I stayed for three weeks to visit family, and I chose the Travelodge because it was so close to them. But generally speaking the location cannot be beat, the hotel is mere steps from the underground and Balham is a wonderful base for a London visit, with loads of shops and great restaurants. The hotel caters mainly to short stays of 1-2 nights, but once I settled in things went well. Staff is available around the clock, when I had to ask for help it was given.
On the down side, there is no AC and the windows don't open, so fans were a necessity in the hot weather. Second, the rates were very cheap but I had to pay for the whole stay in advance, with no money refunded in case of cancellation. Third, I had to ask for some extra cleaning since my stay was longer than normal, but my request was granted in a timely way. I will be happy to stay there again.