Sorry but no, you cannot claim rental expenses or depreciation until it is actually being advertised for rent. Here are the rules from the IRS publication 527 and a link is provided so you can read up on it yourself.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p527.pdf
When Does Depreciation Begin and End?
You begin to depreciate your rental property when you place it in service for the production of income. You stop depreciating it either when you have fully recovered your cost or other basis, or when you retire it from service, whichever happens first.
Placed in Service
You place property in service in a rental activity when it is ready and available for a specific use in that activity. Even if you are not using the property, it is in service when it is ready and available for its specific use.
Example;
You moved from your home in July. During August and September you made several repairs to the house. On October 1, you listed the property for rent with a real estate company, which rented it on December 1. The property is considered placed in service on October 1, the date when it was available for rent.
