CC's seems like a nice guy who's listing has promise. his gf julia is congenial and friendly. they have a sweet as pie adorbs friendly happy doggo named baby who was just a bundle of pupper love. no dog smell from the dog in the apt :-).
the space itself is perfect for a guest. the host experience with guest concerns, amenities (no AC despite confirmation at booking CC stated his last guest broke and was trying to recoup security deposit it but i didn't involve myself in those details--none of my business) including standard ones (bedding, hand towels, hand soap, shower soap) and HOUSEKEEPING (kitchen, fridge, bathroom) in the apartment need some attention for the guest experience to be better and more positive. host and listing has some opportunity for improvement that i provided in great detail privately both to the host and unfortunately enough to inform airbnb.***
guests will want to confirm AC (if of interest during summer), standard/optional amenities, address (which didn't display house number or street address i had to ask which was a bit unnerving but worked out ok), lock box code, both only after booking, during your vetting listing due diligence.
this is a new to the game host here. if you want frills you'll wish to consider booking elsewhere. i'm no frills, just need clean fridge access, a clean room, clean bathroom fresh bedding, quiet, privacy. doggo was a bonus :-) but not the cat odor i smelled even though there was no cat. don't know where that smell came from but it wasn't pleasant and required air freshener and a candle, which burning a candle isn't necessarily optimal in someone else's home. incense would have been a better option.
10-15 minute felt safe walk from the subway (you're midway between 2 L stops and a 20 minute walk to the M at myrtle if the L goes down, its running pretty well right now down to 20 minutes in evenings but otherwise regular service)
2nd floor easy walkup with double front doors (1 locks, 1 doesn't) and a solid lock apt (you get 2 keys) front door. nobody milling around outside on stoops, i felt totally safe OUTSIDE alone, even late LATE night. did frequently smell weed in the building hallway, which is super rank to me, but makes other people happy lol. bushwick, now a hugely ethnic melting pot, this is a super cool latino-inspired n-hood with yummy ethnic and other foods and great inexpensive nail and hair salons, reminded me of union city NJ but much better, has changed greatly in the last 10 years and there's tons of stuff near by, a cook park including a dog park which i visited to pet strange dogs owned by other people lol.
the bedroom (BR) space is great! sunny, open, spartan (pretty bare bones which is great for lack of clutter and more room), has a nice full length mirror, huge closet (needs ample hangers there were 2), shelving unit, nice hardwoods no carpet--which didn't matter cause there was no noise from INSIDE the building cept dog barking one one occasion that stopped after 5 minutes i don't think it was the hosts tho, she was really quiet.
its nyc--open windows you will hear various outside noises--voices, loud music, smoke, cannabis etc, and some sort of fowl/poultry (chickens? rooster? like that sex and the city rooftop episode lol)--no lie, i recorded it, it was the strangest thing. other times its quiet and always super private lots of tall green trees and leaves gives lots of privacy.
BR has accessible via fire escape stairs up and maybe a ladder down, which is good in a fire, but not great if you're concerned about potential unwelcome intruders--especially with open windows (its noted on the listing now) probably unlikely but still possible. you're gonna see fire escape bedrooms in nyc, i know i used to live there. CC said its not accessible from the ground--IDK if that means you have to be standing on a fire escape ladder to get to the ground in the unlikely case of emergency--i'm guessing it means people wandering around outside can get back there and wonder up to your window. he said he trusts his neighbors and has never had any issues. that didn't necessarily alleviate my concerns about safety and security, even though i chose to stay i was tentative, with open windows even daytime when i was out but especially night and overnight. over time i desensitized to the issue...but if this is of issue to you, you should have him explain it better than i could.
so while i had some concerns and some issues with this booking, that i was very upfront, forthcoming, assertive and transparent about (i'm an 8 year airbnb high capacity user, with 60 stays, lots in NYC, all great guest reviews from hosts; and I also host, albeit very sporadically and selectively as well).
i think there is room for improvement if the host took me and takes airbnb seriously. as with any listing, especially in nyc, do your due diligence. at the nightly price i paid and with the "cleaning" fee and missing standard and confirmed amenities i took valid issue, i don't think its fair to get into deep detail about that but i'll say this: it could have been a value listing to me with some specific changes, otherwise, i'd have to say the price-point (nightly rate and cleaning fee) might warrant a change (reduction). but perhaps worthwhile with standard amenity adherence, a good scrub down, and a guest service orientation.
THIS SPACE HAS HUGE PROMISE I HOPE THE OFFLINE FEEDBACK IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY!