Susie was indeed very welcoming. I asked for an iron and she left one for us which I appreciate. She was also quick to answer and both her mom and dad were friendly. Having privacy was not an issue either. Since we had read the description, we knew what to expect. Thus, this review does not concern the apartment being old or the building not having an elevator. Our main issue was the cleanliness of the place. The room was not as clean as it looks in the picture. For example: The room had insects and a lot of dust; one of the towels we received wasn't clean and the towels in the bathroom weren't changed during our whole stay. The bathtub is old, which is ok, but it wasn't really clean either, nor the shower curtains. The water is barely running, this caused some frustration. Due to this we didn't feel completely comfortable with the room, however Susie herself was helpful whenever we had questions. Might also be good to know that the AC is right by the bed and will blow right at you. Location is very good, especially if you love lower Manhattan. As described.