Interflood Flood Maps - Are you satisfied???

[KD247]

I've been using Transamerica Flood Insights for a while now and can't imagine any system being easier to use. It looks like Transamerica is about $150 a year more expensive than Interflood, but Interflood's marketing bugs me. First they say it's $145 a year, then they say that it's $145 for 250 maps, then they say that it's actually $195 retail. It reminds me how hard it was to get a straight answer regarding A La Mode's pricing.

It would be worthwhile switching to save $150 a year, but InterFlood's maps look like they're more difficult to read and there's some question regarding their "per year" pricing. Do you lose unused credits at the end of the subscription period?

 

[Paulette in Texas]

Fortunately for us, we've got a volume of business that needs flood map determination to fill out on the 1004. Interflood appears to do it with just a couple of clicks. Now that from Ms. NOT computer oriented. Click, copy, paste and done. Now that beat the heck out of scan into our reports hard copies. Can they be wrong? Looks like they are off about 5% of the time with either new or VERY VERY RURAL addresses. But not a big deal, since all you have to do is be able to punch it in the right direction until you have it where you believe the address should be. Far as I can tell, no different than the paper copies...EXCEPT, that it is a heck of a lot faster and still more accurate. Now that works for me everytime. Bob used to have to look for those dad blasted things on those crappey paper ones sometimes 30-45 minutes at a go. Thanks, to this new stuff...bim, bam-yin-yang. Just depends on how fast you want it done right. Let's face it. They're maps are actually the latest as opposed to ours which AT BEST get re-ordered every 2-5 years. Now that's the gospel...at least, according to Paulette with attitude in Tx...Thanks Interflood or whoever it is responsible for really good data and easy access...Rotts rule and Shih tzus here too...go w... P.S. I don't do tough stuff...just the easy computer stuff. After all there are some advantages to being a kept lady...42 years and counting.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Went to a seminar yesterday with a representative from FEMA in San Francisco as the speaker. He handed out info about FEMA on line, haven't tried it out. So here goes his instructions and all you people can figure out the easy way to access the info! And if I understand him correctly, the map can then be transferred to a differant file. Another project you computer people can solve!

www.FEMA.gov/nfip
click on The FEMA Flood Map Store (at the lower left of screen)
click on catalog (at upper right of screen)
click on FEMS issued Flood Maps (toward top of screen)
Select "online"

He recommended that the old paper maps still be used for properties that might be questionable on whether it is in Zone A or not. The maps on the interlink are not at an accurate enough scale to make the determination. Also at this point LOMA and LOMA-F are not on the internet but will be in the future.

 

[Michael Combs]

Charlotte, and others

I just wanted to give you a tip when using InterFlood to get maps for properties which InterFlood or other map software (GeoLocator) can't always find your address. With InterFlood be sure to include a zip code when searching for an address. Our InterFlood servers can always find zip codes. InterFlood will start you out at the center of the zip code on the location map page. Then you can simply place your property in the correct location manually by clicking on the map.

Another solution to the problem is using the latitude and longitude coordinates directly. Many of our customers use a GPS (available online for < $100) to get the exact latitude and longitude of a property when they do their inspection. You can enter these coordinates into InterFlood and get the correct map every time.

Michael Combs
InterFlood Product Manager
a la mode, inc.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Michael, I'm not sure you should be using this forum to advertise. At any rate, please give some of us the benefit of the doubt. We've done all those things you suggest, above all, we know to put the zip code in. In Sussex County Delaware, Interflood plain and simple doesn't work most of the time. In the time it takes me to move the map, center it, put in the zip, etc. I can grab my paper map and there it is! Now with incorporated areas, Interflood works fine.

 

[dbiggers]

Charlotte, if someone asks a question about InterFlood, and others note they've had problems, it's not advertising to respond to them. In fact, in past posts, we've been chided when we didn't respond with "answers" to issues people posted. You can't have it both ways -- we err on the side of responding. (If someone reviewed one of your appraisals and posted a criticism of it, would your factual correction be the same as an advertisement? No.)

In this case, Michael's point is that, in non-incorporated areas, there may at times be cases where the government's streets and the national geocoding databases are out of sync. After all, geocoding (assigning latitudes and longitudes to addresses) and the associated digital street mapping only became available since the 1990 census -- but zip codes have been around for a generation and will at least get you to the center of the zip code on a map.

Can there be cases where it's faster in a rural area which has bad geocoding and you know it like the back of your hand to be faster using a paper map? Of course. There are times I can walk somewhere faster than I can drive, or I can make a phone call faster than I can write an e-mail. But that doesn't mean I'd say that having a car or the Internet isn't worth it. Both examples are isolated, and so is the case where paper maps are faster. Very isolated.

InterFlood has every single FEMA map in over 3000 counties, whereas other systems have maps in barely 1200 or 1500 counties. So, it's misleading to imply here that somehow InterFlood doesn't have all the maps (you said "the map I need is available only 75% of the time"). That's simply false. It's available. You just have a county where the roads are poorly geocoded. The flood map is still there, as you know, and is easily pulled up using the zip code, as Michael pointed out.

Dave Biggers
CEO
a la mode, inc.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

(you said "the map I need is available only 75% of the time"). That's simply false. It's available. You just have a county where the roads are poorly geocoded. The flood map is still there, as you know, and is easily pulled up using the zip code, as Michael pointed out.

Dave Biggers
CEO
a la mode, inc.

Dave, I can understand why you're defensive. All I know is that very often the product is not helpful to me. For instance: 20084 DuPont Boulevard Zip: 19947.....2 flood maps show up...neither one matches where the property is actually located. Onward to the paper maps I go. So, yes, you are correct in saying the flood maps are there. But, they are the wrong ones. And, yes, maybe this one county I work in is poorly geocoded. Therefore, it's quicker to go paper than spending a lot of time hunting and pecking with Interflood. In other counties I work in, Interflood does just fine. Thanks for your response.

 

[KD247]

Charlotte,

You should be ashamed of yourself for questioning North America's most popular appraisal technology provider. You deserved that condescending scolding and should be sent to your room. However, I don't deserve that kind of treatment and will probably stick with Appraiser's Toolbox, Transamerica's Flood Insights, and GeoLocator.

Some time ago, I received a similar tongue-lashing in an e-mail response from Mr. Biggers when I questioned the efficiency of using internet-based location maps.

In defense of Michael, I think it's great when A La Mode addresses complaints in this forum. But, comments like "InterFlood has every single FEMA map in over 3000 counties, whereas other systems have maps in barely 1200 or 1500 counties. " don't clarify the differences between Flood Insights and InterFlood. I've never had a problem finding a property with Flood Insights, but there must be some appraisers who have used both and can compare the two systems.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Charlotte,

You should be ashamed of yourself for questioning North America's most popular appraisal technology provider.

Well, to each his own. I just know what works for me, and I'm not particularly impressed with Interflood. If others love it for their area...that's great....Go to it! In Sussex County, Delaware, it's a pain in the neck and takes too much time. Now for Kent and Sussex Counties...it's just fine (most of the time) :roll:

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Koet,

Get over it. Everybody has an opinion and every part of the country is different in just about every aspect of the business. Interflood works great in my area and the maps are pretty darn close. Occasionally it is off, but it is easy to readjust and print the correct map. Interflood is far superior to CD's in my area. However, that is my area. If it doesn't work for you, that does not make it a bad product. It just makes it bad for your situation. The same goes for software choices. At least, Mr. Biggers participates in this forum. Alamode works great for my business, but I don't throw stones at the other software choices. Why? Because it is personal preference issue. Mr. Biggers is proud of his product and I don't blame him. How you you react when the Realtor questions you ability when you don't hit their contract price? Defensive? I would bet so. Appraisers are supposed to be opinionated, but not about everything. It is possible that you or I don't use the best software, operating system, flood map system or word processing, but it is to you or me , which is what is important. The fact that we, he,she, they don't agree does not make them wrong. So, get over it and find something worthwhile to gripe about.