Home Services reviews in Hudson, Massachusetts

When we decided to put in an inground pool this summer we knew we wanted a contemporary look for our mid-century modern home. Our pool installer recommended Dex by Terra. We were surprised when Dex by Terra sent a landscape designer to our house AND an artist. We were just expecting someone to come out to the house, take a few measurements and then send us a sketch of a rectangular concrete deck with sharp edges that looked modern. What we got instead was a 3-D color presentation of a truly unique design for our pool area. Karen Atkins, the landscape designer, "got us" and understood we wanted something special to fit our home and our landscape. We will be looking at this deck for decades to come. We would have never thought to include a turf checkerboard design on one side of the pool, but Karen did! How modern and completely awesome! Anthony, the Project Manager, was excellent with communication and kept us informed throughout the project. We were also very impressed with the work ethic of the crew (they installed a 50 foot retaining wall in under 3 days) and the workmanship throughout the project is top-notch.

Joe came out in mid-August to give an estimate and was told 2-3 weeks for the drawings/estimate. I emailed several times in October asking for estimate. Finally, he responds stating he was on vacation and would need two more weeks. I informed him the other estimates were in and he assured me he’d have it in two weeks. 4 weeks later, nothing. I went with another company. It’s a $225k job. Guess they don’t need/want the business. Poor service, extremely poor communication. Lead times are terrible. The initial site inspection was scheduled 2 weeks out when the two other companies came right out within 2-3 days.

Summary of experience: Overpromise and underdeliver

We used Dex by Terra for hardscaping and landscaping around our pool, as they were one of the preferred partners of our pool installation company. The sales meetings with Joe were great and that gave us the confidence to move forward with hiring them.
Aside from that, our experience was less than enjoyable.
-We had a few onsite design meetings where notes were taken by Joe and his intern, but then we'd find that not everything got implemented in subsequent designs. We'd go in for a meeting and have to re-state changes we had already discussed in a previous meeting (or over email).
-Joe recommended scheduling a landscape design meeting in January (3+ months before our project was to begin) to get in front of their busy season. A few days before the scheduled meeting, their front desk manager reached out to ask about the purpose of the meeting, and then asked us to reschedule because they hadn't done anything to prepare. I think this was more of a sign that they are taking on more clients than they can properly service.
-Their project managers were unprepared (e.g., showing up to site visit with out-of-date project plans) and required close management and handholding to get anything done. We'd have discussions onsite and via text and then it would be as if we never talked. Nothing was proactively taken care of. If we hadn't been paying attention, they would've missed several crucial parts of the project plan (and even with our close management, they still failed to hook up a pump they had promised to do).
-A few months before our hardscaping project began, we contracted with Dex to source a jumping rock for our pool. They were quick to collect our money, but then did nothing to actually source the rock. Our first project manager showed up to our onsite visit and said she had no clue we were doing a jump rock and didn't see how it was feasible (not exactly what you want to hear from your project manager). The second project manager we were assigned failed to do any work to source a rock and left the project timeline in jeopardy. We insisted the Dex team come up with a solution because they had months lead time to do this work. They ended up finding something last minute, but it was a very stressful experience that required a lot of our time to manage.

While we were facing these issues during the project, we contacted the owner of Dex who couldn't be bothered to return a phone call.

After our project was initially completed, they had a few loose ends to tie up (delivering more stone, re-installing a subwoofer that was installed incorrectly, burying speaker wire) and it took months to track them down and get on their schedule.

We also ended up with severe issues with water pouring into our basement during the heavy storms which we believe was exacerbated by improper grading/forethought on water flow (which we spoke extensively with Joe about during the final onsite). Our basement fully flooded 3 times which had never happened before. I reached out to Dex's operations manager and owner to ask them to come onsite and take a look because we needed them to assess and address any potential grading issues. Their initial response was "it's not our problem". We contacted Patrick at McCarthy about the issues and sent him the pictures/videos and he was the one to get Dex to show up and look at the issues. It was surprising to us that they only bothered to show up after hearing from Patrick. It really showed how little Dex cared about us or our project.

We expressed our frustrations to the owner and the operations manager and they honestly didn't seem too interested in hearing about our experience. And they kept chalking it up to an anomaly, and didn't want to validate our poor experience. I guess business is too good for them to care, but a good customer experience should be the gold standard, whether issues are present or not.

From their initial visit to our home (in the pouring rain, at a time that suited our availability!), to easy and thorough communication, and ultimately an amazing CAD design- we have been more than pleased with all things Dex By Terra.
Ed has been so easy to work with, and really has some wonderful design ideas that compliment what we had in mind for our new pool surround. The 3D CAD modeling tool they use made it so easy to really visualize the plans for our deck and landscape. Visiting their showroom allowed us to get a feel for what we were looking for in color, texture, and concrete design.
We are so happy we chose Dex By Terra, and will definitely be recommending them to others.

Great experience from beginning to end. Joe took the time to listen to exactly what we were looking for and his carefully crafted design turned our back yard from vision to reality. All facets of the job were done with thoughtfulness and considerable attention. The project started and finished ahead of our expectations and looks spectacular. Krystal was great to work with, constant contact with us, and coordinated with other contractors very well. Can't say enough great things about Dex By Terra simply Top Notch. Would highly recommend

I highly recommend Dex By Terra. They did the patio work and landscaping for our pool. Joe Medeiros was our designer for the project. His designs hit our wish-list items while also ensuring we remain in budget. He was more than willing to make any revisions to ensure we were happy with the project. Once the project started, Dex assigned us a project manager to ensure things were running smoothly. Our project manager was Krystal Ford. Krystal was a pleasure to work with. She was there to answer any questions/concerns we had, and she coordinated all elements of the project to run on-time and within the contracted budget.

I highly recommend anyone who is looking for landscape design work to strongly consider Dex by Terra!

In July 2021 we hired Dex By Terra to do a complete pool renovation . We met with Joe, the designer and he came up with a spectacular design for our project. We were blown away with the 3D images that he showed us for the project which included a new Fire Pit and gorgeous landscaping in addition to the pool deck and plaster. When construction started the demolition was done quickly and efficiently. The mason crew is second to none and did and amazing job with our stone work. The project took a bit longer than anticipated, but we couldn’t be happier with the end result. Our back yard and pool area is simply amazing! It’s like having a mini resort …and a personal paradise!

Dex By Terra designed and installed our stamped concrete patio around our pool. Joe was amazing with the designs, and provided us with detailed plans that really helped us to visualize what the end project would look like. Installation was done on time and quickly- can’t believe how hard they work getting this done! The end product looks great and the stamped concrete has the look of pavers without the cost. We are very happy and have recommended Dex to friends.

Sean, Delia, Rob and the Dex team were amazing , even better than they drew up for transforming my backyard into what I call a little “slice of heaven”.

Very professional, starting with our first meeting! Joe Medeiros and the entire Dex by Terra team did an amazing job working with us to create our own backyard Oasis. We've had many guests even call it a resort! Like any project, there's almost always a budget, and we had to stick to ours. Our backyard had some challenges; lots of rock, a steep slope, and excessive water-runoff, just to name a few. Joe arrived at our home for our first meeting on time, laptop in hand, and ready to show us some great 3D renderings of what we could do to overcome these obstacles. He was definitely prepared and he did his homework beforehand! The meetings that followed in their showroom were just as informative. Lots of samples, plenty of displays and a comfortable conference room with a large TV monitor to review changes in real-time. We never felt rushed. Once the shovel hit the ground, we always knew what to expect. Delia, our project manager, did a great job managing the construction team. We received regular briefings from her throughout the project, and we appreciated how polite and courteous the Stone Masons were, when they were working at our home.

Dex by Terra completed a huge backyard project for us starting with the overall design and layout of the pool, pool house, hot tub, stamped concrete, firepit circle, outdoor kitchen area and overall outdoor living space. Joe, in particular, was fantastic to work with for the hardscape and was so flexible and accommodating with our ideas. Dex by Terra also worked well with the other contractors on the job. It was a complicated, year-long project but they stayed committed until it was finished and we are thrilled with the end result!!

I found Dex by Terra to be very professional and extremely helpful when picking out what I wanted to place around our pool . The whole process was very easy and everyone was always willing to go over every step. Ed always answered his phone or texts when I had questions. The staff in the office were also very kind. Designing the landscaping through this company really complimented all the work that was done. I would not hesitate to use Dex by Terra. My neighbors are now using this company after looking at our pool area. Thank you everyone!

We had a wonderful experience with Dex by Terra when we our inground pool coping changed from the basic aluminum edge to a beautiful stone border back in 2020. The installation process took about a week, and we also had a jumping rock installed to replace our old diving board. The team was very friendly and professional and very hard working. We couldn’t be happier with the finished project. I also had reached back out to them this week with a maintenance question and received a prompt and helpful response. Very satisfied with their customer service and we are very happy with our updated backyard!

Dex by Terra was amazing to work with. They helped me to plan the design, finishes and schedule for my pool patio. The project coordinator updated me continuously on the project and the installation team was professional and accommodating throughout the process.

The team worked within our budget and we continuously get compliments on our patio and enjoy it to the fullest every season.

Outstanding job!

Initial install was very good and we were pleased with the outcome. We had them come and seal the deck last year. This was done in May. When we opened up the pool this year. The finish had all started flaking off. We reached out multiple times with no response. Finally someone came out to look and said the we had used the wrong sealer and that we should have requested oil base. Ummm, you are the pros and we were not given.options. after that we again reached out multiple times with no response. Finally was told someone would be here on Wednesday to start. We cleared all furnature off the deck and of course no one came and no call. This has been going on since March and it's now mid July. Great patio. Aweful customer service and followup. Go elsewhere.

Last year we decided to undertake a big backyard project including a pool, all new hardscaping, a firepit, a pavilion with an outdoor fireplace and mounted television, an outdoor kitchen, a sportscourt/outdoor rink and more. After speaking with and receiving proposals from several landscape design and construction firms, we chose Dex by Terra because their vision mostly closely matched ours and they easily and pleasantly worked within our budget needs. And we remain thrilled with that decision. Ed and his team were consistently attentive, responsive and cared about our project. They navigated complicated materials shortages with seeming ease and made sure we didn’t have to sacrifice (though I’m sure in reality it was hard). While we made many changes along the way, the Dex team just always rolled with it and adapted and made sure we got exactly what we want. Over the months it took to complete, their various crews were always hard working, courtesy and careful. We couldn’t be happier with our gorgeous backyard (as soon as its spring and we can finish landscaping) and it will provide our family and friends years and years of fun and relaxation. We cannot recommend Dex by Terra more!

Highly recommend. They helped us finish our pool when Sabrina Pools left us hanging. They are now our pool company we go to for everything!! Opening closing and everything in between.

We have done 3 phases of patio and landscaping upgrades and have been very happy with the service and communication. Dave in particular was so informative and took the extra time to explain the care and maintenance of everything planted. Very happy and would highly recommend.

We highly recommend Dex by Terra! We worked with them to create an "outdoor room" that included decking for a new pool, outdoor kitchen, patio, exterior landing and landscaping. The entire project exceeded our expectations. Everyone was extremely professional and personable, from Ed Terra to the guys who showed up everyday doing the physical work. Any issues or questions that popped up were quickly answered and dealt with. They work with us during the design phase to come up with the best solution for our property by utilizing their design software to change things up on the fly during our meetings so we could see if our ideas worked out or not. The final design plan was awesome, and it was build to plan, but the actual final product is amazing. We plan to have them back to work with them again in the near future.

Dex helped us with everything from design to landscape. This was a big project and at times overwhelmed us, but the team at Dex worked with us every step of the way until it was exactly what we wanted! We love the pool area so much!!! Thank you!!

A picture is worth a thousand words!
I remember sitting in the conference room looking at the computer automation of what my back yard could look like and thinking to myself “Will it really be this beautiful?”.
Dex by Terra met with us to discuss our dreamscape and came up with our first visual. It only took a few meetings to tweak designs based on our wants and budget. Once contracts were signed, construction began and everything went in a timely manner. Construction workers were very conscientious of how they left the site, as we had a dog that roamed in the area that they worked. Any materials that remained until the workers returned were stored neatly.
The project was completed in late Fall. We contacted Dex by Terra in the Spring regarding some areas that settled improperly and the areas were corrected in a timely manner.
We also contracted DbT for landscaping and accent lighting. Again, going through a design process where they worked with our budget to make the hardscape features of our design really showcase! New group of people, very professional and knowledgeable of plants. All of the plants did well as promised. The few (3 out of 100) that did not make it and were replaced prior to the one year replacement time line because they were in a prime visual area.
I would highly recommend Dex by Terra for your landscaping dreams. A picture is worth a thousand words!!