First time Airbnb traveler.
My party of 5 traveled to Chicago this past week from 9/17 - 9/20. I travel to Chicago once per year and knew where I wanted to be. After a week of looking on Airbnb. This location showed up. I was a bit hesitant with the host living in China and when I booked, no reviews at the time to base my decision from. Mr. provided good communication with me through messaging on airbnb site and text. Also provided me local contact info. Here is what it comes down to:
Location is right off of the Chicago Blue Line subway stop. Only 1 block away. Huge plus. Breakfast/Pizza/Convenience Stores Close. Condo itself was a little sketchy from first impressions on the outside. Walk down a short alley. Main photo is what the outside entrance looks like. Host did a great job inside converting this factory into a residence. First impression of the inside was a 8 out of 10. Very spacious. Pool Table. Swing Chair. Multiple sleeping areas and bathrooms. Ultimate East Coast feel with brick walls. Downside: We did not have wireless internet during our stay as promised. No TV as well. Was even provided internet name and password but nothing under that name came up in the area. Projector downstairs but no remote to turn it on. No other tvs in the place. These two things were the most upsetting. AC was not functional upstairs but stayed very cool downstairs. Had to leave windows open to air out. When we showed up, the place was not cleaned from the previous person staying to when when showed up. Dishes, beds not made and trash built up. We are not a critical group, so we made up the beds ourselves with new sheets, cleaned up but the place really needs to be swept and mopped on more regular basis. No sign of bugs/grime. Mainly a dirt/dust issue. Toilet in the master Bath appears dirtier than it is. Needs cleaning and top seat is broken. Local contact on the ground came in while we were out and cleaned up the place. We did not wear shoes inside but felt like we had to. Wires hanging from multiple facets of the condo. Basically showing that the place is incomplete. Showers in the place are very cool. Full body wash. Temps worked fine.

Overall Rating as I said before would still be 8 out of 10 because for the price you pay and what you are getting, it is still a good deal for Chicago. You just have know some of these things going in. Proximity to the city via subway and size of unit best qualities. Attention to detail of construction and cleanliness would be the down side but not a deal breaker.

Would stay here again and would like to see what the place looks like when completed. Hopefully, some of these kinks get worked out.