Our stay was enjoyable because we paid close attention to the accurate listing, photos, and reviews, so our expectations were realistic. I can see how folks who don’t study the listing may be disappointed.
Pros: Location is ideal for getting around Brooklyn and NYC by public transit. The apartment is clean, functional, surprisingly quiet, and in a safe area. It is spacious, bright, and with good air flow with windows open. TV and kitchen setups are good. And the host is accommodating and responsive (see important details below!)
Cons: As advertised, it is an old building, and the apartment has not been renovated: cracks in walls and paint, sloping floors, small tub shower with low water pressure, worn furnishings. Bedroom has a single air conditioner window unit for the entire apartment, which proved insufficient on the two very hot days (of six) we stayed, and the bodega lights keep the bedroom a bit bright at night even with the room’s blackout curtains. Minor inconveniences for us, though.
Back to the (very) positive:
Yana deserves 5 stars as a host because she responded almost immediately, professionally, and with due diligence to our message reporting a gas odor in the building hallway. We notified the bodega’s staff while she persisted contacting neighbors and the building owner, who eventually traced and fixed the source, which was another tenant’s stove. All the while Yana kept me updated about her actions and progress, which eased my mind since I was obviously anxious about the danger for us and neighbors – and about overreacting or (worse) under-reacting. We were able to open windows wide and minimize our time in the apartment until resolution a few hours later (it took her a while to reach the building owner). Good collaborative effort.
I would expect no less from any Airbnb host dealing with a potential safety emergency for guests, but I bet some would fall short. Not Yana. Her open communication and persistence toward resolution, presumably while working her day job, are testaments to her professionalism as a host.