I just saw it today when it’s basically freezing here in Vegas, maybe 40 degrees out. 

You don’t want to be forced to pay for utilities for the squatter, unless you’re in an area that freezes.)

I was thinking to wait till Spring or Summer to convert to gas heating system, but not sure how long the oil in the temporary tank will last and it's probably risky to not have heat (to avoid pipes from freezing) in the later Feb/March timeframe in eastern part of Pennsylvania.

It is crazy efficient at heating but only at moderate temperatures; once you start dropping below freezing you need backup, which in a heat pump is some type of electric coil system (like a baseboard heater), and that is really high electricity use.

Finally by the middle of December we completed the dig and within a few days had a basement in place.As you can see we had to cover the footings with hay to keep the frost out and allow the concrete to cure without freezing before we set the forms for the walls.A few words about financing: we bought the lot cash and had a construction loan set up to finance the build.

So then the question becomes, what are your specific business goals, besides freezing your organs. 

If it craps out on me in mid November December, I'm at the mercy of whomever can come fix it before my pipes freeze up and burst.  

@Inshad Kaller in times of natural disasters, insurance companies will freeze the issuing of new insurance policies. 

Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:Mark the first thing to get frozen in a down turn IS the HELOC's  banks can call those and freeze them at anytime.. the only thing that would be immune from that is putting term mortgage's on your stuff and then putting the cash in the bank.. or investing it for at least as much as your interest is.. ( which there are funds you can do that , those funds allow U to call your money in 30 day increments.) 

The second one has had plenty of applications(over 15) with viewings likely to happen after this little Texas freeze off.