The Good:
I contacted Robert a few days before heading to LA, to tell him my mother-in-law was gravely ill and our vacation might be interrupted. I asked about a partial refund if we couldn't use the rental. Robert said he'd try to re-book and any portion he was able to rent he'd return to us. Very generous. I ended up using the rental.
The off-street parking is handy. The view IS fantastic. The bed is comfortable.
The Bad:
The parking is a bit hairy in that the driveway's pitched at a decent uphill angle. Getting my rental car in alongside the owner's car and backing out with scratching anything can be tricky, especially considering the number of sightseers heading up to the Hollywood sign. Be careful. Also beware of the uneven height of boards on the deck.
The guesthouse is in serious need of some room-darkening shades. Once the sun goes up, the venetian blinds are totally inadequate and the place becomes flooded with light. That's fine if you're getting up with sun but if you'd like to sleep in, not so great.
The TV is an older tube model and the picture's not so great. The closet doors can't be closed. And that wall of mirrors behind the bed - while it may make the place look bigger, you feel like someone's constantly in there with you. A bit of disconcerting.
The Ugly.
The first time I stepped in the bathroom I thought I'd go through the floor, There was an area rug covering sunken, cracked tiles. I mentioned this to Robert and he said it was due to year-long construction next door and some "settling". That's fine, I explained, but I would've appreciated a heads up. Every time I went in the bathroom the tiles would shift and crack and pieces would come off. I'm glad I didn't go in there barefoot. After I left (3 days early, due to the death of my mother-in-law) I contacted Robert about a partial refund, due to the state of the bathroom floor. I thought $200 was fair. He never responded. I wrote him again before I placed this review: still no answer. My wife and I have done vacation rentals all over the country for years and this is the first time I've encountered something like this. I truly hope Robert fixes the bathroom floor before renting the guest house again.