Communication with the host was smooth.
Arek's place was a well equipped and clean studio room, very much like the picture.
Located in a safe area, it was in walking distance to Taksim square, local shops, and relatively close to multiple tourist sights.
The only downside we experienced was the location that was not taxi-friendly. Except for the neighborhood taxi station, the other non-local-taxi drivers refused to drive around to find the exact location, or ended up in a totally wrong area. I advise guests to rely on gMap or Apple Map for finding the place, and be prepared for a lot walking.