HO-3 (homeowners form)
Common homeowners policy form: open peril on the dwelling, named peril on contents.
Plain definition
The HO-3 is the standard homeowners form many owner-occupied houses use. Dwelling and other structures are often covered on an open-peril basis except listed exclusions, while personal property is typically named-peril unless endorsed otherwise. Policy wording and state variations still control what is covered.
Why it matters
Knowing you have an HO-3 helps you compare quotes—but endorsements, limits, and exclusions matter more than the form number alone.
Example
Wind damages your roof (often a covered peril). A slow plumbing leak over months may be excluded as gradual damage even on an HO-3 dwelling section.
Common misunderstanding
HO-3 does not include flood or earthquake by default. Those perils usually need separate policies or endorsements.
Policy language always controls. This is educational content, not advice. See our disclaimer.