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Guide

Community posts vs commercial posts

What counts as a community post vs a commercial listing, and how the two are reviewed differently.

For landlords · For Community members, landlords, and businesses deciding how to post · Updated Jun 1, 2026 · Last reviewed Jun 1, 2026

GuestResearcher.com keeps personal community listings free and asks businesses and landlords to use a separate path. Here's the distinction in plain terms.

Community posts

  • Personal posts from verified researchers, fellows, students, and academic/government community members.
  • A room you're subletting, your own moving-sale items, a free item, a non-commercial community event.
  • These are the heart of the site and stay free.

Commercial / landlord listings

  • Property managers, realtors, apartment complexes, and businesses.
  • A landlord renting out property they own or manage.
  • These follow a separate path and are held for review.

How they're handled differently

  • Commercial posts are reviewed before they publish and may have different terms.
  • Commercial listings are reviewed before they appear publicly.
  • Personal community listings from verified members publish on the normal community path.

Why split them at all

  • It keeps the community marketplace genuinely community-run and free for individuals.
  • It lets the site stay sustainable without charging researchers.

If you're a landlord or business, start with the For landlords page. If you're an individual researcher, just post — your personal listings are free.

For landlords
A quick note
This guide is practical information only — not legal, immigration, or tax advice. Confirm details with official sources and your host institution.

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