Unfortunately, this was the only negative experience I've had with AirBnB thus far. The host, Joanne, seems very sweet and attentive, the unit seemed clean and the location is close to restaurants and cafes in Ballard, but this was the wrong fit for my family and our situation. You may have a very positive experience here, but our expectations were not met for the price we paid.
When comparing with other options, we chose this unit because the description mentioned 1. quiet hours to respect the neighbors (we really needed to ensure a good nights sleep and thought this meant it would be quiet), 2. darkening shades in the bedrooms (our kids sleep best with dark rooms), 3. fireplace and 4. proximity to Ballard restaurants. Points 1-3 ended up not being the case. That fourth point would have been on the mark, except we didn't get in until 9:30 pm and were gone by 6 AM the next morning for a flight, so we didn't get to enjoy the neighborhood restaurants.
For us, it came down to getting some rest. Unfortunately, there was a HUGE party happening in the apartment complex behind the townhomes and it went into the early morning hours -- loud music that penetrated your body, screams and yelling, etc. This made me think this particular part of the neighborhood was for students or young adults. Between the townhome units and the apartment complex, the homes are all so densely packed together such that noise easily travels -- so no wonder the request for quiet hours. If only it were reciprocated. I noticed that next door there is also construction -- it would likely only be noisy during working hours. Needless to say, my two young kids, my husband and I were miserable that night. We regretted paying over $430 for the night when we could have had a good night sleep elsewhere. It was not a fun plane ride the next day either.
Joanne responded to my note about the party in a timely and concerned manner, but unfortunately, she wasn't able to help us.
Other things to note: the fireplace is not set up for use in advance (you have to contact the host, and try to decipher with a youtube video), the temperature controls are confusing and unique -- there is no thermostat, just a vent you switch on and a dial on the wall you adjust for 'comfort levels' as opposed to temperature, no ensuite bathrooms, and parking might not be readily available. We had to unload our stuff then go find street parking several blocks away.
Other positives to mention: the top floor bed is pretty comfortable, despite the noise and lack of blackout curtains; there was an emergency/battery drawer (needs to be restocked I noted); the kitchen seemed well stocked as far as I could tell and even a couple boxes of cereal left for guests.
I'd suggest this for guests who would could risk the noise, and put a priority on location. The comfort/space and cleanliness were average. I do not think it's a good fit for families based on the layout, location and my (limited) one-night experience.