HO-3

The most common homeowners policy: open-perils on the structure, named-perils on your belongings. The everyday standard.

The HO-3 is the standard homeowners policy in the United States — the one most owner-occupied houses carry.

It covers the structure of your home on an open-perils basis (everything except stated exclusions) and your personal belongings on a named-perils basis (only the causes it lists). It also bundles in personal liability and loss of use. It’s the sensible middle ground of coverage and cost.

If you want broader protection, an HO-5 upgrades your belongings to open-perils too and often pays them at replacement cost — worth comparing if you have a lot of nice things.

This is a friendly general explanation, not legal or policy language. Exact coverage depends on your policy, carrier, and state. 🤝

Written and reviewed by the We Insure Things team — licensed independent insurance agents. Last reviewed July 23, 2026. Questions? Ask a licensed agent.