Viewing the competition's rental units - a question of boundaries

[William Sumnicht]

In general, I consider myself a social person. I enjoy being around and interacting with other human beings. But when it comes to calling the numbers on the "for rent" signs on the same street as a rental I'm involved in, I don't feel great about it. It's not because I feel uncomfortable picking up the phone and calling a stranger. It has to do with the fact that I'm the competition, doing market research, and wasting the property manager's time on a showing that is guaranteed not to rent. With that in mind, I definitely don't feel comfortable with non-disclosure, but full disclosure seems to come with it's own set of issues.

So my question is, those of you that do get out and look at the available rental units near yours, what have you done to move past this? Where do the ethical boundaries lie, and what has your response been from the person at the other end of the line?