ROOKIE MISTAKE!!!  Just telling my tale hoping someone will give me some advice or hoping this will help someone else.  We bought our first property.  Yeah!!!  We've been planning on doing this for awhile.  I contacted insurance companies a couple of weeks ago and got quotes.  I told them what I intended to do with the property.  I told them we were still interviewing contractors but hadn't chosen one yet. I told them it was gutted.  What I didn't tell them (and they didn't ask), was the condition of the outside of the property.

I got busy with my job (I work for hospitals) the day before closing when I intended to go and make sure my insurance was in place.  So, I went to get my insurance right after closing.  I submitted my pictures of my property (junk in the yard, high grass).  The insurance company said NO - no one is going to insure you until you have a contractor.  Now I'm biting my nails hoping no one decides to get hurt on my property while I sort out this insurance and pick my contractor ASAP.   Bad Investor! Bad Bad!  Have your insurance in place before you goto closing!!! 

Be kind with your responses.  :-)