and this is the downhill. Add three decades of lot maturity, when soil settles, garden beds get built up against the siding, and the flexible downspout extension somebody removed to mow never went back on, and you get water sitting against foundations that drained perfectly in 1995. Grading, downspout discharge, and crawlspace conditions are the first three things I check on any house here.
49 ft elevation, lowest in the north county
Everything Ages In Together
This is the risk nobody plans for. Salmon Creek went from 11,989 people in 1990 to 21,293 in 2020, and the housing followed that curve. A neighborhood built across 60 years spreads its failures out. A neighborhood built across 15 years does not. Roof, furnace, water heater, siding, and supply plumbing on a 1994 house all hit end of life in roughly the same stretch. That is why the report matters more than the walkthrough here. You need the ages and conditions in writing so you can see what is stacking up.
Population 11,989 in 1990, 21,293 in 2020
CPVC and Synthetic Stucco
Two materials tied to exactly the years Salmon Creek was built. CPVC supply lines are fine until they aren't: the fittings go brittle with age and heat, crack, and weep inside a wall for months. And some homes from this window are clad in EIFS synthetic stucco, a system that works when every window head, kickout, and grade termination is right, and traps water when one of them isn't. Both get the same first look, with an infrared camera and a moisture meter, and both tools are included at no extra charge.
Both tied to 1990s and 2000s builds
Real Inspection Photos
What We've Found in Salmon Creek Homes
Real photos from Russ's recent Salmon Creek reports. Every report includes photos like these for each finding.
-
Pooled water in this crawlspace limited full entry. Standing water raises moisture levels that can lead to wood rot and mold-like growth. Pooled water in crawl spaces explained -
Corner trim decaying where it sits close to the soil. Trim near grade stays wet longer, and damaged pieces were recommended for replacement. Where dry rot hides on a house -
Meter readings showed this garage ceiling was wet from an active roof leak, with apparent mold. Prompt repair helps limit drywall and framing damage. How water intrusion shows up in homes -
Granule loss and thinning shingles put this roof at or near the end of its life. Homes built in the same era tend to need roofs around the same time. What to check on a roof before an offer -
This gas vent had rusted through. The damaged section should be replaced so exhaust vents properly and water stays out. Checking heating and venting before an offer -
Rot at the base of crawlspace posts reduces their ability to carry the floor above. The moisture source should be fixed along with the posts. What inspectors check on support posts
Inspection Scope
What We Check in a Salmon Creek Home
Every inspection covers the major systems and accessible areas, roof to crawlspace. We physically enter accessible attics and crawlspaces. We operate the systems we can safely access and test a representative sample of components. We do not check boxes. We evaluate the home.
Roof & Attic
Shingles, layers, flashing, gutters, attic insulation, ventilation, and moisture.
Electrical
Panel, breakers, wiring type, outlets, GFCI and AFCI protection.
Plumbing
Supply pipe material, drain lines, water heater, pressure, and fixtures.
HVAC
Furnace, AC, heat pump, ductwork, and distribution. Data-plate ages documented.
Foundation & Structure
Cracks, settling, retaining walls, and visible structural framing.
Crawlspace
Full physical entry. Moisture, vapor barrier, insulation, and wood rot.
Interior
Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and built-in appliances.
Exterior & Grading
Siding, cladding details, deck, driveway, grading, and drainage away from foundation.
WA Health: Test Every Home
Radon Testing in Salmon Creek
Clark County's radon potential varies by location and soil type. The Washington State Department of Health recommends testing every home in Washington, regardless of zone designation. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that forms as uranium breaks down in soil and rock. It enters through foundation cracks, crawlspace soil, and utility penetrations.
Newer homes are not exempt, and in Salmon Creek that is worth saying plainly, because most of the housing here is newer. A well-sealed 1998 house with good windows and tight envelope detailing can hold radon in better than a drafty 1950s one. If a builder roughed in a passive stack, testing is the only way to find out whether it does anything.
You cannot smell it or see it. Your neighbor's result does not predict yours, even two doors down on the same street. If levels come back above 4 pCi/L, the EPA action level, a mitigation system usually runs $800 to $1,500. That is a manageable item before closing and a much bigger one after.
Learn About Radon Testing →Radon facts for Salmon Creek buyers
#2
Second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.
After smoking. Responsible for about 21,000 deaths per year nationally.
All
Washington recommends testing every home
The state Department of Health advises testing regardless of county or zone designation.
48h
Test takes 48 hours
Continuous electronic monitor placed at the start of the inspection. Digital results delivered promptly.
$150
Added to your inspection
Standalone testing is $225. Add it at booking and save $75.
Transparent Pricing
Simple, Flat-Rate Pricing
No hidden fees, no surprise add-ons. Thermal imaging is included on every inspection.
Starter
Standalone Inspection
$395up to 1,000 sq ft
- Full home inspection
- Free thermal imaging
- Roof & crawlspace
- Detailed digital report
Most Common
Inspection + Radon
$545up to 1,000 sq ft
- Full home inspection
- Free thermal imaging
- Detailed digital report
- 48-hour radon test
Best Value
Inspection + Radon + Mold
$790up to 1,000 sq ft
- Full home inspection
- Free thermal imaging
- Detailed digital report
- 48-hour radon test
- Mold air sampling & lab results
Starter
Standalone Inspection
$295up to 1,000 sq ft
- Interior-only inspection
- Free thermal imaging
- Electrical, plumbing, HVAC
- Detailed digital report
Most Common
Inspection + Radon
$445up to 1,000 sq ft
- Interior-only inspection
- Free thermal imaging
- Detailed digital report
- 48-hour radon test
Best Value
Inspection + Radon + Mold
$690up to 1,000 sq ft
- Interior-only inspection
- Free thermal imaging
- Detailed digital report
- 48-hour radon test
- Mold air sampling & lab results
48-Hour Monitor Test
$150with home inspection
Clark County, WA sits in EPA Radon Zone 1, and elevated readings turn up across the Portland metro. Testing is the only way to know. Standalone test: $225
With home inspection$150
Standalone radon test$225
Test duration48 hours
Air & Surface Sampling
$245with home inspection
Portland’s wet climate makes mold a real concern. Air samples are analyzed by Sporecyte, an accredited laboratory, which identifies mold types and spore concentrations. Standalone mold inspection: $445
Standard package (2 air + 1 control)$245
Additional air samples$75 each
Surface swab$70 each
Lab analysis & reportIncluded
Pool & Spa Evaluation
$295with home inspection
Save $100 vs. standalone. In-ground spas included at no extra charge. Free-standing hot tubs are not inspected. Accessible components inspected, including shell, pump, filter, heater, and safety systems.
With home inspection$295
Standalone inspection$395
In-ground spa includedYes
Most reportsSame day
See our full pricing page for all size ranges.
Client Stories
What people say about Russ
Real reviews from clients across Portland Metro & SW Washington.
Russ was very detail-oriented and thoroughly inspected every inch of the house. His report made it easy to identify and address necessary repairs. We were very happy with his work, professionalism, and communication throughout the process. We would absolutely use him again for our one-year warranty inspection and any future inspections. Highly recommend!
We had two home inspections completed with Russ. The inspections were exceptionally thorough offering detailed insight into the homes. He did a great job with inspecting the entire roof and crawlspace. If I need another inspection, he would be my first call.
Russ did our 1 year warranty inspection and was absolutely amazing. Very thorough and found stuff that was never initially caught during our purchasing inspection. Thank you Russ!
I am a real estate agent in the Portland area that loves when my clients pick Russ. He has a non-alarmist way of describing his findings that helps each person to learn and understand in a better way. I appreciate his expertise and also, his sense of humor!
Great inspector! Honest and trust worthy
Highly recommend! Professional, thorough, and trustworthy are the words I would use to describe this business!!!
My wife and I had an excellent experience. They were professional, punctual, and extremely thorough. The report was detailed, well-organized, and delivered promptly, with clear photos. This inspection gave me complete confidence in my home purchase.
Very professional and honest inspector. Will not sugar coat the details. Very thorough and rigorous!
I can't recommend Russ enough, hands down, the most thorough, professional, and knowledgeable inspector out there!
Russ from Trusted Home Inspections is the best inspector ever. His report was so thorough and detailed that it made post inspection repairs and negotiations easy, reasonable and fair!!
Russ was a pleasure to work with. He communicated clearly, arrived on time, and conducted a thorough and detailed inspection. His professionalism gave me confidence in my home purchase decision.
Russ is fair, honest, and to the point. His extensive expertise is evident in his detailed reports. Nothing is missed!
Russ is a great inspector, honest, trustworthy, cares about his work being better than 'good enough,' and his expertise will be used in upcoming projects for family, friends, and coworkers!
We couldn't be happier! Russ was absolutely outstanding from start to finish, from the roof and attic to the foundation, electrical, plumbing, and everything in between. He did a radon test for us as well and the whole process was smooth.
Excellent home inspection service! Thorough, professional, and easy to understand. The inspector was patient, detailed, and provided a clear, well-organized report quickly. Highly recommend!
If you want an honest truth about any dwelling, call Russ. He will do his due diligence and put it in writing. 10/10 recommended
We had an excellent experience working with Russ. Professional, punctual, and extremely thorough. His report was detailed, easy to follow, and delivered promptly. We felt confident moving forward thanks to his expertise.
Russ is extremely knowledgeable and personable. I have used his services several times. In addition to his extensive experience, he also has a solid construction background, so he really knows what's what. Highly recommend!
If you're looking for an inspector who will do an honest, thorough inspection, choose Russ @ Trusted Home Inspection. I don't know of another person I could recommend over him. 10/10!
Russ is an outstanding inspector. Extremely thorough and very knowledgeable. He will crawl where others won't, and will see what others are blind to. Would 100% recommend his company to EVERYONE.
Russ was very detailed and found out way more details that were missed by other inspectors. He is very knowledgeable and detail oriented! Will definitely go with him next time I need an inspection.
Russ came recommended by our agent, and it's easy to see why. Compared to friends who recently bought homes and used other inspection companies, the level of detail here was unmatched. We have no complaints and would absolutely work with them again.
Russ was fantastic. Very thorough, personably, and prompt. He even got up on a pretty steep roof in the rain, which I didn't expect. Would highly recommend him for your home inspection.
Russ was incredibly thorough, very friendly, and answered all of our questions. We are first-time buyers, and we felt very well taken care of by Russ. His report was super informative and detailed, and gave us great next steps. Thanks Russ!
Russ was incredibly thorough and detailed, and his inspection really made me feel more comfortable with my home purchase. Thank you, Russ!
Russ is very thorough and finds every little detail. Very honest inspector and I can rest assured knowing my home was inspected by him.
We had an excellent experience with our home inspector. He was professional, thorough, and took the time to explain everything clearly. The inspection was very detailed, and the report was easy to understand with helpful photos and recommendations. He identified issues that could have easily been missed and gave us confidence in our home purchase. I highly recommend his services to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy home inspector. Thank you for the outstanding work!
Russ did a fabulous job inspecting our home. Not only was he thorough and professional, but he offered supportive follow-up via an in-depth 2-year maintenance calendar. He is a very clear communicator, very honest. Since living in the house, our experience noticing small quirks or repair items in the home matches Russ's inspection notes perfectly. Don't hesitate to work with him!
Russ did an 11 month warranty inspection for me and was incredibly thorough. He found over 50 items that needed to be addressed before the builder's warranty expired. What I appreciated most is that he actually listened to the concerns I raised and took the time to look into them. The report he gave was detailed and easy to follow, which made it simple to pass along to the builder. If you're looking for a home inspector who's meticulous and genuinely looks out for his clients, I would highly recommend Trusted Home Inspections.
Russ was AMAZING! Super thorough, responsive and gave us so much detail. The seller had done a pre-inspection and Russ did one for us as the seller. No comparison. We felt so confident going into negotiations and understanding everything. Hire Russ. You won't regret it.
Russ was great to work with! Timely, efficient and very easy to ask questions along the way. At the end of this inspection he answered all our questions without making us feel rushed! He made the whole process super easy and straightforward. Thank you!
A thorough and professional inspection. Russ answered all of my questions and made me feel confident about decisions that were required.
Super thorough and kind. Feel good with their assessment and feedback.
Russ is thorough, kind, and wants what is best for his customers. Highly recommend!
Excellent work, I am very pleased!!!
Thorough inspection and timely report
Common Questions
Salmon Creek Home Inspection FAQs
What Salmon Creek buyers ask most before they book.
Salmon Creek home inspections start at $395 for homes up to 1,000 sq ft and scale by square footage up to $845 for homes up to 5,000 sq ft. Free thermal imaging is included at every price point. See full pricing at trustedhome.org/pricing.
Most of Salmon Creek went up between about 1990 and 2005, so the findings cluster instead of scattering. First-generation composition roofs at or past 25 to 30 years. CPVC supply lines that have gone brittle at the fittings. Furnaces, heat pumps, and water heaters still original to the build. Grading that has drifted over three decades of settling soil and added landscaping. On some builds, EIFS synthetic stucco with flashing and termination details that need a close look.
Test for it. Clark County's radon potential varies by location and soil type. The Washington State Department of Health recommends testing every home in Washington, regardless of zone designation. A newer Salmon Creek home is not exempt. A tight, well-sealed 1990s house can hold radon in better than a drafty old one. Testing is $150 when added to your inspection and $225 as a standalone test, so booking them together saves $75.
Yes. Russ holds Washington DOL license #1856 along with Oregon OCHI #1898. Washington licenses home inspectors under WAC 308-408, and the state has its own code and disclosure rules. Plenty of Oregon-based inspectors working the Vancouver market carry only the Oregon license. Every Salmon Creek inspection Russ does is a Washington inspection, run to Washington standards.
Start with the parts that were installed once and never touched. The roof, the water heater, the furnace or heat pump, and the supply plumbing all went in when the house was built, and around here that was usually the 1990s. CPVC gets brittle with age and heat, and the fittings crack before the pipe does. Russ documents the age and visible condition of each of those systems, so you can see what is near the end of its typical service life.
Yes, and the timing is the whole point. Builder warranties usually run one year from closing, so book before you hit month ten. Salmon Creek still fills in infill lots and cul-de-sac ends, and the findings on those homes repeat: grading pitched back toward the foundation on freshly disturbed soil, duct runs that were never properly sealed, flashing gaps at windows, and thin or shifted attic insulation. A written report gives the builder specifics to act on.
Salmon Creek sits at about 49 feet of elevation, well below the neighborhoods around it. Surface water works downhill toward this basin. The lots here have also had 25 to 35 years to settle, get re-landscaped, and lose the downspout extensions they shipped with. That combination puts water beside foundations that were graded correctly on day one. Russ checks grading, downspout discharge, crawlspace moisture, and the soil line against the siding on every inspection here.
Included at no extra charge on every inspection. In Salmon Creek it earns its keep twice over. It shows temperature differences that can point to hidden moisture in walls, where a cracked CPVC fitting can weep for months without leaving a visible stain. And in attics, it can show where 1990s blown insulation has settled or been pushed aside around can lights and duct runs. Neither one is easy to spot in a visual walk-through. How infrared thermal imaging works in a home inspection →
Certified Master Inspector® (CMI®) is a board-certified designation from the Master Inspector Certification Board. To qualify, an inspector needs at least three years in the inspection business, 1,000 or more fee-paid inspections and hours of training and education combined, completed professional education, agreement to the board's code of ethics, and consent to periodic criminal background checks. Russ is a Certified Master Inspector® serving Salmon Creek and the wider Vancouver area with 10+ years of inspection experience and 100+ inspectors trained. What the Certified Master Inspector® credential requires →
Yes. Trusted Home Inspections is veteran-owned and takes 10% off the inspection fee for veterans, active duty, reservists, National Guard members, and military families (code: MILITARY10). 10% off the inspection fee is also available for police, fire, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, active or retired (code: RESPOND10). See full details at trustedhome.org/military-discount.
Where We Inspect
Serving Portland Metro & Southwest Washington
Available 7 days a week. No travel fee within 40 miles of Oregon City, and $50 past that. Not sure if we cover your area? Just call.
Oregon Certified
OCHI Lic. #1898
Washington Licensed
DOL Lic. #1856
Multnomah County home inspections. Portland and the rest of Multnomah County are full of older housing stock, including 1920s craftsman bungalows in SE Portland, Pearl District lofts, and mid-century homes in NE Portland. Older homes mean knob-and-tube wiring, cast iron drains, and aging foundations. I’ve inspected hundreds of homes across Multnomah County and know what to look for in each neighborhood.
Clackamas County home inspections. Clackamas County is home base for me. Oregon City, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and Happy Valley are where I do most of my work. EPA rates Clackamas County as Radon Zone 3, but individual homes still test high, so radon testing belongs on every Clackamas County home inspection. I know the local builders, the common defects, and the soil conditions that drive moisture problems in this part of the metro.
Washington County home inspections. Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, and Tualatin are growing fast, with new construction next to homes from the 70s and 80s. Washington County home inspections often catch builder-grade shortcuts in newer subdivisions and aging mechanical systems in established neighborhoods. The wet Tualatin Valley climate also makes moisture intrusion and crawlspace issues more common than buyers expect.
Clark County home inspections in Southwest Washington. Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, and Battle Ground sit just across the Columbia River, and I’m licensed in Washington (DOL #1856) to inspect them. Clark County home inspections come with their own quirks: hillside foundations in Camas, manufactured homes in outlying areas, and the same wet Pacific Northwest climate that drives moisture and mold concerns. Same standards I apply on the Oregon side, no extra travel fee.
Don’t see your city? We likely cover it.
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Available 7 days a week. Online booking open 24/7.