This is what I would do:
1.Maintenance--Find out his favorite place to eat for lunch and ask him to go on a lunch meeting with you. Build up his ego!! Tell him how much you appreciate how well he has kept the property, anything you can think of to praise him. Tell him your plans (but don't overwhelm him). Keep it honest, get him on your side. Praise, Praise!
2. Newsletter out to residents with a little about you, your pets, kids, etc. Become a person in your description, not the manager in the office. I always put in "what's new in our area." With info about a new service, restaurant, etc. Know your residents and put in something you think they will like. Also, get some thank you cards and send them with a handwritten note for everything. Returning paperwork, renewing their lease, having a nice patio.
3.Return a response the same way they responded. Phone call--call back, e-mail response (create a very nice generic to copy and paste to save time). I would do this first thing in the morning after things settle, before I take lunch then again before I leave.
4. Meet with maintenance and make a list of vacants that need the least work and turn them first. Ask them to tell you when they can get them ready. They are not miracle workers. Make sure they have paint, supplies, locks, etc. ordered TODAY!
Advice--Calculate how much the company is losing in rent for reach unit that is vacant that you have leased so everyone understands the urgency to get new tenants in. The more money you bring in, the more there is to operate with. Let them know the owners are losing $30 per day then 10 days is $300. Praise your team!!!
Good luck!