Construction Company reviews in Cincinnati, Ohio

I'm a current renter in a Northside apartment complex - BEWARE renting with Rock Island Realty. Poor quality remodel on a deteriorating building. There has been a long list of issues since day 1 with this company, but currently mold growing in our apartment is at the top of the list. Very disappointed and would love to see better, especially at this price point.

Incompetent? Negligent? Probably both. Lisa and Craig don’t work well with others. Also they don’t ensure quality work by either their own teams or the subs they hire. I wouldn’t trust them to put up a fence after the disaster they created attempting to remodel my bathrooms.

Edit to add response to the response. People who can’t build a pony wall a parallel entry way will say all sorts of dumb things to try to cast blame on others for their poor quality work. Your work was not quality, which means it was poor. I wanted to work on solutions but you all refused to fix everything that needed fixed until I paid in full for all of the work, which wasn’t even completed and I had already paid 90%. I have the receipts.

People thinking about using Craig Soper to manage anything, look elsewhere, save yourself the money, the headache, find someone worth it.

RIR built a stage for events on our patio at our retail location in Northside. Great communication before, during, and after the project from them. Team of guys came out and executed install flawlessly and they even took the time to properly clean up the area after the project was finished. A few months later a board split on the top (not from their craftsmanship, but small children jumping up and down on the stage) and Craig personally came out and repaired the piece...free of charge. Highly recommended.

It’s nice living in Hamilton Ave the apartments are clean and pest free

My partner and I were new to Cincinnati. So, we were nervous about buying a house in the right neighborhood. And the process didn't go smoothly until we fell in love with an American Four Square house in Northside. The founder of Rock Island Realty took care to answer all our concerns and walked us through the house buying process — and continued to help us fix any issues that arose after we moved in.

Our new home was renovated by Rock Island Realty, including replacing the knob and tube wiring and cast iron plumbing with modern upgrades. The coal fireplaces and original tile have been preserved, along with the original hardware and hardwood. (Thankfully the beautiful red oak was never painted.) Plus the kitchen and bathrooms were upgraded to modern standards. By eliminating a hallway to the basement, not only did we get an extra guest bathroom, we got a big, functional kitchen with a gas stove and big sink — perfect for the foodie cook. My partner loves the new third-floor bathroom. It's like a spa! And, we love the landscape which was intentionally planted with lots of flowers and trees to help our pollinators.

But best of all about Rock Island Realty, that continues to impress us to this day, is that they are not only renovating houses — they are renovating communities. We have watched our neighborhood continual improve. We feel like bought a whole neighborhood!

Our relationship with Colleen at Rock Island Realty began in July 2023. Our experience was everything we could have asked for. Even when things went left, she remained in pocket to answer any inquiries and always responded within the hour. A few times conducting tasks she really didn't have to. Though her plate is likely full of other buyers, she took the time to answer questions and work us through the process. Weeks after the sale she has continued to make herself available to inquiries. I hope our relationship continues beyond the purchase of our place in the Ozarks. It's always a pleasure speaking with her.

We have been with Rock Island Realty for over 4 years now and we have nothing but good things to say about Lisa and the team. Our beautiful apartment is affordable and well kept. We love that Lisa gives us the freedom to have a garden in the backyard. We also really appreciate how Lisa sees our pets as part of the family and welcomes them with no additional charge. Whenever there is a maintenance concern, the Rock Island Realty team keeps us updated and quickly fixes the situation. We highly recommend Rock Island Realty.

I hired Rock Island to demo and re-frame the interior of a house that's undergoing a full renovation. I couldn't be happier with the results. Craig, Lisa and their team are true professionals. They are experienced, talented and efficient. I would not hesitate to use them again.

I have had many dealings with Rock Island over several years, all positive experiences. I have utilized their construction and remodeling services on some complex projects. Their staff has always operated in a professional manner in our dealings. I have found their CEO Lisa to be nothing but honest and ethical. I have seen how this business has impacted my community in such a positive way. I would definitely recommend Rock Island for any of your construction or rental needs.

The team at rock island did a major project on our house including taking the roof off and creating a living space in what was previously storage. They were great to work with and made us an amazing space that we enjoy living in. Their communication throughout the project was great including pre planning from architect drawings to all the details I didn’t even realize were involved. They stuck to the timeframe and we’re overall an excellent contracting team. Recommended!!

My husband and I rented from Rock Island and had great experiences with them. We had limited time to look at apartments and Sandy was able to accommodate our schedule, even when we wanted to return for a second look. Gale in the office was pleasant and helped us get through all the paperwork. The apartment we rented was a great space and had been recently renovated. When we had an issue with the washing machine, they sent sent their maintenance team as soon as possible to deal with it. The company is very professional in general and easy to work with.

I have used Rock Island Realty for years. They invariably do excellent maintenance, restoration, etc. on my property.

I see that four years have passed since my earlier review of Rock Island Realty. I would like to stress that everything that I said previously continues to be the case. They continue to be terrific in every way, week in week out, month in monty out, and year in year out. They genuinely care about their customers and it shows in every encounter. Highest quality work and service.

We appreciate Rock Island Realty's dedication to preventative pest control & lawn maintainance including the thoughtful care of the pollinator plants around the premises creating a lovely place for all to be:)

I currently reside in a Hamilton house apartment. I’ve been here 1month and 2 days
I’ve been charged for a whole month of rent when I moved in at the end of that month.
I’ve been charged a filing fee for eviction, but there is no records of it in the clerk of Court. I was told I can’t get the 325.00 back because it went to the lawyer.
Maintenance has entered my apartment while I’m here me and my grandchildren sleep standing inside of my apartment saying he is there to fix my flooring without a 24 hour notice without any type of communication from the rental office saying that he was coming. I was told that it was the wrong apartment. Says Lisa the owner.
I was told this is an AS-IS apartment and I can’t get a fresh coat of paint
I have documents that have been deleted out of my email which I already had copies of them.
My lease was deleted, which was in my email from Rock Island
Lisa is rude she talks to people like they are beneath her.
I have numerous mice wholes that are barely plugged
I have seen roaches within 3days of being in this unit I have a video of the mice holes and chipping paint.
My apartment door is not sealed properly I can see out in the hallway even after maintenance was supposed to fix it.
I have received documents with the wrong apartment number on it.
I’ve been here 1 month moved in March 19th 2025 and have paid application fee, security deposit, First month rent , Partial months, rent a fee for eviction with no paperwork. And I have a full months rent coming up in May.
WOW!! 1,894.00 in 1 month

Lisa,
We just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much we appreciated the professionalism of your staff and contractors as they worked on the gut/rebuild of the small bathroom tucked under the stairs in our 1894 home. We went into the project fearing the dust/dirt of demolition, plaster repair, and wood sanding. None of it happened! Your crew left the house in perfect shape each and every day.
The old bathroom was an eyesore. It has been transformed into a thing of beauty—nodding to the original character, but affording us up-to-date conveniences. We could not be more pleased with the transformation, nor with the decision to use Rock Island to handle the project. You and Craig were especially patient with us as we went through the process…from beginning to end. We would not hesitate to recommend RIR to any of our friends and neighbors. Thanks again!
John & Terry

When I purchased my home in 2019 i had Rock Island Realty put up a deck and fencing as well as install a new driveway and steps. I highly recommend them for any remodeling needs. Everyone was great to work with

Our basement bathroom remodel turned out amazing. From a dark, dingy basement shower/toilet area to a brightly lit and tiled gorgeous area. Thanks Rock Island!!

I have been with Rock Island Realty now for 4 years... They take care of me whenever I have an issue with my apartment... I am very thankful for them because unlike other places their pet fee is low! Thank you from the bottom of Jax and my hearts!

I've been at 4309 for almost 2 yrs. Now and really haven't had any problems living here! It's been a nice quiet atmosphere so far and I enjoy the closeness to everything around me!

I recently had Rock Island completely gut and renovate my 1950’s bathroom.
They showed up on time and coordinated every step of the process with me along the way. They gave me everything that I asked for and some.
My new bathroom is amazing. I highly recommend working this crew! Clean orderly sufficient go out of the way to accommodate!

I recently had the pleasure of working with Rock Island Realty on a project to build a front porch for my home, and I am thrilled with the results! From start to finish, the project was managed with professionalism, attention to detail, and clear communication.

What I love most about the porch is the exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. The nickel gap ceiling detail is absolutely stunning and adds a touch of elegance to the space. The custom corbels and square column details are beautifully executed and have become a focal point of my home's exterior. The porch is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing, thanks to the creative design and execution by Rock Island Realty.

Additionally, the project management was outstanding. They kept me informed every step of the way, from the initial consultation to the final walkthrough. They were always available to answer any questions I had and made sure to address any concerns promptly. Their team was efficient and respectful of my property, leaving the job site clean and tidy at the end of each day.

Overall, I am beyond pleased with my experience working with Rock Island Realty. They delivered exactly what they promised, on time and on budget, and went above and beyond my expectations in every way. If you're looking for a reliable, talented general contractor, I highly recommend Rock Island Realty for their exceptional craftsmanship and outstanding project management.