House insurance from exchange - empty property?

allconnected

I’m hopefully exchanging soon on a detached property which has been empty for over a year (probate sale.) I know I need buildings insurance from exchange, but I’m at a complete loss as to how to arrange this. All the online  quotes I’ve tried need lots of information which I’m not able to provide, as I have no idea of the insurance history of the house, or even if it’s currently insured. The specialist  exchange to completion sites only appear to cover occupied properties.

 Is it a ‘thing’ to ask if the executors have current empty property insurance and if so if they are prepared to retain liability under this between exchange and completion? We need at least a week as it’s a long distance move and the removal company need lots of notice.

how do people normally insure a property they don’t know at all?

thsnks

mebu60

What information are the insurance companies asking that you don't know? You presumably have searches re flooding and the answers from the sellers re subsidence etc (the absence of both hopefully!). 
Can't see that current insurance arrangements are relevant, you are only liable from exchange. People must be doing this all the time. I've done it myself several times. Don't recall any issues, just took out a normal standard annual policy covering building and contents. 

DullGreyGuy

People will have asked about subsidence etc during the purchase process normally so the big ones you can answer. Smaller things you only have to answer "to the best of your knowledge". For things like Locks and Alarms chose the lowest option... no insurer will turn down a claim because you've been paying more premium than you needed to