Herman was truly a godsend. He is very approachable and willing to help at every turn, from giving you rides to cooking with you. Staying at Herman's you should expect someone who is happy to chat about any topic. If you prefer to stay more to yourself, he will give you the space you want. I was anxious about staying at someone's house without knowing the person but I left having acquired a new friend. That is the kind of person Herman is - it doesn't seem to be just about the money for him; he enjoys the opportunity to meet cool and interesting people from all over the world.
The house is clean and the living room is welcoming, with "kitty" always eager to have someone to play with. The walk to the subway/bus is fairly short (about 10min) and there are shops nearby - Herman always drove me to the bigger grocery stores. And the neighborhood is quite safe. If you do book Herman's place, make sure to get him to take you to Manhattan one day - this guy knows a lot about the city and makes for a great guide.