No, you will not be able to deduct your expenses for repairs and improvements in 2019. This is because your property is not ready and available to rent. In other words, you have not made it available to be rented yet because you are still repairing and making improvements to the property. You stated that the property will not be available for rent until March 2020.
Per IRS Publication 527, "you place property in service in a rental activity when it is ready and available for a specific use in that activity."
You will need to keep a record of all of the expenses and repairs you have made to the property. All of those expenses will be added to the original cost of the rental property. In 2020, when it is available to rent, the cost of the property plus all of your expenses and improvements will be added together and that total will be your basis in the rental property. This basis will be used to calculate your annual depreciation deduction for the property. The first year you will be able to claim a depreciation deduction will be in 2020 when the property is ready and available to rent. Rental property is generally depreciated for 27.5 years.
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