Universal Property Home Insurance Review: Service, Cost, & More (2024)


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5/5

satisfaction

5/5

affordability

4/5

stability


pros

checkmarkExcellent customer service
checkmarkOffers unique discounts and coverage add-ons
checkmarkProvides free online tools that help policyholders manage their insurance

cons

closeOnly available in 19 states
closeDoes not offer cybertheft coverage as an add-on

Verdict

Universal Property receives a MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100. The insurer gained high scores on affordability and customer service and an average score for financial stability. They offer unique endorsements like personal injury coverage as an add-on.

Does Universal Property Have Good Customer Service?

Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, Universal Property received an overall score of 89 out of 100. Our rating speaks to the company’s performance considering customer satisfaction, financial stability and affordability. Universal Property is a well-rounded insurance provider, scoring well for both customer satisfaction and affordability.

Customer Complaint Index

According to the NAIC, Universal Property has a complaint index of 0.45. This rating means the company has received less complaints than the average insurance provider. This speaks to their ability to provide quality service to their clients.

Financial Stability Rating

Financial stability is important when choosing an insurance company. It only makes sense to choose a provider that has the capacity to pay out your claim. Universal Property received an A rating from Demotech, a financial analysis firm. This rating means Universal Property has exceptional financial stability.

What to Expect From Universal Property Homeowners Insurance

Like most people, you may find setting up your homeowners policy to be a challenging process. Below, MoneyGeek breaks down the steps to take when getting a Universal Property homeowners insurance policy and filing a claim so you’ll know what to expect.

  1. 1

    Getting a quote

    When you visit Universal Property’s website, you have the option to find a nearby agent or get a quote online. If you choose the latter, they’ll require you to provide your personal details and give instant quotes through their subsidiary Universal Direct. Likewise, MoneyGeek has gathered quotes from this company, which you can find below.

  2. 2

    Customer support

    You can contact Universal Property at 800-425-9113 and 954-958-1200, Mondays to Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. You can also send them an email at customerservice@universalproperty.com. Expect a reply within 24 hours.

  3. 3

    Filing a claim

    Universal Property allows you to file a claim through their website or over the phone. You’ll need to provide your policy number, details about the incident and documentation to support your claim.

  4. 4

    Canceling your policy

    If you want to cancel your Universal Property homeowners insurance policy, it’s best to call their customer support at 800-425-9113 or 954-958-1200.

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FILING A HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE CLAIM WITH UNIVERSAL PROPERTY

To file a claim on your Universal Property homeowners insurance, you can call their hotline at 800-425-9113 and 954-958-1200. They’re available Mondays to Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Likewise, you can send your claims application through their website.

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STATE AVAILABILITY

Universal Property’s homeowners insurance is available in the following states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

How Much Does Universal Property Homeowners Insurance Cost?

To determine how much a Universal Property homeowners insurance policy will cost you, you can use their online quote tool or speak to an agent. The average price of $250,000 dwelling coverage is $1,979 per year, but that can significantly change based on your home’s location, age, construction type and other factors.

Dwelling Coverage
Annual Premium

250,000

$1,759

500,000

$3,275

Your homeowners insurance rates vary depending on your location and preferences for replacement cost coverage, personal coverage and deductible amounts.

Generally, $250,000 is a good limit for dwelling coverage. However, it’s best to assess your home’s value to find out how much coverage you really need. Beyond dwelling coverage, you also need to choose limits for other coverage, such as for other structures (like a fence or detached garage), personal property, loss of use and more.

MoneyGeek’s homeowners insurance calculator can help you estimate your premium prices based on your desired coverage limits.

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Rates updated:

Dec 23, 2024

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Whether because of a natural disaster or other unforeseen events, rebuilding your house can be extremely expensive. While having smaller coverage limits and higher deductibles can be cheaper in the short term, you may find yourself struggling when faced with construction costs. That’s why it’s a good idea to purchase enough coverage so you won’t experience difficulties if the worst happens and you need to rebuild your home.

What Discounts Does Universal Property Offer?

Universal Property policyholders can take advantage of seven discount possibilities, which is in line with the industry average. Most of this provider’s discounts aren’t usually found with other companies, such as loyalty, roofing material, senior and continuous insurance.

Discount
Description

Loyalty

You can get a discount by staying with Universal Property for your homeowners insurance policy.

Roofing Material

Replace your roof with a new one to get savings on your policy.

Senior

If you’re over 65 years old, you can get a discount on your Universal Property homeowners insurance.

Prior Insurance Discount

Get a discount if you’ve been continuously insured for the last few months, even if it’s from another company.

Claims Free

Save money on your homeowners insurance if you’ve had no claims for several years.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

You can save money on your Universal Property homeowners insurance policy by installing protective devices in your house. This includes burglar alarm, fire alarm, sprinkler system and windstorm protective devices. Not only will you get additional protection, but you’ll also enjoy discounts on your homeowners insurance.

Which Coverage Types Does Universal Property Offer?

Universal Property offers nine optional coverages, which is significantly higher than the industry average of five. Moreover, the company has all standard coverages except for cyber theft insurance.

Four add-on coverages from Universal Property are unique and not usually found with other insurance providers. This includes equipment breakdown coverage, an optional endorsement that pays for home systems or appliances that break down from reasons other than normal wear and tear.

You can find standard add-on coverages from Universal Property such as sewer back-up, extended reimbursement, scheduled personal property, building ordinance and contents replacement cost coverages. In the information below, MoneyGeek detailed those coverages, including the company’s unique optional endorsements.

  1. 1

    Service Line

    Universal Property will pay for the repair or replacement of your exterior underground water piping, sewer piping, electrical service and data lines in case of failure or accidental breakage.

  2. 2

    Equipment Breakdown

    If your home systems or appliances break down for reasons other than normal wear and tear, Universal Property will pay for their repair or replacement.

  3. 3

    Personal Injury

    Get protection against libel, slander and invasion of privacy through your homeowners insurance policy.

  4. 4

    Debris Removal

    This add-on pays for the removal of debris on your house.

  5. 5

    Contents Replacement Cost

    By getting this optional endorsement, you won’t have to deduct depreciation when determining the loss value.

  6. 6

    Back-Up of Sewer or Drain

    Universal Property will pay for water damage due to your drain backing up or sump pump breaking.

  7. 7

    Scheduled Personal Property

    This optional endorsement protects your high-value items such as jewelry and fine art.

  8. 8

    Extended reimbursement

    Get extended reimbursement coverage as an add-on to enjoy higher personal liability limits on your homeowners insurance policy.

  9. 9

    Building Ordinance or Law

    With this add-on coverage, Universal Property settles your expenses for repairs, maintenance or property replacement in compliance with building laws.

It’s a good idea to read the fine print when shopping for homeowners insurance. That way you can make sure that a policy with your preferred company includes all the standard coverages.

Flood, earthquake and pest damage are often excluded from a policy’s standard coverages. If you really need any one of them, check if your insurance provider offers it as an optional coverage or through a separate policy. Some companies, like Universal Property, do not offer such coverage.

Regardless of your required coverage limits, make sure your homeowners insurance provider has these standard coverages:

Dwelling

Personal Property

Personal Liability

Other Structures

Medical Payments

Loss of Use

What Online Homeowners Insurance Tools Does Universal Property Offer?

Universal Property offers free digital tools that can help you manage your homeowners policy. You can get a quote, make payments and file a claim using their website or mobile app.

Online Quotes

Mobile App

Flexible Payment Options

Online Bill Payment

Online Claims Filling

Other Universal Property Insurance Products

Aside from homeowners insurance, Universal Property offers other insurance products.

Type of Product
Description

Condo Insurance

Universal Property condo insurance provides property and personal liability coverage to condominium unit owners. This covers building items, including interior surfaces and appliances.

Landlord Insurance

If you own a rental or investment property that is used for residential purposes, you can get Universal Property’s landlord insurance to protect yourself and your property.

Methodology

To evaluate Universal Property as a homeowners insurance company, MoneyGeek analyzed the Universal Property website, manually collected quotes and consulted consumer intelligence organizations such as J.D. Power, the NAIC and AM Best.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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