This was a very last minute booking for me, but everything turned out great! The place is close to the Commercial Drive where you can find many cute coffee shops, bakeries, art galleries, book stores, vintage / antique stores, and restaurants. If you're into indie shops (as opposed to shopping malls), this is a great area! It's very close to bus stops for buses heading downtown, or about 15 minutes walk to the SkyTrain. There are also multiple bike share stops nearby, and plenty car2gos (and other car sharing services). The neighbourhood is very quiet and seems safe to me.
For out of town travellers, I'd caution that you don't walk around Hastings and Main. There are a couple of buses that would take you from downtown to Malcolm's place through Hastings, which seemed fine to me (I took those buses).
There are pets on premise, and they're so adorable! The bed is comfy, and the nights are quiet for your light sleepers. All in all, I had a great time at Malcolm's place, and would definitely recommend!