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Safeco Homeowners Insurance Review 2024
Lead Writer | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Sarah Schlichter is a NerdWallet authority on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. Prior to joining NerdWallet, she spent more than 15 years in digital media as a writer, editor and spokesperson. Sarah enjoys delving into complicated topics and helping readers understand the ins and outs of their insurance coverage. She lives in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Assistant Assigning Editor | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Caitlin Constantine is an assigning editor at NerdWallet, focusing on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. She has more than 15 years of experience in digital media, including as the deputy managing editor at The Penny Hoarder and as a digital producer for a 24/7 news station based in the Tampa Bay area. Caitlin enjoys exploring the ways technology can help people become better informed about the world. She currently lives outside Asheville, North Carolina.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Safeco
4.0
Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
DiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Pros
- Inexpensive add-on coverage options.
- Live video chats available for damage assessment after a claim.
Cons
- Offers fewer discounts than some competitors.
Safeco
4.0
Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
DiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Pros
- Inexpensive add-on coverage options.
- Live video chats available for damage assessment after a claim.
Cons
- Offers fewer discounts than some competitors.
Why trust NerdWallet
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating homeowners insurance.
More than 270 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 50 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C. (See our top picks.)
Safeco home insurance review
4.0
NerdWallet ratingSafeco homeowners insurance earned 4 out of 5 stars for overall performance. Safeco is owned by Liberty Mutual, which makes it part of one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. The company’s policies are available across most of the U.S.
Where Safeco home insurance stands out
Single deductible option for claims. In the unfortunate event that a single disaster strikes both your home and your car, in most states you’d only have to pay one deductible instead of two if you have both policies with Safeco.
Consumer complaints. Safeco draws fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
Where Safeco home insurance falls short
Discounts. Safeco doesn’t advertise as many ways to save on your premium as some other big insurers do.
Why Safeco home insurance is worth a look
State availability
Safeco home insurance is available in every state except Delaware, Florida, Hawaii and Washington, D.C.
Standard Safeco home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Dwelling. Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home.
Other structures. Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences.
Personal property. Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing.
Loss of use. Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs.
Personal liability. Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property.
Medical payments. Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Our Nerds say:
"When shopping for home insurance, make sure you're getting enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home if it's destroyed. Your home insurance agent or insurer should be able to help you calculate the replacement cost. For your belongings, you'll generally need personal property coverage limits that are at least 50% of your dwelling coverage amount."
» READ MORE: How much home insurance do you need?
Caitlin Constantine, NerdWallet editor
Optional Safeco home insurance coverage
Safeco offers the standard types of home insurance coverage along with several optional features, including:
Valuable articles coverage for high-value items like jewelry or art.
Equipment breakdown coverage to repair or replace major household appliances with electrical or mechanical problems.
Extended dwelling coverage in case you exceed your policy limit.
Identity recovery coverage to reimburse you for money spent recovering from identity theft.
Personal property replacement cost coverage to cover the actual cost of replacing a damaged or lost personal item, rather than its present-day value.
Guaranteed repair network, which gives you access to prescreened contractors for any repairs, with Safeco providing a warranty for the work.
Safeco offers a single loss insurance deductible option for anyone who bundles home insurance with other Safeco policies. This means you'll pay only one deductible even if you have to make multiple types of claims for a given incident. For example, if a tree falls and damages both your garage and car, you'll need to cover only the home deductible rather than both the home and car deductibles.
Safeco also partners with American Home Shield to offer a home warranty in some states. For a fee, this service provides discounted repairs for wear and tear on household systems and appliances.
What's not covered by Safeco home insurance
Standard Safeco homeowners insurance policies don’t cover damage due to:
Flooding.
Backed-up sewers or drains.
Lack of maintenance.
Optional coverage is available for some of these scenarios.
Discounts
Safeco doesn't have a huge array of price breaks on its home insurance, but you may be able to get discounts for:
Installing a burglar alarm or sprinkler system.
Buying a home that's less than 10 years old.
Adding umbrella insurance from Safeco.
Consumer complaints
Safeco had fewer than the expected number of home insurance complaints to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints also cover other home policy types, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)
Consumer experience
Website: You can get a quote, file a claim and pay your bill through Safeco's website. Safeco also offers a blog with a fairly deep library of articles, including many specific to homeowners insurance.
App: Safeco's app is available for iOS and Android. You can use it to file a claim, pay your bill, view policy documents and more.
Claims: You can file a Safeco home insurance claim on the website or mobile app. If you’d prefer to speak to a live person, call 800-332-3226. Once the claim is in progress, you can track its status through your account.
Customer service: Your local agent can provide support for issues such as policy changes and questions about your premium. You can also call the company at 800-332-3226.
Safeco home insurance vs. competitors
Safeco home insurance vs. Liberty Mutual
Insurer | ||
Star rating | 4.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | 4.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. |
Policy highlight | Solid option that's available in most states. | National brand with plenty of discounts. |
Bottom line | Both insurers offer similar coverage and discounts, but you can buy a Liberty Mutual policy online while you need to call an agent to get a quote from Safeco. (Note that Liberty Mutual owns Safeco.) | |
Safeco home insurance vs. Travelers
Insurer | ||
|---|---|---|
Star rating | 4.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | 4.5 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. |
Policy highlight | Solid option that's available in most states. | Offers features and discounts for eco-conscious homeowners. |
Bottom line | Both insurers draw similar numbers of consumer complaints and have discounts for some of the same things. However, Travelers offers coverage and discounts that will appeal to "green" homeowners. | |
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and customer experience.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 50 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Safeco partners with American Home Shield to offer policyholders a discount on home warranties. A home warranty covers the normal wear and tear of home systems and appliances. Standard home insurance typically doesn’t cover normal wear and tear.
You can get a Safeco home insurance quote through the company's website or by calling a representative.
You can file a claim through the website or mobile app, by calling an agent or by using Safeco’s video chat service.
In addition to homeowners insurance, Safeco offers a variety of other policies, including:
Motorcycle insurance.
Boat and watercraft insurance.
Safeco partners with American Home Shield to offer policyholders a discount on home warranties. A home warranty covers the normal wear and tear of home systems and appliances. Standard home insurance typically doesn’t cover normal wear and tear.
You can get a Safeco home insurance quote through the company's website or by calling a representative.
You can file a claim through the website or mobile app, by calling an agent or by using Safeco’s video chat service.
In addition to homeowners insurance, Safeco offers a variety of other policies, including:
Auto insurance
.
Motorcycle insurance.
Boat and watercraft insurance.
Methodology
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
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