Very disappointing experience: poor communication, unfinished work, repeated no-shows, and…read moreincorrect invoicing
I hired R9 Solutions for exterior painting, including trim work and removal of old exterior cables, and later approved a separate quote for driveway pressure washing and painting.
Unfortunately, my experience has been extremely disappointing.
The exterior painting was not completed as expected. On our Tudor-style home, the trim boards were only painted on the front faces rather than fully painted. Other punch-list items were also left unresolved, including areas around the pond/garden/jasmine trellises that were not painted, plus wood trim areas that still needed proper filling or repair.
Cable removal was also part of the agreed scope. There was one underground cable that we had specifically discussed and agreed should remain. After multiple return visits to deal with the cable removal, that cable was cut/removed anyway. When I raised the issue, the project manager became argumentative rather than taking ownership or helping resolve it.
The communication throughout the project was poor. The project manager and crews came and went from the property without checking in, updates were sporadic, and I often had to chase for basic information. There seemed to be far more urgency around invoices than confirming the work had actually been completed properly.
The driveway project was worse. We approved the quote, explained that timing mattered because the home needed to be listed/photographed, and were given several start dates. Multiple times, no one showed up. On one occasion someone briefly appeared, asked a few questions, and left. No work was done. I then received an invoice stating that work had "successfully commenced" and requesting the 50% payment to continue, even though no driveway work had started at all.
After more unanswered messages and calls, I gave up.
To be fair, Ellen was polite and helpful with an overpayment/refund issue, but the overall project management, communication, follow-through, and completion process were unacceptable. I would not use R9 Solutions again, and I would strongly caution others to document everything carefully before hiring them.
