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The Homeowners Policy Special Form 3 (HO 3) is part of the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), homeowners forms portfolio. The HO 3 insures the described owner-occupied dwelling, private structures in connection with the dwelling, unscheduled personal property on and away from the premises, and loss of use.

What it is: HO-3 coverage is the most common type of homeowners insurance. It is also known as special form coverage. Under HO-3 insurance, your home will typically be covered at its replacement cost, while your personal property will be covered up to its actual cash value.

HO5 policies cover your contents at replacement cost. This means you'll be paid enough money to buy a new item. An HO3 policy pays you actual cash value for your contents. This takes into account depreciation and pays you the amount your items would sell for on the open market.

You'll notice the biggest difference in DP3 vs. HO3 is that some coverages are added by default and others are optional. The second biggest difference is DP3's inclusion of the Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule endorsement, which covers the roof for its actual cash value coverage only when it's damaged by wind or hail.

The HO3 and HO5 policies both cover a policyholder's house on an open peril basis. The difference is in how it protects personal property. HO5 comes with better coverage, meaning it also comes with a higher price. The value is based on whether the additional cost is worth the benefit.

A homeowners insurance (HO-3) policy is a coverage plan that covers your home's structure, your personal belongings and liability in the event of damage or injury. Typically, an HO-3 policy will also cover additional living expenses and protection for other structures on your property.

While a dwelling insurance policy covers the physical structure of the home only, a homeowners insurance policy is more comprehensive because it covers the home's physical structure and items/contents/belongings inside.