Staying with Cemil is a unique experience. As it's not just about staying at his place but more as building a friendship with a lovely local person.
During my solo trip to Istanbul, Cemil become my friend and my tourist guide. Genuinely friendly, he did all he could to ensure I'm enjoying my trip. We even went to eat outside several times in his Besiktas city, known for good local food with good prices. He had also invited me to the rooftop of his university where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Bosphore.
Event though not perfect, his house contains all what you need for your trip. It's clean, tidy and was warm during my winter trip. His fiber wifi is excellent as well. Allergic people should consider that it's however quite humid inside.
The location is perfect. I easily came from Sabiha Airport and I've been close to everything thanks to the buses nearby passing every few minutes. His neighborhood is calm, yet by few minutes walk you can reach Besiktas center for shops.