It was during christmas when we decided to bite the bullet and buy our home in the suburbs.

We were not supposed to move in till after Christmas.

That say "CA$H FOR YOUR HOUSE BEFORE CHRISTMAS" 

One of them being that they wanted to close on their time frame because they wanted to live in the property during Christmas.

I think that given that the former tenants gave you back the keys and the text message would lead a reasonable person to believe that they abandoned the property left in the unit (much like stuff left in a unit after a lease expires -- it seems like I am always throwing out a stray bag of ratty Christmas decorations that I assume have been abandoned).I think the safe way to proceed would be to text the former tenants with a date and time when those items will be removed from the unit, along with a request for them to return the air conditioner.

Being Christmas nearby, I need a quick solution so we can move on to renting.J Scott I am copying and pasting your response so that I will be sure to stay on the right side of the fence.

If you are still in town when I return (gone for Christmas weekend), I'd be up for getting together and talking RE here.

I'll try to respond this since most people have enough of a life to not be on boards on Christmas Eve (actually my kids all arrive tomorrow).

It's like a visit to the Ghost of Christmas Future.

My only downtime is between Thanksgiving and Christmas.