6 Types of Homeowners Insurance Policies Explained

The six types of homeowners insurance policies you can choose from are HO-1, HO-2, HO-3, HO-5, HO-7 and HO-8. If you look closely, the four and six are missing, which are designated for renters and condo insurance policies. So let’s take a look at exactly what those policy numbers mean when it comes to covering perils.

An HO-1 form is the most basic homeowners insurance policy. While it can cover your house sufficiently in many instances, it’s boxed as a starter policy that doesn’t include some more extensive covered perils, such as damage from downed power lines.

This policy also typically doesn’t provide coverage for the ever-important liability insurance for people getting hurt on your property. That’s typically a huge red flag, especially if you have some more accident-prone attractive nuisances on your property.

These are the following 10 perils commonly covered:

When it comes to your personal belongings, an HO-1 policy can also be a headache. You may be required to list all your belongings for your insurer to cover them. If you don’t list them, they may be excluded from damage — even if the culprit is a covered peril. The easiest way to compile a list of all your belongings is to create a home contents list before you purchase your policy.

The fact of the matter is that an HO-1 policy can leave out some extremely important coverages, so we suggest moving on to purchase at least an HO-2. Many insurers have actually started veering away from selling HO-1 insurance, so you may find that getting one of these policies is pretty tough anyway.

HO-2 forms cover a broader range than its HO-1 predecessor, but it still may not be enough coverage to properly your home, belongings and financial wellbeing. While HO-2 forms don’t require you to name every single one of your personal belongings to be covered, it still lacks a bit in the covered perils department.

These policies still only provide coverage for the aforementioned 10 perils, so some forms of accidental damage won’t be covered, such as water damage from plumbing or a damaged water heater. We recommend forgoing this policy and investing in an HO-3 if the option is available.

This brings us to the most commonly purchased and one of the most in-depth and affordable homeowners insurance policies, the HO-3. Commonly referred to as a named perils policy, the HO-3 covers a vast array of 16 types of perils, including the previous 16 under the aforementioned policies.

This policy covers damage to your home in the form of dwelling protection, your belongings via Coverage C, the other structures on your property and additional living expenses if one of the perils forces you to temporarily move out while your home is being repaired.

Like with anything, this policy does have exclusions and, depending on where you live in the country, different coverage specifications. For instance, things like floods, earthquakes, military activity and general negligence or wear and tear are never covered by an HO-3 policy.

If you live in a state that’s prone to hurricane damage, such as Florida or South Carolina, your policy will likely include a separate hurricane deductible. Additionally, those homeowners living in wildfire-prone states like California may not have coverage for wildfires under their HO-3 policy.

Even if you do invest in an HO-3 homeowners policy, it’s wise to consult with your insurer as to what exactly is and isn’t covered. That’ll leave you well prepared before you may even have to think about filing a claim for damage.

Also called a comprehensive perils or an open peril policy, an HO-5 is wisely deemed as the gold standard of homeowners insurance policies. Its designation is a reference to its accolades of covering all of the aforementioned 16 perils, as well as an abundance of other perils — as long as those perils aren’t specifically named in your policy.

This policy also comes equipped with more extensive liability coverage that presents a wider safety net for your personal and financial wellbeing. Even if it’s not enough coverage, you can also invest in an umbrella policy to extend your liability protection well into the millions of dollars range per claim.

As a homeowner, we highly encourage you to invest in at least an HO-3 or HO-5 policy. By doing so, you’ll sufficiently protect your home, belongings and financial wellbeing from many unexpected perils or damages that could come your way.

If you live in a mobile home, you’ll need a specific policy, as you simply do not qualify for the aforementioned policies. Mobile homes are only eligible to be covered by an HO-7 policy. This policy offers slightly different coverage than an HO-1 with a slightly different subset of covered perils than the 10 commonly found.

An HO-7 still sufficiently protects your home’s structure and your personal belongings, as well as some additional living expenses if you’re temporarily forced to move out due to a covered peril. But it just may not cover certain perils. Before purchasing a policy, it’s best to consult with an insurance agent.

Coverage for older homes, which may get that classification if they were built at least 40 to 50 years from the date you wish to insure it, is a bit different as well. These homes may have outdated electrical systems that pose more risk, older plumbing systems that may be more prone to water damage or even foundational issues that have the potential to cause great damage.

To offset some of the risks, and because it may cost much more to repair or rebuild the home than a newer model, it limits your dwelling coverage to strictly market value and takes replacement cost coverage off the table. However, it still provides coverage for your home and belongings due to the same 10 perils in an HO-1.