Starting with the pros... host was pretty responsive via messaging. Despite air conditioners not looking the best, they were powerful and cooled the rooms down rather quickly. Washer and dryer (though loud) were useful to have. Price is hard to beat in Manhattan.
However, this is where the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I would definitely recommend this for adults only who are in relatively good shape and are able to handle the stairs going up to the 5th floor (it was one thing to “know” this was going to be the case, experiencing it after a whole day of walking in the city was a whole other matter) and want a more authentic, absolutely no-frills kind of place to just crash for the night. In our situation with a family having young kids, it was not a smart decision on my part to book.
A little additional note, no paper towels made cleaning up difficult. Pull-out bed was hard to sleep on because it seemed like every spring could be felt, and for us the actual place looked more outdated and worn down than expected in the photos.
Overall conclusion, good if you’re a party of adults only on a budget and just need somewhere to sleep. Not the best for families with children.