Also, can I call during a holiday or should that be discouraged? 

And as the holiday is coming around the corner as well.  

I would like to have the property ready before the holidays.

And now you have a vacant apartment in the winter and right before the holiday season starts. 

It is not a good sign and there is a fair chance tenant will continue to fall further behind, especially when it gets to holiday time.

For example we use a company that services our AC units and HVAC once a year for $195 (highly suggested by the way) and with that service we get priority on appointments, 10% off all services and regular (instead of surged) pricing if we have something that needs to be addressed after hours, on the weekends or holidays.

I don't want to say no, but we really wanted to spend the holidays in our home.

Melanie, I will be back roughly in December, but I intend on stopping in Norfolk to do some shopping while I'm on my "holiday".

Stay in the US mate for business but maybe retire down under or have a holiday house later on down the track....

The idea is to get this rent ready faster then usual and avoid trying to rent this mid holiday season.