Frequently Asked Questions

An Environmental Pre-Screen (EPS) is a preliminary report that screens a commercial property address against PropertyInit's current 20-source report catalog. It highlights nearby contamination cases, flood and wetlands records, parcel context, and other environmental signals. It is not a Phase I ESA.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a comprehensive evaluation performed under ASTM E1527-21 that includes a site visit, interviews, historical research, and a declaration by an Environmental Professional. It satisfies All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) under CERCLA and provides the innocent landowner defense. An EPS is a database-only screen — faster and cheaper, but not a substitute for a Phase I when AAI compliance is needed.Compare what PropertyInit is vs a Phase I ESA →

No. A PropertyInit report is not a Phase I ESA under ASTM E1527-21 and does not constitute All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) under 40 CFR Part 312. It provides no CERCLA liability protection. Buyers who need CERCLA protection must obtain a Phase I ESA from a licensed Environmental Professional.

The report-source catalog currently spans 20 total entries. Preview runs surface 12 of them, including EPA Facility Registry (FRS), National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, California GeoTracker, EPA UCMR 5 PFAS detections, NOAA climate normals (1991-2020), EPA RMP facilities, EPA RCRA bulk hazardous waste handlers, EPA ECHO enforcement and compliance, EPA UST Finder fallback (2018-2019 vintage), Google Elevation API, FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). The state source is selected by property state. Enhanced state-source coverage is currently active in CA, TX, and FL.

The report reflects database records as of the date and time of generation. Database records may lag real-world conditions. We recommend re-running for any transaction that has not closed within 180 days of the generation date. PropertyInit does not warrant the report's accuracy at any point.

Most reports are delivered by email in about 10 minutes after payment is confirmed. When upstream databases are slow or degraded, delivery can extend to about 20 minutes while the worker continues processing.

Each report includes a data appendix showing the status of every database query. If a source is unavailable at the time of query, the report flags that data gap explicitly instead of silently omitting the source. Contact support within 7 days for a no-charge re-run when a source was unavailable at the time of query.

PropertyInit accepts US commercial property addresses nationwide, subject to parcel-type verification and manual-review limits. Residential, mixed-use, multifamily, or otherwise ambiguous parcel classifications are routed to manual review or declined during the current launch phase. Enhanced state-source coverage is currently active in CA, TX, and FL. Roadmap states for future enhanced coverage currently include NY, WA, CO, PA, OR, and IL.

PropertyInit reports may not be used to screen residential property, support dwelling-related eligibility decisions, or evaluate consumer-credit eligibility. Mixed-use, multifamily, and other ambiguous parcel classifications are not automatically accepted in the current self-serve launch.

Payment is processed securely via Stripe at checkout. We accept all major credit cards. No subscription — you pay per report.

If PropertyInit cannot deliver a report because of a system or payment-processing failure, contact support for a rerun or refund review. Because reports are generated from live query results, refunds are generally not available after delivery except where required by law or where PropertyInit approves a rerun or refund for a documented service failure. Contact hello@propertyinit.com with any concerns.

No. PropertyInit does not satisfy SBA SOP 50 10 8 environmental review requirements. SBA loans requiring environmental review must use a Records Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA) or Phase I ESA prepared by a qualified Environmental Professional. This report may not be substituted for either.

Yes — for preliminary internal screening of commercial properties only. PropertyInit can help a commercial lender, broker, or buyer decide whether formal diligence should be escalated, but it cannot replace an RSRA, Phase I ESA, or the lender's own underwriting and compliance process. It may not be used for dwelling-related or consumer-credit decisions.

Email us at hello@propertyinit.com with the Report ID and a description of the issue. We investigate reported errors and will determine whether a correction, rerun, or other remedy is appropriate.

Email hello@propertyinit.com. We respond to every email, typically within one business day.