Michael's place was a good base for my 2 month research trip. Michael and Emmy were friendly hosts. The house is modern/comfortable and great if you don't have a car as it's easy to reach central Pasadena by foot/metro/bus and to go on into downtown LA.
Two issues:
1. The listing is a little misleading as it doesn't mention that that the hosts live in the house. A guest-only shared airbnb vs one shared with the host is a very different experience so it ought to have been declared. Consequently, the photos on the listing aren't accurate as the house is filled with the host's stuff so is not as spacious/minimalist as depicted. There's labels stating what guests can/can't use and additional rules not on the listing to manage guest use of the space. I would have wanted this to be made clear prior to booking so that you know what to expect.
2. Cleaning of the common areas needs improving. When I arrived the shared bathroom hadn't been cleaned for several weeks and was grim. Michael swiftly had it cleaned after I asked, which was good, but I shouldn't have had to ask. He told me that the common areas are cleaned once every 3-4weeks, but I would encourage him to clean more regularly and routinely as things were often dirtier than I'd like. The bathroom is shared by 3 people and the rest of the house by up to 6 people, so I think weekly cleaning would be advisable.
Overall a nice place, but there's room for improvements!