When we came to Portland to deal with a terminal illness we selected this basement bnb for its location in a lovely old neighborhood in close proximity to family. Though the ad leaves some confusion about upstairs and downstairs guests, there may be hosts or guests above it. It may be ok for a short visit, but we would not recommend it for long term stays. It is way too small——is a studio not a one bedroom—— and has a “3 stride” living area not a spacious one, as advertised. We would also recommend only communicating through Airbnb so a third party can mitigate disputes.
Although the shower and bed were marvelous, we would suggest these changes for the hosts:
Security and safety: It would be nice to have: a keypad system that works (we were locked out several times, blamed for it, but eventually given a key); a lock between the upstairs and this apartment (there’s a shared entrance); a fire extinguisher and a basic first aid kit, as advertised; reliable consistent lighting by the steps on the dark side of the house; and a response when the smoke alarm goes off.
Noise: It would be nice to not hear bathroom noises from above, cats jumping off furniture onto the floor above, and the loud furnace in the room next to the bed. Can this area be better insulated?
Food and Cooking: It would be nice to have a fridge with a freezer, (currently need a keypad or key for a shared freezer outside in the garage), a stove with an normal oven (advertised but a cooktop and convection microwave provided), adequate cooking supplies such as basic salad and mixing bowls, a microwave-safe cooking pan or two, a deeper soup pot (only special pans can be used on the cooktop) and more common utensils such as rubber scrapers and peelers. We were happy to buy some new hot pads for you, since we needed those, too.