Author Archives for Swerling Milton Winnick
About Swerling Milton Winnick
If you’ve had a fire, flood or other property loss resulting in an insurance claim, and need a public insurance adjuster in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New England or anywhere in the U.S. or Caribbean, call Swerling Milton Winnick. We are the oldest and largest public adjusting firm in New England, and our team of experts will give you personalized, 24/7 attention to successfully resolve your residential or business insurance claim.
Diane Swerling on Fox News Discussing Storm Recovery
January 14, 2020 1:53 pm Leave your thoughts In the wake of the powerful Nor’Easter that brought gale force winds, snow and major flooding to New England in 2018, Diane Swerling sat down with Fox 25’s Ted Daniel to discuss what homeowners should do if their property has been damaged, including: Report claims to insurance company as soon as possible; Prevent further damage to… View More
Understand the Evolving Definition of “Collapse” in your Homeowner’s Policy
January 7, 2020 1:57 pm Leave your thoughts Coverage for collapse has been argued and litigated heavily for the past several years. The non-stop legal battles between insureds and insurers have resulted in ISO (the main policy writer) amending the verbiage in the standard property policy forms. No longer does coverage for collapse exist if there is an imminent danger of collapse. a. … View More
Gifting vs. Loaning: Know The Difference Between a “Gift” and a “Loan” When it Comes to Your Insurance Coverage
December 23, 2019 2:39 pm Leave your thoughts The holidays are a time when family members exchange thoughtful gifts. In the case of family keepsakes – jewelry, watches, etc. – these gifts require careful management on your insurance policy. Update your policies accordingly! Think about a family example: they have beautiful pearl earrings that family members have handed down through the generations. The… View More
Understand Your ‘Loss of Use’ Coverage
December 17, 2019 2:43 pm Leave your thoughts Protect your property – that’s the fundamental reason for purchasing insurance. To do so effectively, you need the right coverage. And the only way to truly ensure that you have the right coverage is to understand every provision within your insurance policy. One area policyholders often struggle to grasp is the “Loss of Use” coverage…. View More
Best Practice Tips for Managing a ‘Burnt Out of Sight’ Insurance Claim
December 3, 2019 12:57 pm Leave your thoughts SMW recently had a client referral – all the way from across the country. An attorney, who is an old friend (going back to SMW patriarch Bruce Swerling’s college days!), had a claim that presented some interesting lessons for homeowners who suffer “burnt out of sight” (BOS) property losses. In this case, the insureds experienced… View More
Homeowners Beware: Don’t Let Your Thanksgiving Turkey Fry Turn into a Fireball of Property Destruction!
November 27, 2019 1:09 pm Leave your thoughts Here at SMW, we love turkey, and we love Thanksgiving. And though oven roasting is an endorsed technique, we are not without affection for the savory, oil-filled repast that you can get from deep-frying your holiday turkey. It’s delicious! It’s also, however, incredibly dangerous. Do you doubt us? We have seen the damage first-hand –… View More
Condo Owners: Get Reimbursed For Your Maintenance Fees
November 25, 2019 1:10 pm Leave your thoughts We recently handled a property loss at a large condominium complex. The building suffered a huge fire, and all unit owners had to move out. The structure was uninhabitable and there was no building left to maintain or common area lights to keep on. But: the association still had to pay property taxes. It also… View More
L.A. Wildfires and Burnt Out of Sight Homes: Important Lessons Learned
November 14, 2019 1:26 pm Leave your thoughts Specifics. Details. Invoices and receipts from years past. Document everything! These are the top-line lessons to learn if you’re dealing with an insurance claim related to a property that is “burnt out of sight” (BOS) – that is, with the building and personal property completely destroyed by fire (see picture). I was recently reminded of… View More