I'm primarily a software and web developer, but a client asked for SEO help with his low-traffic site. So, using Google Search, I could see their ranking for various search terms. But, doing so will distort impressions reports from Google Search Console.
How can I avoid this? Any way besides using a third-party search SERP tool? Maybe even using such a tool would distort things?
(I mention 'low-traffic', because presumably for a busier site my small number of Google search impressions would be a negligible drop in the bucket.)
Edit: There doesn't appear to be a way to get SERPs for a specific search phrase, except to try the search yourself, or have a third-party do so for you. You might think Google Search Console would, but, so far as can tell, it doesn't.