Data Disclaimer

1. What BackLot data is

BackLot compiles information about tax-defaulted property and tax sales from public government sources, including county assessors, tax collectors, treasurers, clerks, state agencies, and the auction vendors those agencies use. We normalize that information into a common format, review it, and present it on maps, calendars, and lists.

We collect this information with automated tools, including AI models that read public web pages and documents, and our staff review changes before they are published. Even so, the information is only as good as its source and only as current as our last check.

BackLot is an independent company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any county, state, or auction vendor.

2. No guarantee of accuracy

We do not guarantee that any information in the Services is accurate, complete, or current. Public records contain errors. Agencies update their sites on their own schedules. Auctions are announced, moved, postponed, and cancelled without notice, and parcels are added to and removed from sale lists up to the day of sale as owners redeem.

Labels in the Services such as "verified," "published," "confirmed," and "last checked" describe what our review process found at a specific time. They mean we compared our record to a source on that date. They do not mean the information is guaranteed to be correct today.

3. What you must verify yourself

Always confirm with the official source before you register, deposit, bid, or buy. At a minimum, verify with the county or auction vendor:

• That the auction is still scheduled, and its date, time, and format.
• Registration and deposit deadlines, deposit amounts, and accepted payment methods.
• The current minimum bid and whether the parcel is still in the sale.
• Whether the owner has redeemed the property or the sale has been stayed by bankruptcy or litigation.
• Which liens and encumbrances survive the sale. Federal tax liens, some municipal liens, special assessments, and easements can survive a tax sale.
• The quality of title you will receive, redemption rights after the sale, and whether a quiet-title action will be needed.
• Zoning, permitted uses, environmental conditions, flood status, legal and physical access to the parcel, and whether the property is occupied.
• All amounts due at closing, including back taxes, fees, and assessments.

Tax-sale properties are usually sold as is, without inspection, and all sales are final. The county does not guarantee the condition, marketability, or usability of any property.

4. Parcel, valuation, and map data

• Assessed values are not market values. Assessed and taxable values come from assessor records and are often far from what a property would sell for.
• Parcel boundaries are approximate. Map outlines come from county GIS data and are for reference only. They are not a survey and must not be used to determine legal boundaries.
• Aerial and street imagery may be out of date and may not show current conditions.
• Addresses may be missing or incomplete. Vacant land often has no situs address. Locations are derived from parcel geometry or assessor records and may be imprecise.
• Acreage, year built, and use codes are copied from assessor records and can be wrong or stale.

5. Owner information

Where the Services show a property owner's name or mailing address, that information comes from public assessor or tax-collector records and is displayed as published by the agency. It may be outdated. It must not be used to harass or intimidate anyone, and it must not be used for any purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. BackLot is not a consumer reporting agency.

Property owners who want their name suppressed in the App can email backlothq@gmail.com with the parcel number and county.

6. Not professional advice

Nothing in the Services is legal, tax, financial, investment, title, or real estate advice. BackLot is not a broker, agent, auctioneer, attorney, or title company. Tax-sale investing involves substantial risk, including the risk of losing your entire deposit or purchase price. Consult a qualified attorney, title company, and tax professional before you act.

7. Third-party links

The Services link to county websites, auction platforms, and other third-party sites so you can verify information at the source. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or availability.

8. Reporting an error

If you find information in the Services that appears to be wrong, email backlothq@gmail.com with the county, parcel number or auction, and a link to the official source. We review reports and correct our records when the source confirms the change. Corrections to the underlying public record must be made with the agency that publishes it.

9. Relationship to our Terms

This Data Disclaimer is part of our Terms of Service. If you use the Services, you agree to it. See also our Privacy Policy.

Related: Privacy PolicyTerms of Service