One of the questions I always ask during the initial call process is to ask, "is the home vacant or occupied?"
If vacant-- that prompts me to ask:
"Are all the utilities on?"
"Has the home been winterized, yet?"
They ususally have to get with the realtor to find out, then call me back and tell me that the electrial and gas is on but the water is off at the meter-- but they said it's ok for the inspector to go ahead and turn it on...
My reply... "Sure! I'll send over my waiver of liability, have the realtor or seller sign it and fax it back to me". "They can either sign the waiver or show up and turn it on themselves and I will forego the waiver."
(see attached waiver-- used this one today).
Ends up, the listing agent did not want to sign, so he came over and turned on the water.
Richard