How to ascertain property is indeed vacant post Foreclosure?

[Mac Bradley]

After Foreclosure, how can the new owner of the property ascertain if it has indeed been vacated by the tenant or in other words can be legally possessed by the new owner?
Say for example, What if the utilities are still on? What if some articles are still in the house, but it appears that no one lives there anymore? What happens if you dispose of the property left behind and the former owner comes around and demands that you pay him for those items.
Can anyone throw some light please...this is with reference to Texas in particular...