Then take that data and find your top 10 or so competitors and their rates & occupancy.  

The scouts I train have to give me at least $50 bucks and sign a basic time-commitment of at least 6 months to show they aren't going to disappear after our first webcast training session or they aren't working for the competitors trying to fish for info. 

This way you can help/provide value without training your competitors and avoid the kind of "flame" you're currently enjoying! 

If we are successful in acquiring the apartments we'll switch to RUBS because the market supports it and competitors use RUBS, but to make our offer we need to know utilities.  

Our 3 bed/2 bath house is leased until May 31st for $2350 per month &  4 bed/3 bath homes in our area are now renting on average $2200  (I called 4 competitors as a prospective renter to have them adjust their prices to include yard maintenance +2 dogs.)   

Do you or your competitors offer laundry hookups or an onsite laundry room?

Just know that the low inventory will cause you to work hard to beat your competitors.  

If so, look for local competitors and get a feeling for their length of tenure and failure rates.

Too many competitors, nobody wants to go all the way down to AC to gamble when there are alternatives much closer (and a movement to allow casinos in northern NJ), the city is decaying, etc, etc.  

I've heard it's a little pricier than some of its competitor though.