universal homeowners insurance

Universal Property Insurance is a Florida-based provider of residential property insurance. It is a subsidiary of Universal Insurance Holdings Inc.

Having a home insurance policy is important because it protects your biggest investment against unforeseen disasters. But it’s also important to understand your policy and what it covers.

Location

Universal Property is one of the best-known homeowners insurance carriers in the industry. As such, it has a well-developed web presence that includes a mobile app and a comprehensive online toolset that makes managing your policy a breeze. The company’s website also features several online calculators and other interactive tools that help you find the right policy for you. The company also has a small but dedicated team of customer service professionals to help you navigate the maze that is your homeowners insurance policy. Besides the usual suspects, the company also provides insurance for vacation homes and commercial properties that are used for residential purposes. It is also home to the aforementioned MoneyGeek award for the smartest website in the business.

The company was actually founded in 1899 and boasts a rich history of innovation and technological advances. The company is the first to use the Verisk Xactimate property claims estimating solution, the first to use a mobile app and has a robust data center in Atlanta.

Exclusions

When you buy a homeowners insurance policy, there are many exclusions that are written into it. Some of these exclusions include loss due to fire, explosion, vandalism, water damage from sewer backup or sump pump failure, earthquakes, sinkholes, landslides and more.

If you own a home in a place that is susceptible to flooding, then you need a different type of insurance called flood insurance. It can be bought as a separate policy, or as a rider to your standard homeowners insurance.

Universal Property has a few discounts that can help you reduce the cost of your policy. These discounts include a reduction in the deductible for a water backup or sump pump failure, extended reimbursement coverage and replacement cost coverage on personal items.

Another benefit of choosing Universal is that their website includes free digital tools for managing your home insurance policy. These tools allow you to get quotes, make payments and file claims online.

The company also offers a variety of add-ons that can help you lower your premium even more. These include ordinance and law, total section II, home daycare exclusion, fungi limitation and replacement cost coverage on contents.

Finally, you can add a supplemental endorsement to your policy that will cover the costs of emergency evacuation. This will pay for your hotel bills, food and other expenses if you have to leave your home during an emergency.

A few of the exclusions that are most commonly found in universal homeowners policies include loss due to a power failure, water damage, earthquakes, sinkholes, mudslides and more. These exclusions are very important to know when buying a policy because they will limit your coverage.

Coverages

Universal Property is a home insurance provider that serves 18 states. It’s owned by parent company Universal Insurance Holdings and has been in business since 1997. It’s a vertically integrated company that engages in underwriting, distribution and processing of insurance policies.

The company’s website includes a tool that allows customers to request free quotes for their homeowners insurance. In addition, it offers digital tools that can help customers manage their policies and make payments online.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a homeowners insurance company is its financial stability. This should be a top priority for every buyer.

Founded in 1997, Universal Property Insurance Company has a strong reputation for providing homeowners, renters and landlord coverage. It’s a subsidiary of Universal Insurance Holdings and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It currently offers homeowners, renters, condo and landlord insurance across the country.

According to the NAIC, Universal Property has a complaint index of 0.45, which means that it’s had less complaints than average insurers. It also has a great financial stability rating with Demotech, which means that it’s able to pay claims without delay or disruption.

In order to get the best value for your money, be sure to compare rates from multiple insurers before signing up with a particular one. Getting quotes from at least five companies will give you a good idea of how much your policy is likely to cost, as well as any discounts that are available.

You should also look at whether your location affects your insurance premiums. The risk of hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters in your area can influence your rate. In general, those who live in areas that are more prone to these types of events will pay higher insurance rates.

Another factor that can impact your home insurance costs is the type of property you own. For example, a single-family residence that’s fully owned is usually cheaper than a condo or multi-family apartment.

A homeowners insurance policy generally includes several different coverages, such as a dwelling insurance policy, other structures on the property, personal belongings and liability insurance. There are also optional endorsements that can be added to a policy, which can provide additional protection from loss.

Discounts

Homeowners insurance companies offer a variety of discounts to help you save on your premium. Some discounts are available when you purchase a policy, while others can be earned later on through upgrades or changes to your policy. The best way to save is to shop around and make sure that you’re getting the best deals possible.

Some of the best homeowners insurance discounts are for things that you can do to lower your rate, such as installing safety devices like burglar alarms or sprinkler systems. Others are for risk-reducing features like wind mitigation or a hip roof. Other discounts include loyalty, senior and continuous coverage.

Aside from these types of discounts, you can also get a discount by bundling your policy with another type of insurance, such as auto or life. This will result in a lower premium for both policies, usually between 5% and 25%.

Protective device discounts are a great way to reduce your rates, especially if you live in an area where fires or other hazards are common. Installing a burglar alarm, fire alarm, sprinkler system or windstorm protection can help you qualify for these discounts.

You can also get a discount by increasing your deductible, which will reduce the amount that you have to pay out of pocket when you file an insurance claim. This will allow you to lower your premium, but only if you don’t have too many claims in the past.

Another great discount that Universal Property offers is a wind mitigation discount. This is especially helpful if you live in Florida, where hurricanes are common and can cause severe damage to your house. This can lower your premium by up to 20%, so it’s worth the effort to find out if you can qualify for this discount.

Guaranteed replacement cost coverage is another great option to consider. This will cover the cost of rebuilding your house if it’s damaged and the policy limit is too low to cover all the costs.

Aside from this, Universal Property offers a few add-on coverages that aren’t typically found with other homeowners insurance providers. They include equipment breakdown coverage, which pays for home systems that break down for reasons other than normal wear and tear. It’s also worth looking into their ordinance coverage, which will pay for your home’s value if it’s destroyed by the ordinance of your city or town.