Excuse the language but I think this will hit home for you and give you a little inspiration (at least it did for me). https://www.facebook.com/gary/videos/10153988204943350/

And if he starts making an unacceptable excuse..."

Sounds like something changed for her and she's looking for an excuse, maybe some buyers' remorse? 

No matter what their excuses are.

I also could just use this as an excuse and remove them altogether and not have laundry in the building. 

And, like I said, the power company would even do basic checks for free.You could explain to your tenants that it will save them money in air conditioning, and it would also give you a good excuse to do a quick inspection at the same time.I'm no HVAC expert, but my experience with the above would lead me to believe that there would be no danger to damage with your units, if you turned them off in summer.

We find excuses to spend more time there, with yardwork or such to get a pulse on the situation.  

You want renters who will give you the rent payment, not an excuse for why they don't have the rent payment.

It may just be an excuse for this is what we can afford.

the sale would be perfect excuse to accelerate all leases and terminate (if legal to do so in ur area).anyone u want to 'keep' or consider keeping, ie ur coworker, u can negotiate a new application & agreement with.. everything's negotiable.good luck with your closing, tenants, and new rates.