I very much enjoyed my stay at James' place. James is a friendly, responsive, accommodating host.
Here are my pro's and con's for James' place:
Pros:
Location - the location of this place is perfect if you are relying on public transport in Vancouver in particular. It is a short walk to the Broadway - City Hall stop of the Canada Skytrain. From this point you can pretty much get to anywhere you might want to go in the general Vancouver area using the rest of the Metro and bus system (which are very easy to use by the way). It is also so nice to stay in a residential neighborhood that is very close to grocery stores, restaurants, etc. You cannot beat this location!
Peace and quiet - the apartment is part of a fairly large complex, but the place is incredibly quiet somehow! I had the windows open a lot during my stay, and even the street is quiet. I was greatly surprised about how peaceful the place is.
James - James is a great host. I showed up early and he was able to accommodate me. Plus he returned my call when I had an issue with the TV.
Value - Vancouver is a very expensive city to stay in! This place is very reasonably priced.
Cons:
Accommodations - It is important to understand that the place is very rustic and dated. It is clear that it hasn't been upgraded in quite a few years. I think a fresh coat of paint and a redoing of the floors would have a significant positive impact. The place is sufficiently clean and functional but very simple and minimal in nature. So if you are looking for something modern or fancy at all, this is not the place for you. If you are okay with staying in a rustic cabin in the woods, say, then this place will be fine for you... think of it as a rustic urban cabin in an apartment building maybe. Also note that their is a fairly strong odor in the common areas, and that the common areas in general are not particularly well cared for.
All in all I very much enjoyed my stay at James' place. If you have the right expectation, you can as well.