You can wait for the 20% off coupon for Lowes or Home Depot and stock up using that, you can usually find one online that may not have a valid bar-code but can be taken to the competitor where they will match it.

As has been stated if this is a rental, what are your competitors doing?

Is there a competitor nearby that is bigger, better and cleaner ?

For laundromats, I visit nearby competitors, at different times of the day.. 3.

I typically use my handyman or laborer for and landscape restoration but I am not that pleased with my current handyman (I used to have a great handyman but now he has units in my market so is a friendly competitor).I keep wanting to find a new handyman but I keep putting it off (there are infinite things I would prefer to do).The laborer requires more over site than the handyman is supposed to require but works good for items like laying an entire yard with sod (lots of labor involved).So I do not have a recommendation for a landscaper.

I think most of our recent competitors are novices like we were 2.5 years ago who stumbled upon this opportunity, not sure any of them will be ready to buy 4 at once BUT we might be able to sell off individually if we can get the word out to the right niche of folk - perhaps via a trade magazine or website.

FYI, We do not EVER go after D stuff, and the C-class properties that we acquire, rehab, and manage are treated vastly differently than our competitors. 

mother thing is to all all there competitors and see if any of them are interested in the space they use similar market metrics so could be an easy pick up without a broker.  

Become the best informed and prepared person in the community.While you are doing this research, you will uncover many opportunities that others do not see.Chasing opportunities in areas where there are many competitors will not yield as good of a return on the investment potential.The best investments and return on investment I ever made was buying land that was mostly ignored by other investors.

Is it wrong to use your "looks" to gain an advantage over you competitors?