I really enjoyed my stay at Sandy's place. I have never used Airbnb before and I was a bit concerned about that. Staying with Sandy ease all of my worries and I truly feel welcome in a foreign city.
1. Communications
Before I book the room, Sandy answered all the questions I have patiently and in details. About a week upon my arrival, Sandy gave clear instructions on how to get to her house, how to get in and how to navigate around her house, plus a brief introduction of her neighborhood. It gives me a clear sense of what are provided and what I need to prepare before I leave my country.
2. Location
It is very easy to go to downtown and other neighborhood from her house. I can travel around Seattle solely rely on public transportation. Also, Fremont itself has wonderful stores and coffee shops that I can check out when I don't feel like doing sightseeing.
3. The room
The room is really clean and tidy. I have my own bathroom, my own heater and a shared bathroom which Sandy only uses when I'm out of the house. The bed is really comfortable and I have more blankets than I need in the cold weather. The room can be completely dark and really quiet if you need to. I do prefer listening to the cars going by with the window opened because I'm from a big city.
3. Kitchen and laundry
Sandy has a fully equipped kitchen and laundry room. She mentioned in her profile that if you plan on cooking a full meal using stove top and oven, she will charge $5 per day. One load of wash is free but the second load will be $5. She did explained that the water bill in Seattle is the highest of all state because of their excellent water treatment plan. I did miss the details of those extra fee when I book the room so you should consider that. Although, it is easy to get food near the house or in Fremont (which is 15min away by foot). Reheating the food with the microwave is no charge.
4. The host
Sandy is an amazing host. She puts a welcome sign on the front door so I know I'm at the right house when I arrive. She gives great recommendations on food and shops around the house. And she teaches me how to navigate the bus and train system in Seattle, which I'm so grateful about. She helps me plan my day and finds directions for me. We have had great conversations from politics, history to culture. She really makes me feel at home and SAFE. In addition, I am scared of dogs a little bit. But Sandy's dog is really cute and well-behaved.
I would highly recommend you to stay with Sandy if you would like to live like a local in Seattle.