This was my first time using Airbnb, I must say that Cem gave me the very best impression from the beginning. I am so happy to have chosen his Airbnb as my first home in Turkey.
I will describe a bit of each aspect of the flat:
Host: He is very friendly and open to help, we became close in my month long stay in his Airbnb. He introduce me to some of his friends and we went out on my first weekend in Istanbul. He is a great Michelin star chef! Personally I loved his music taste which make the stay there even more enjoyable. I find that Cem is a trustworthy person too; Also Magda is really fun to hangout with and she is a caring person.
Bedroom: The view is really good, if you go to the balcony you will see the Bosporus, an incredible feat for this apartment. I arrived at the end of winter in Istanbul, it wasn't cold at all, unless off course you open the windows. In the hot days it was not hot because you can open the windows. The bed is really comfortable. It is all very clean. You get a big closet, the room is spacious and very well decorated. Cem pays extra attention to all details when it comes to cleanliness.
Kitchen: I didn't cook much. I use it for the basic stuff, nothing to really add here. You will get your own coffee machine. Cem has all that you need if you fancy cooking. Lots of dishes, kitchen utensils in general, etc.
Living room: The sofa is really comfortable and clean.
Cats: I still miss them. They will enter your heart for good. They love being around people. I did not experience any problem related to cat hair. Cem took really good care of this aspect too.
Bathroom: Shower has hot water, everything works to perfection in it and all is clean. The washing machine is also working well, I did not experience any problem when washing my clothes there.
Area: You have 3 of the most famous universities in Istanbul within 15 min walking distance. There are plenty of coffee shops to work from (recommend Voi Fethiye) and a lot of bars also within 8 min walk. The price range for food and drinks in the area is lower than other famous areas like Taksim or others. To get to the flat you have to go up a hill, if you are a healthy person you will have no problem with it. From Cem's flat you can take a Dolmus to Taksim square easily, you can take the ferry to the Asian side and arrive in less than 20 min or a ferry to the area where all the tourist attractions are and arrive within 30 min. I believe Besiktas area in general to be very well connected. Be aware that traffic in the area gets heavy between 5-6 pm.