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.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful: Insurance Coverage Requirements You Need To Know About This Winter

January 4, 2023 2:02 pm Published by Leave your thoughts While re-sharing our classic blog on insurance coverage requirements, we’d also like to bring to your attention another challenge we’ve encountered when adjusting several property losses. When a tenant-occupied building suffers a property loss, and that tenant moves out and is nowhere to be found, the only way to get the utility records to prove… View More

Gifting vs. Loaning

December 20, 2022 1:52 pm Published by 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
fire damage through the window of a condominium complex

Condo Master Policy vs. Unit Owner Policy

December 6, 2022 1:55 pm Published by Leave your thoughts After an insurance loss at a condominium complex, who is responsible for the insurance claim? There are usually two policies that come into play – the association’s policy, known as the Master Policy, and the unit owner’s policy. Condo Bylaws and Master Policy Requirements Given our expertise on condominium matters, we often get calls from… View More

Prominent New England Condo Attorney Sees the Value of a Public Adjuster

November 29, 2022 1:54 pm Published by Leave your thoughts Ellen Shapiro knows about condos. She’s a partner at Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks PC – New England’s pre-eminent law firm focusing exclusively on condominium law. In her vast experience helping condominium communities, she’s seen just about every legal issue imaginable. When it comes to managing the insurance claims process, Ellen steers her clients the same way every… View More

Homeowners Beware: Don’t Let Your Thanksgiving Turkey Fry Turn into a Fireball of Property Destruction

November 22, 2022 1:52 pm Published by 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 firsthand –… View More

Just How Much Coverage Do You Get From Your National Flood Insurance Program Policy?

November 8, 2022 2:02 pm Published by Leave your thoughts First off, let’s understand exactly what floods entail, as far as your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy is concerned. In most NFIP policies, “Flood” means: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas due to any of the following: (1) Overflow of inland or tidal waters from… View More

Vacant vs Unoccupied

October 25, 2022 12:56 pm Published by Leave your thoughts Trick or Treat? Or, perhaps more relevant for homeowners: Vacant or unoccupied? What’s the difference?  For insurance coverage purposes, “vacant” means without goods or personal property, while “unoccupied” means that no one is living in the premises. This is a critical distinction, because if a property is vacant for more than 60 days, you do… View More

The First 24 Hours

July 26, 2022 1:46 pm Published by Leave your thoughts Fire!!!  Now what? It’s not quite that sudden a shift when you suffer a major property loss – but it’s close.  What actually occurs during the first few hours following the news that your house is on fire? Here’s a quick timeline of the first 24 hours – including likely events and decisions you should… View More