Tristate Home and Auto

Author: Christopher Davidson

  • Lawncare Companies Evansville, IN

    Lawncare Companies Evansville, IN

    As of this post, it’s almost 70 degrees in December, so all bets are off on how busy lawn companies are in Vanderburgh County. However, this is typically the time of year when a mowing company in Evansville can take a break, relax, and maybe catch up on the business side of things. That’s why I’m reaching out to local businesses, now is the time to review your insurance policies!

    What drives the cost of lawncare insurance?

    It usually boils down to what work you actually do and how much time you will spend on customers property. Liability rates will change for those who only do lawn mowing, versus companies that provide services like tree trimming. The risks change and so does the premium. Those who also have more employees have higher risk that will raise premiums.

    When getting a quote on lawncare or mowing liability insurance, it’s important to be as detailed with your insurance agent as possible. The type of equipment you use can impact your rates, whether walk behind, riding mowers, or zero turns, the details will make the difference.

    Don’t forget about your automotive exposure as well. When starting it’s common for lawn care owners to use their own personal vehicles for transporting lawnmowers and workers. This is ok to do, as long as you have the proper business use endorsements. However, it’s best to carry a separate commercial auto policy depending on your situation.

    I’m Chris Davidson and I’m happy to discuss your risks and insurance needs in the Evansville, IN area. New businesses or old, if you don’t know your agent or it’s been awhile, its probably time for a review. Give me a call to get started! I’m happy to quote and review lawncare insurance including general liability, workers compensation and commercial automotive.

  • Commercial Insurance Policy Audit Tips

    Commercial Insurance Policy Audit Tips

    A necessary part of commercial insurance is the inevitable audit. Every company is different, but these few tips should help you save time and money on your next insurance audit. Remember, with good documentation most insurance audits should not last longer than 30 minutes!

    Documentation

    Keep proper payroll records and have them readily available when your current policy is set to renew. Along with payroll, have good documentation on how many hours, days, weeks your employees were working.

    Keep an accurate sales journal indicating all the items that you sold rented or leased during the policy year. Don’t forget to include monies spent on repairs! A good sales journal will also keep tax dollars separate, to properly exclude from potential premium changes.

    Subcontractor

    It’s important to keep all certificates of insurance on file for any subcontractors used during the commercial insurance policy year. This is very important, because you will be charged for employees of those subcontractors not providing certificates as though they
    were your employees. Save yourself an audit headache and ask for the certificates before work begins.

    Save on Premium

    If you have employees that earn tips, be sure to track those dollars separate. During the audit provide documentation showing that the tips are not included in the employees gross payroll.

    Have employees that ONLY drive? Keeping their salary separate and documented can help on your general liability exposure. However, this must be documented and their salary separated.

    Why am I having an audit?

    Commercial insurance premiums are generated based on assumptions of your business. Your yearly premium for general liability, garage liability, workers compensation and umbrella are typically based off of an estimate of exposures like payroll and sales. Businesses will grow or fall during a policy period, so an audit is a way for insurers to remain competitive if a discount is required or additional premium cost. Remember, documentation saves time and money!

    If you have a commercial insurance policy question, be sure to give me, Christopher Davidson a call!

  • The Good News About Getting A New Roof

    The Good News About Getting A New Roof

    Typically homeowners aren’t excited about getting a new roof. It’s a large project, even if insurance is covering the majority of the cost you still have deductible, the mess, and the decision on what kind of roof to install? However, there is some good news when getting a new roof that you should keep in mind when the time comes.

    The type of roof matters, so for this article we will be discussing the best options in Southern Indiana and Tri-State area. So, for most residential applications, I recommend the Owens Corning Duration shingles. However, if your choices are between 3Tab Shingles or Dimensional/Architectural shingles, always go with the latter. 3 Tab shingles are a dated option and do not last as long as a good dimensional product.

    Once you deal with the headaches, clean up, and finding nails for the next few years, remember the biggest positive!

    Homeowners should see a decrease in premiums or increased coverage after installing a new roof. Typical insurance carriers will depreciate the payout on a roof claim, due to the age. This depreciation can start as soon as 6 years old, so it’s important to know what kind of coverage you have. Now that you have a new roof, full replacement cost coverage should be available.

    In addition, its possible your premiums should go down, as the risk for a claim has decreased with the installation of a new roof. So, when weighing the decision on whether or not to spend the money on replacing the entire roof or just repair, check with your insurance agent first. Your home may now qualify for deeper discounts or at least better coverage.

  • Renters Insurance, Do You Need It?

    Renters Insurance, Do You Need It?

    The short answer is yes and the long answer is yes!

    Renters insurance is for:

    -Replacing your belongings in case of loss.

    -Covering injuries or damages you cause to others.

    -And can help with living expenses like extended stays in hotels or temporary housing.

    Many people think that the insurance a landlord carries also includes their stuff. However, your typical landlord policy is only for replacing the building and attached fixtures, not for any personal items. It’s also common for renters to assume they don’t have enough belongings to require insurance, but it can add up fast. For example, renters insurance will generally help cover your personal items like clothing, electronics, but also your dining room table, couch, chairs and other items.

    If you lost everything today, would you have enough funds to replace it all at one time? If the answer is no, then you definitely need renters insurance. For a relatively low monthly cost, you can rest easy knowing that the risk of losing all of your items is covered. This alone can help turn a tragedy into a difficult yet manageable experience.

    What does renters insurance NOT cover?

    -Earthquake

    -Flood

    -Pest Infestations

    -Roommate Belongings

    Renters insurance won’t cover everything, but a renters policy is designed to cover the most common risks. And help provide you with temporary housing until repairs or replacement can be made. For Evansville, IN renters insurance is affordable, its simple to get started, and should be an essential component to your financial planning.

    Give me a call today at 812-489-0168 to get started.

  • Get an Instant Pet Insurance Quote

    Get an Instant Pet Insurance Quote

    Looking for pet insurance? I can offer pet insurance through Safeco and quoting is super easy, just fill out the information above to get started.

    I recommend the Accident, Illness, and Wellness policy which would help cover your pets routine checkups. This helps out pets like ours, a small Yorkie, with covering their dental cleaning up to $100!

    Furthermore, the pet accident, illness, and wellness policy will cover preventative treatments as well. This includes their heartworm medicine, flea and tick prevention, and more! Call me to get started or use the widget above to start your live quote.

  • Is my roof damage covered?

    Is my roof damage covered?

    Does your homeowners insurance currently cover the cost of replacing your roof if it’s damaged? Insurance companies are changing what is and isn’t covered when it comes to roofs, which is one of the most common claims in southern Indiana. It is typical that your carrier will only cover ACV, have a higher deductible, or out right not cover roofing related claims.

    Our number 1 tip for buying new homeowners insurance is to make sure your carrier provides Replacement Cost coverage or RC on your roof. Replacement Cost coverage means that if you were to have a claim, requiring replacement of your roof, your insurance carrier will payout the full cost, less your deductible. If it just says ACV, that means that that total cost will be depreciated and you won’t be made whole.

    In addition, many carriers are changing the deductible from that of other perils. For example, it’s common to have a $1000 deductible for a tree falling on the home, but if you have a wind/hail claim it may be a percentage of your homes value. This would mean you would be out of pocket thousands of dollars if this small detail is missed.

    At Tri-State Insurance Group we only recommend carriers that offer full Replacement Cost on the roof, because we realize how important it is. In some cases, where we just can’t get a carrier to offer RC, we make sure and educate the customer. Remember, notify your agent if you have a new roof, it can change your out of pocket expenses when it comes to claim time.

    Common Carriers and Roof Replacement as of 10/13/2025

    Safeco – 20 year old roofs

    Madison Mutual – 15 year old roofs

    Pekin – 6 year old roofs

    Auto-Owners – 10 year old roofs

    Openly – 10 year old roofs

    CELINA – 10 year old roofs

    The trend is that carriers are no longer carrying full replacement cost on older roofs. Big box carriers have even sent out letters telling homeowners to replace their existing roof or be dropped from their policy. If you have any questions or want to get a quote for a carrier offering replacement cost coverage, then give me a call.

  • Homeowner Insurance Carriers

    Homeowner Insurance Carriers

    As an independent agent I am able to price check and shop the best carriers to fit your risk management needs. Below are just some of the carriers Tri-State Insurance Group sells every day.

    Safeco – https://www.safeco.com/

    Madison Mutual – https://www.madisonmutual.com/

    Pekin – https://www.pekininsurance.com/

    Auto – Owners – https://www.auto-owners.com/

    Openly – https://openly.com/

    Celina – https://www2.celinainsurance.com/

    This list is not exhaustive and each carrier offers it’s own benefits and appetite. Finding the right carrier, for your budget, and properly managing your risk is what we do. Give me a call today for a free consultation.

  • Maximize Protection, Minimize Cost: Smart Homeowners Insurance for Evansville

    Maximize Protection, Minimize Cost: Smart Homeowners Insurance for Evansville

    Protecting your financial future shouldn’t feel like a burden. That’s why myself and the team at Tri-State Insurance Group in Evansville, Indiana create smart policies tailored to each individual. The risk your home presents is molded by where you are in your life’s journey. This post will cover some of details to help you make a better decision on a new homeowners insurance policy.

    Your home is more than walls and a roof – it’s memories, safety, and dreams. Insurance ensures you never lose more than just things.

    And those things are replaceable with the right coverage. But you will most likely have more things to protect the older you get, starting a family, earning more in your career, paying for college, the list goes on. That’s why a homeowners policy for a home, doesn’t just go with the dwelling, a homeowners insurance policy should cover the things that matter to you.

    That’s why most major homeowner insurance companies recommend reviewing your policy every single year. Since covid, this is probably more important. We have seen home values increase in value faster than in years past. If your insurance hasn’t been reviewed for the past 5 years, its possible you don’t have enough coverage. A home that cost $170,000 to purchase 5 years ago, might take $300,000 to rebuild at todays prices. A smart policy will get reviewed and updated if required every year.

    How about liabilities? Fresh out of college you don’t have a lot to protect, yet. However, down the line as your wealth grows and you accumulate stuff, the cost to replace and protect all those items increases. Yet another reason to keep that policy updated and have the backing to cover those unexpected exposures.

    None of the increases in coverage and homeowner insurance policy reviews matter if it’s not affordable. We know it has to make financial sense, which I take the time to ask the questions, review options, and shop carriers that are interested in your business. Along the way I can help look out for the pitfalls and gaps that would make a bad experience worse.

    Give me a call, Chris Davidson at 812-475-9595 extension 113 to get started. If I’m your agent, you know the policy is on the house!

  • Earthquake Coverage for Southern Indiana

    Earthquake Coverage for Southern Indiana

    If you own a home in Evansville, you should have earthquake coverage. Adding an earthquake endorsement to a homeowners policy is inexpensive and a great way to manage the risks of living in Southern Indiana.

    Your home is not covered in case of an earthquake, unless it specifically states it on your policy.

    When choosing Earthquake coverage, it’s important to understand what the costs are. Like most insurance policies, it’s not just the up front premium, but also the deductible that can make a difference. The team at Tri-State Insurance Group offer earthquake insurance with deductibles as low as 2.5%, one of the lowest deductibles in the nation. Most earthquake deductibles range from 5%-25%.

    We don’t have frequent earthquakes in southern Indiana, but we do live in the danger zone. Evansville is located at the northern edge of the New Madrid Fault Line, which is responsible for the largest earthquake in North America. Be prepared, cover the risk, and get Earthquake insurance today.

  • Door Dash Auto Insurance in Evansville

    Door Dash Auto Insurance in Evansville

    The typical Door Dash driver does not have the right coverage. Did you know that typically the Door Dash auto insurance policy only covers injury and does NOT extend to repair/replace your vehicle? In addition, most insurance carriers will not cover your vehicle, while in the process of picking up or delivering food.

    In most cases a commercial auto policy is required, to extend coverage while logged into the app. Although it’s not required by the state, it’s important to consider. Can you afford the out of pocket expenses with repair or replace of your vehicle if an accident were to happen during delivery?

    In addition, it’s important to notify your current agent or insurance carrier if you start working for a ride share service. Some carriers won’t even offer insurance to those who work for Door Dash, Uber, or Lyft, regardless of exclusions.

    Need a review of your auto insurance policy? Give me a call today to get started.

    Chris Davidson Agent/Producer