So, first I'd like to start off by highlighting some of the pros of this listing. I feel that it would be unfair to start right off the bat with criticisms, and there were a lot of things that this place got right.
Host is very communicative, made sure that I was familiar with how to check in before I arrived, and asked if the place was okay when he saw me the next day. Props to him for that!
The room is spacious with a huge, comfy king sized bed. It's clean and well kept with fluffy pillows and a comforter, and the room has a portable AC which was definitely my favorite part of the trip.
The place in general is clean, well decorated, and stocked with some pretty sweet, basic amenities such as toiletries (which I did not need because I had my own, but still awesome!) and a well-stocked coffee station.
The neighborhood is very quiet at night and there are delis open pretty late in case you get hungry or need to run out for something at a late hour.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I was a little less than satisfied with and that I think other travelers should consider when booking this listing:
The monitor in the bedroom is only for hooking up a laptop or similar device. I have a Chromecast so that isn't a big deal for me, and there is a functioning television in the living room so you probably won't miss it, but this is just a heads up to anyone else looking at this listing.
I expected the host to be up and working at an early hour, because the listing itself alerts the person booking that this would happen. What I didn't expect was that the host would be working rather loudly. I was awoken with a start to a loud bang (could have been them entering the residence), and then kept awake by the host whistling periodically and talking loudly on the phone in the next room. If you're fine with being woken up, then by all means, book this listing, but I personally like a quieter space and this was kind of a deal breaker for me. It was up until this point that I was actually enjoying the listing very much.
Smoking is allowed in the apartment, which is fine with me, as I am a smoker. I don't usually smoke indoors, because the smell of smoke in an enclosed space bothers me. It is only permitted in the living room under the vent fan, which I was hoping would keep the smell of smoke to a minimum. But when the host was smoking in the living room per his own instructions, the fan didn't do much to clear out the smell, and when I left my room the first morning after getting out of bed, I could smell the thick aroma of freshly smoked cigarettes throughout the space. I have friends who smoke in their own homes that I visit so this wasn't make or break for me, but it was a bit of a turn-off for me and deterred me from attempting to light up in the house. If you do not smoke at all, I wouldn't book this listing.
I parked my bike on the same block as the apartment, not knowing what the host's policy would be on bringing my bike into the apartment. The good news is we spoke about it after the fact, and he said that I was allowed to bring my bike in the apartment, so if you're traveling with your wheels, be aware of this perk! Trust me, it's more helpful than you know. The bad news is, the morning after my first night there, my Specialized Body Geometry grips had been stolen right off my bike. They aren't cheap! But since the neighborhood was quiet and seemed safe enough to lock my bike outside, I thought it would be safe. Word to the wise: keep your valuables close should you book this listing. The neighborhood appears innocuous at first glance, but do not be fooled. Of all things I thought I would lose on this trip, my bike grips were at the bottom of the list. Thankfully, Roy's Sheepshead Bay bike shop was a mile and a half away and ready to assist my needs, but I had to spend $25 to replace them.