New York Room For Rent - 2 Bedroom apartment for a roommate in East Harlem, Harlem (NY-5119)

Julien,
I am surprised to hear there is a need for pots and pans -- particularly given you did not or hardly ever cooked food in my kitchen. On the microwave, I decided sometime ago not to have one because of health reasons. Microwave ovens to my understanding from a number of respected nutritionists is that they alter the molecular composition of the food in such a way that either they create carcinogens or reduce their nutritional value much worse than stove top cooking would, for example. There is also the concern that standing near them while they are on can, due to microwave emissions leaking out of the oven, compromise one's health as well. Instead I encourage the use of the stove for heating and a special pot that allows heated water to reheat the food from a tray sitting above the boiling water, or two counter top convection ovens in the kitchen.

As far as the 3 ratings, I will look into making improvements, but I have not received other similar ratings that would have created an urgency on my part to rectify the concerns.

I'm glad that you found your experience positive during your five-month stay; usually my instructions to the Agency is for only 2-3 months. On what you found negative, I only hope that you had pointed it out to me given your propensity to be expressive on what you thought -- otherwise -- something that is indicative of a good media/news person you are training to be.

I kept the duplex floors and the bathrooms clean and would always made sure that the kitchen was cleaned as well: my rules are for people not to leave any food in the sink and anything not for the dishwasher was to be washed immediately.

I also swept the building hallways and mopped them as needed. The floors on the second floor where you entered your room may have looked dirty because the tiles have been scuffed-up over the years and even after having been mopped, these scuffs do not come out.

Eventually that flooring will be replaced, as was the problem with a rug leading from the first to the second floor inside the duplex. That rug on that stairway was old and may have made the apartment look dirty. Since you departed the rug has been removed; the floor was varnished and it doesn't look dirty anymore. A photo will be posted soon.

Thanks for your review, Robert. I am glad you found this a nice place to live, and offered good results.
If I were to be a roommate in someone's place away from home, I too would like to find that things are good at a great price. My aim is to have roommates feel at home with a taste of Puerto Rican hospitality.