I wouldn't say a rookie move.

The one I like is to hear from the landlord prior to the current one.The current landlord might have incentive to say a tenant is fine, the one before that has no reason to hold back.

I don't fully understand the legal status during the waiting period, but if you can access the property to secure it you must have some rights.If so, perhaps you could offer it (say) as a studio space for artists.

Some of my best clients actually run REIA's and even they say a large majority of the wholesalers are wandering aimlessly.

If this was Cleveland he would not say a word as the contractors would lock him in the closet while they work LOL JUST KIDDING, 

Of course, possum have a lower core body temperature = they almost never gets rabies and are not aggressive so let's just say a possum has nothing to worry about if it's caught by me :-)

Also how does a greeting card differ from say a postcard?

Say a brick or block house with lower end linoleum, cheap MDF cabinets or beyond-the-pale carpeting. 

I do my research and know the landlord tenant laws very well in all states and localities where I've owned rentals, which is why I know tenants in MD can sue landlords for 3X amount in discrepancy and that a landlord can't just say a security deposit is forfeit but must provide timely notification of itemized actual damages, plus they have much stricter lead rules, required rental inspections/inspection fees, etc... 

If, say, a five person group wants to rent from you, it could be mother, father, three kids; or mother, father, grandmother, uncle, one kid.