Stay safe while you settle in
A niche, researcher-focused community is safer than anonymous classifieds — but you are still your own best protection. Here's how to keep it that way.
Housing scam red flags
- A price that is well below market for the area.
- A landlord who is conveniently out of the country and can’t show the place.
- Pressure to pay a deposit immediately to “hold” a unit.
- Refusal to do an in-person or live video tour.
- Requests to communicate or pay outside the platform.
Scam-safety checklist
- Tour the place in person or over live video before paying anything.
- Verify the person actually controls the property or item.
- Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, crypto, or a payment app to someone unverified.
- Don't send a deposit to 'hold' a place you haven't seen.
- Be suspicious of prices far below the local market.
- Keep conversations and payments on documented channels — get terms in writing.
- Walk away from anyone pressuring you to act immediately.
- Meet for marketplace handoffs in a busy public place, during the day.
- Trust your instincts — if it feels off, report it.
Payment safety
Never send money by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment apps to someone you have not verified. Be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true, landlords who refuse video/in-person tours, pressure to pay immediately, or requests to bypass the platform. GuestResearcher.com does not guarantee listings.
Meeting in public
For marketplace handoffs, meet in a busy public place during the day, or have someone with you. Tell a friend where you’re going. Trust your instincts and leave if something feels off.
Verifying landlords
Confirm the person actually controls the property before you pay. Ask to meet on site, look up the address, and be wary of anyone who avoids these basic steps. GuestResearcher.com does not verify landlord identity, lease legality, or physical safety unless a listing is specifically marked otherwise.
Rental documents
Read every document before signing or paying. Get the agreement in writing, even for a short stay, and keep a copy. See our guide on renting without U.S. credit history if a landlord asks for extra documentation.
Fair Housing
Housing listings may not discriminate based on protected characteristics. Do not include language that expresses a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or other protected categories under applicable law. GuestResearcher.com may reject or remove listings for discriminatory or unsafe content.
Read the full Fair Housing policy before posting a home.
Prohibited items and services
Prohibited: weapons, controlled substances, adult services, fraud or counterfeit goods, counterfeit documents, unlicensed immigration/legal services, academic-cheating services, and anything unsafe or illegal.
See the complete Prohibited listings policy.
Reporting listings
Every listing has a “Report” control. Use it if you see a scam, discriminatory or unsafe content, a prohibited item, spam, or anything misleading. Reports go to our moderators for review.
Platform limits
GuestResearcher.com is an independent community resource. We review housing and commercial listings before they publish and remove listings that violate our rules, but we do not guarantee any listing, person, price, or outcome. Use your own judgment and the precautions above.