Apartment-Hunting Privacy Guide
Second Phone Number for House Hunting: Keep Your Identity Safe
Landlords and brokers want your digits—scammers and telemarketers do too. This guide shows U.S. renters how to use a second phone number to protect privacy on Zillow, Trulia, Craigslist, and beyond. We compare the top burner apps, explain which platforms mask calls, and spotlight how ChatOdyssey Phone Relay (free trial → $4.99/mo with unlimited email relay) gives you a spam-free line that won’t get recycled.
Why Sharing Your Real Number Can Backfire
It feels harmless: drop your cell on a listing, wait for a callback, move in. Reality is harsher. According to a Norton LifeLock report, Craigslist scammers routinely hijack phone numbers to set up fake financial accounts or drain two-factor codes. Data brokers scrape public ads, bundling numbers into telemarketing lists—and 92 percent of Americans already suffer spam calls, notes the PIRG/Truecaller robocall study. Once your number is out, clawing it back is impossible.
Even legitimate brokers can unintentionally harass you—every agent in the office copies your inquiry, then each one rings you separately. One New York renter told us she fielded 37 calls in two hours after listing her cell on Streeteasy. A second number keeps that chaos in a safe sandbox: block, mute, or burn it once you sign a lease.
How a Second Number Shields Your Identity
A second number—sometimes nicknamed a “burner”—routes calls and texts through an app or cloud relay. The landlord sees only the proxy line; your real SIM stays hidden. If harassment begins, you kill the proxy instead of changing carriers. Second-number apps also filter known spam: Digital Trends highlights Google Voice’s AI spam shield, while Burner lets you auto-mute unrecognized numbers.
Privacy experts at Airdroid recommend virtual numbers whenever posting in public forums. Apartment listings are no different—except the financial stakes are higher. Think deposits, background checks, employment letters: you want every scrap of personal data guarded.
Best Second-Number Apps for U.S. Renters
| Service | Cost | Key Privacy Features | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Free (U.S./CA) | AI spam filter, call screening, voicemail to email | Long-term budget line—must keep a Google account |
| TextNow / 2ndLine | Free with ads $9.99/mo ad-free |
Unlimited calls & SMS; risk of number recycling | Short apartment hunts if you’re truly cash-strapped |
| Burner | Free trial → $4.99/mo | Disposable numbers; Nomorobo spam blocking | Weekend marathon of open houses; Craigslist replies |
| Hushed | ≈ $5/mo | Burn-after-use lines; 40-country coverage | International renters needing U.S. & UK numbers |
| ChatOdyssey Phone Relay | Free trial → $4.99/mo | Persistent masked line, proactive spam filter, plus unlimited email relay for custom addresses | Serious seekers who want one clean line & inbox |
Prices verified April 2025. ChatOdyssey line remains yours indefinitely while subscribed—no surprise recycling.
Do Listing Platforms Protect Your Number?
Zillow & Trulia
Both sites route initial renter messages through an internal inbox. Many listings display a “proxy” phone that forwards to the landlord, masking their real line—but your outbound call still reveals the number you dial from. Use your second number when you ring the proxy so your identity remains hidden too.
Craigslist
Craigslist offers zero call masking. It shows whatever contact number the lister publishes, and every reply you send exposes your own. That makes Craigslist a playground for spoofers who run the infamous “Google Voice code” scam documented by Norton LifeLock.
Facebook Marketplace & Others
Messenger keeps numbers hidden at first. Yet agents often nudge you to text. Give them your second line until paperwork is signed.
Five Steps to Private Apartment Hunting
- Choose the right app. If you’ll tour multiple cities over a month, pick Burner or Hushed. For a single-city search that might stretch, ChatOdyssey’s spam-free relay saves headaches.
- Register with email only. Avoid apps that require your real cell for SMS verification if anonymity is crucial.
- Post second number everywhere. Use it on contact forms, voicemail greetings, physical inquiry cards—never mix it with your primary line.
- Filter aggressively. Silence unknown callers; force them to voicemail. Real landlords will leave details.
- Burn or keep. After signing a lease, either keep the line for maintenance calls or delete it to snuff future spam.
FAQ
Will a VoIP number hurt my rental application?
No. Screening companies verify identity by SSN and credit data, not phone carrier. Many employers list corporate VoIP lines.
Can landlords trace my real cell through a second number?
Not without a subpoena. The relay provider sees both ends; the caller only sees the proxy CID.
Why not rely on Zillow messaging alone?
Some owners bypass Zillow and text you directly. Having your second number ready means you don’t scramble mid-conversation.
Key Takeaways
Apartment hunting is stressful—don’t add identity theft or robocalls to the mix. A second phone number creates a disposable safety buffer: share it freely, shut it off when spam strikes, and keep your personal life untouched. Free options like Google Voice work, but ads and number recycling lurk. Paid apps such as Burner, Hushed, and especially ChatOdyssey Phone Relay ($4.99/month after free trial, unlimited email relay bundled) offer stronger spam defenses and peace of mind. Protect your privacy—your dream apartment is worth it, but your real phone number isn’t part of the deal.