Editorial Policy & Corrections

Our Commitment to Accuracy

ZipCheckup publishes data from 50+ federal and state government databases. We do not generate, estimate, or editorialize this data — we translate it into a format homeowners can understand.

Data Verification Process

  1. Source selection — We only use official government databases (EPA, FEMA, CDC, Census Bureau, etc.). We do not use user-submitted data, proprietary models, or third-party aggregators.
  2. Automated validation — Every data pipeline includes integrity checks: missing value detection, range validation, cross-source consistency, and staleness monitoring.
  3. Freshness tracking — Each data section displays its source, last update date, and a freshness badge. Data older than 12 months is flagged with a warning.
  4. Coverage disclosure — Every ZIP report shows how many of the 17 risk factors have data available, with a color-coded coverage bar.

How We Handle Errors

If we discover — or are notified of — an error:

  1. We investigate the source data within 24 hours
  2. If the error is confirmed, we correct it in the next data pipeline run
  3. If the error originates from a government source, we note the discrepancy and link to the original data

We do not silently alter data. All corrections are traceable through our git history.

AI-Assisted Content

Some content on ZipCheckup (blog posts, guide narratives, FAQ sections) is written with AI assistance. All AI-generated content is:

  • Based on verified government data
  • Reviewed for factual accuracy
  • Clearly distinguished from raw data displays

We do not use AI to generate data, scores, or risk assessments. The Home Safety Score methodology is fully documented at /about/home-safety-score/.

Report an Error

If you believe any data on ZipCheckup is inaccurate:

Email: [email protected]

Please include:

  • The page URL
  • The specific data point you believe is incorrect
  • The correct value and its source (if available)

We respond to all correction reports within 24 hours on business days.

Advertising & Editorial Independence

Our editorial content and data reports are never influenced by advertising relationships. We clearly label all paid content, affiliate links, and sponsored sections. See our Advertising Disclosure for details.