Educational tool, not formal advice
Risk Before Buy is an independent educational product. It does not provide insurance, financial, legal, or real-estate advice.
Educational tool, not professional advice
Risk Before Buy is an independent educational product operated by Open Data Collective. Nothing on this Platform — including risk scores, hazard classifications, insurance premium estimates, or buy/negotiate/walk-away signals — constitutes professional insurance advice, financial advice, legal counsel, or real estate guidance. These outputs are informational supplements to, not replacements for, licensed professional review.
Not affiliated with government agencies
Risk Before Buy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FEMA, NOAA, USGS, USDA, the EPA, or any other federal, state, or local government agency. We use publicly available federal datasets but have no official relationship with any government body.
Data accuracy and timeliness
Risk scores are derived from federal datasets that are updated on varying schedules. FEMA NRI scores reflect county-level aggregates and may not capture parcel-specific conditions. NOAA storm event records update continuously; we pull quarterly snapshots. We make no warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the data displayed on this Platform.
Scores do not predict future events
Risk scores represent relative probability estimates based on historical data and current federal models. They do not predict with certainty whether a specific property will experience a hazard event. Climate conditions and hazard probabilities change over time. Past event history is not a guarantee of future exposure.
Insurance estimates are indicative only
All insurance premium ranges displayed on this Platform are estimated ranges based on publicly available industry data and editorial research. They are not insurer quotes, actuarial calculations, or binding coverage offers. Actual premiums depend on property-specific underwriting factors, carrier availability, and local market conditions at the time of purchase. Risk Before Buy is not an insurance agency, broker, or underwriter.
Not a property appraisal
Risk Before Buy does not provide property appraisals, real-estate valuations, or any form of licensed real-estate advisory service. Risk scores, hazard classifications, and insurance estimates on this Platform are educational and may not reflect the market value, condition, or suitability of any specific property. Buyers and sellers should consult a licensed appraiser for any valuation need and a licensed real-estate professional for any transaction decision.
Data provenance and score dispute process
Every score displayed on this Platform is traceable to its original federal source (FEMA National Risk Index, FEMA NFHL, NOAA Storm Events, USGS Design Maps, USDA Wildfire Hazard Potential, EPA Air Quality Index). The retrieval timestamp for each score is shown on its host page. We will adjust a displayed score only when a user provides an objective physical update — for example, an official FEMA Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor, or a published federal dataset revision. Subjective requests to change a score are declined to protect scientific objectivity. To file a correction, email corrections@riskbeforebuy.com with the page URL, the field in question, and your evidence document.
TCPA consent for any future contact
If you submit a contact form on this Platform and opt in to be contacted by a licensed insurance broker, you are providing your prior express written consent under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to receive calls or emails at the contact information you provided. Consent is not required as a condition of purchasing any product. You may revoke consent at any time by emailing hello@riskbeforebuy.com. Message and data rates may apply.
Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Risk Before Buy and Open Data Collective shall not be liable for any loss or damage — including property loss, transaction loss, or consequential damages — arising from reliance on information provided on this Platform. Your use of this Platform is at your own risk.
Consult licensed professionals
Before completing any real estate transaction, consult a licensed home inspector, insurance broker, real estate attorney, and financial advisor. The information on Risk Before Buy is designed to help you ask better questions of those professionals — not to replace their expertise.
Think a score is wrong?
We accept correction requests backed by an official FEMA LOMA, elevation certificate, or a published federal dataset revision. Subjective appeals are declined to protect objectivity.
Need more detail on how a score is produced?