What is HO-3 insurance?

HO-3 insurance is the most common type of home insurance and is available through almost every private property insurance company. At a high level, it provides insurance coverage for your home, your personal belongings and your liability as a homeowner. HO-3 insurance policies are primarily available for single-family homes; however, some multi-family homes and townhouses may need this type of coverage in some cases. One primary qualification for an HO-3 policy is owning and residing in the dwelling and needing to ensure the entire structure of the home.

While HO-3 policies cover your home and belongings, homeowners should be aware of the difference in how they are covered. Your home and structures fall under ‘open perils’ or ‘all risk’ coverage.’ Open perils provide coverage for any disaster unless otherwise excluded in your policy. Your belongings, however, fall under ‘named perils.’ Named perils only offer coverage for the losses listed, or named in your policy.

What does an HO-3 policy cover?

Typically, HO-3 insurance policies contain six coverage types common among most homeowners insurance policy forms. For dwelling and other structures coverage, claims are paid at replacement cost value up to the policy’s limits — meaning depreciation is not a factor in your claims payout after a loss. Also, the amount of coverage for many types is based on a certain percentage of the dwelling coverage. For example, if a dwelling is insured for $200,000, the other structures coverage is usually covered up to $20,000 or 10 percent of the dwelling coverage. The predetermined coverage amount can vary between insurance providers, and optional endorsements are available to increase the coverage limits. Coverage types provided in an HO-3 policy are as follows:

• Dwelling coverage: Dwelling coverage covers repairs for your home’s structure and any attached structures, like a porch or garage. Insurance agents can determine your home’s insurable value with the help of a replacement cost calculator when you set up your homeowners insurance policy.
• Other structures coverage: Any detached structures, like detached garages, driveways, sheds and fences, are typically covered under other structures coverage. The typical coverage limit is 10 percent of the dwelling coverage, but you may be able to adjust your coverage depending on your insurance carrier.
• Personal property coverage: Personal property coverage helps cover costs for your personal items, like clothing and furniture, damaged from covered perils. The coverage limit for personal property is usually between 50 and 70 percent of the dwelling coverage.
• Liability coverage: Personal liability coverage provides financial protection if you or a household family member are found negligent for bodily injury or property damage caused to others. Most claims are due to losses incurred on the insured property, but there are situations where the liability coverage can extend past your home’s premises.
• Medical payments coverage: Medical payments coverage will help pay for a guest’s medical expenses if they get injured at your home. The homeowner does not need to be negligent to utilize medical payments coverage.
• Additional living expenses: Additional living expenses help pay for your hotel, food, laundry and parking expenses if a covered peril damages your home and you have to relocate temporarily. The limit for this coverage is usually between 20-30 percent.

Remember that HO-3 insurance covers your personal property on a named-perils basis, which means your personal items are only covered from a list of specific perils that are written in your policy. There are typically 16 named perils, which include these more-common perils:

• Fire
• Windstorms
• Accidental water damage
• Theft
• Weight from ice and snow
• Vandalism
• Explosions
• Freezing pipes

Another thing to know about personal property coverage is that it typically pays out claims after factoring in depreciation which is actual cash value or AVC, not replacement cost. If you are interested in replacement cost value or RCV for your personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture and appliances, talk to your agent about adding a personal property replacement cost endorsement to your HO-3 policy. This is an optional coverage available with most insurance companies and adds about 10 percent more to the policy premium.

HO-3 policy exclusions

Despite the fact that HO-3 insurance covers your home on an open-perils basis, it does not cover everything. In fact, some common exclusions are:

• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Sinkholes
• Sewer backup
• Government intervention
• Wear and tear
• Damage due to lack of maintenance
• Rodent or pest infestation
• Rust, mold and corrosion
• Damage from pets

Depending on where you live, it’s a good idea to purchase additional coverage to supplement your HO-3 policy. For instance, if you live in California, consider purchasing earthquake insurance. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, like Florida or Louisiana, having flood insurance can save you a lot of out-of-pocket costs.

Who needs HO-3 coverage?

HO-3 insurance policies are ideal for the average homeowner with a dwelling type that qualifies for the policy. The vast majority of U.S. homeowners have this type of insurance. You can usually add endorsement policies to your HO-3 insurance if you need coverage above and beyond the policy limits.

However, there are other types of home insurance. If you live in a new home, somewhere that has a low risk of natural disasters and crime, you might qualify for an HO-5 policy. If you live in an older home, especially one that is historic or architecturally significant, you can purchase an HO-8 policy. Both HO-5 and HO-8 insurance policies provide more coverage than HO-3 policies.

What other types of home insurance are there?

Just like there is more than one type of home, there is more than one kind of home insurance policy. Each home insurance policy offers different coverage types:

• HO-1: This is the most basic home insurance policy and is usually offered to older homes that are at high risk for an insurance claim. Coverage is limited to the structure of the home, attached structures, appliances and permanently installed items like carpets. The HO-1 policy pays claims on a named-perils basis.
• HO-2: Everything included in the HO-1 is offered on the HO-2, with limited liability protection. Detached structures, personal property and loss of use are also covered. This policy type is also a named-perils policy.
• HO-4: This policy type is for renters, providing contents coverage and liability protection. Additional living expenses and guest medical payments may also be offered. There is no structure coverage, and this is also a named-perils policy.
• HO-5: The HO-5 is similar to an HO-3, but covers your home and personal property on an open-perils basis. It also sometimes includes extra coverage for expensive items like jewelry. The HO-5 is typically offered to those in high-value homes.
• HO-6: The HO-6 is usually for condo unit owners and some townhome owners and covers from the studs into the unit. A separate HOA master policy covers the home’s exterior. Besides the limitations on the structure, it functions much like an HO-3 policy.
• HO-7: Mobile, modular and manufactured homes are covered by the HO-7 policy. Coverage is similar to an HO-3, but the structure is covered under an open-perils basis, while contents are insured under a named-perils basis.
• HO-8: This policy type is typically reserved for historic or architecturally significant homes that are difficult or impossible to replace. Standard coverage types apply like the HO-3 and claims are paid on a named-perils basis.

HO-3 vs. HO-4 policies

When it comes to HO-3 vs. HO-4 policies, the difference is straightforward. An HO-3 policy is a typical homeowners policy, while the HO-4 is a renters policy.

An HO-4 policy protects a renter’s possessions and provides liability coverage. Sometimes, it also includes coverage for additional living expenses. If a renter must relocate while their home is being repaired due to a covered loss, additional living expense coverage can help them pay for a hotel or temporary rental. HO-4 insurance does not cover the structure of the building you rent. Instead, the landlord covers the structure through a policy of their own.

HO-3 vs. HO-5 policies

HO-3 vs. HO-5 policies is an easier comparison, since they are both homeowners policies. An easy way to keep these policies straight is that the HO-5 policy is like an upgraded version of the HO-3. An HO-5 policy provides open-perils coverage for both your structure and your possessions. An HO-3, on the other hand, still covers your structure under open perils but gives named-perils coverage for your possessions. Additionally, an HO-5 policy can offer additional coverage for expensive items like jewelry, but not always.

In other words, there are more coverage restrictions on your possessions under an HO-3. This usually makes an HO-3 policy cheaper than an HO-5 policy.