Direct answers to the questions Northern NJ homeowners actually ask. Pricing, scheduling, service details, pre-listing, commercial, licensing — all in one place.
Most handyman jobs in Northern New Jersey cost between $95 and $500 depending on the work. We publish honest price ranges on every service page. A standard service-call minimum applies, and there's no travel fee.
No. Estimates and quotes are always free at Sentinel. We give a firm, upfront price before any work begins.
No travel fee, ever. We serve all six Northern NJ counties without charging mileage.
We have a standard minimum service call that ensures even quick fixes are worth the trip. Specifics depend on the job — we confirm before booking.
Most common jobs (TV mount, drywall patch, faucet swap) are flat-rate. Bigger or multi-task jobs are quoted as a half-day or full-day package. We avoid hourly billing for residential work because it would incentivize us to work slowly.
Yes. Text a few photos of what you need done to (201) 400-9827 or send the contact form and we'll quote remotely for most common jobs.
For most jobs under $500, no deposit. For larger jobs (full-day refresh, multi-day pre-listing work, materials over $300) we ask for 50% to start.
Yes — credit cards, Venmo, Zelle, and checks. Credit cards have a small processing fee passed through.
Most jobs are booked within 48 hours. Same-day service is available for urgent repairs.
Saturday mornings, yes. Sundays are emergency-only.
Yes. Restaurants, retail, and offices often need before-open / after-close service to avoid disrupting revenue. We schedule around your operating windows.
Yes, for HOAs, property managers, and multi-property owners. Monthly punch-list visits with consolidated billing are available.
We reschedule outdoor work (deck staining, exterior painting, power-washing) at no charge for weather. Indoor work proceeds normally.
Most standard TV mounts (up to 55" on a wood-stud drywall wall) are done in 60–90 minutes. Brick fireplaces, in-wall cable concealment, and large TVs add time.
Yes. Brick needs a hammer drill and masonry anchors. Plaster needs proper toggle anchors and careful drilling. Both are common in older North Jersey homes.
Done right, no. We patch, sand, prime, and paint-match so repairs disappear into the wall. Texture matching (orange peel, knockdown, smooth) is part of the service.
Yes. Like-for-like fan swaps cost $150–$350 depending on height and complexity. We replace older non-fan-rated boxes with proper fan-rated braces when needed.
Yes. IKEA, Wayfair, Amazon, big-box flat-packs — all of it. We bring tools, anchor heavy pieces to studs for child safety, and haul away packaging if you want.
Yes. Like-for-like toilet replacement is typically 90 minutes to 2 hours. We bring wax ring, supply line, and bolts. You usually supply the toilet.
Yes. Tub or shower recaulk runs $150–$275 and lasts 5+ years if done right. Fully removing old caulk is the hard part — that's where most DIYs fail.
Yes — anchored into studs (or stud-blocked tile backing), not drywall anchors. $90–$160 per bar. We can bundle 3 bars + handheld shower + anti-slip strips as an aging-in-place safety package.
Both. We replace rotten boards, fix railings and balusters, re-hang gates, and power-wash + stain to weatherproof. For full deck rebuilds we refer to framing contractors.
Yes. Most doors stick from sagging hinges (loose screws), seasonal swelling, or jamb misalignment. We diagnose for free and fix all three causes. $120–$250 typical.
A one-trip punch-list visit that fixes all the small issues — drywall patches, caulk, touch-up paint, hardware tightening, fence/gate repair — before listing photos and open houses. Built from a real estate flipper's eye for what actually moves sale price.
Inspection-report items, listing-photo issues, and open-house first impressions add up to thousands in negotiation leverage you give to buyers. Fixing them upfront for $400–$1,500 typically returns $5,000–$15,000 in negotiated price.
Yes. We work with listing agents directly — fast turnaround, fixed pricing, consistent quality. Ask about adding Sentinel to your vendor list.
Half-day (1–3 BR home, basic punch-list) or full-day (3–5 BR home, deeper refresh). Two-day comprehensive available for larger or deferred-maintenance properties.
Yes. Once the buyer's inspection report comes in, we work the list — drywall, plumbing fixtures, doors, locks — to keep the deal moving. Cost depends on scope.
Yes. General liability and workers' comp. We can name your management company or property as additional insured before our first visit. One-business-day turnaround.
Yes for recurring commercial accounts. Net-30 invoicing with monthly consolidated statements and PO-based work orders.
No fixed minimum. We waive the standard call-out minimum for accounts with recurring monthly work.
Yes. We're set up for occupied-space work — minimal disruption, clean job sites, quiet hours respected.
Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties in Northern New Jersey.
We have dedicated landing pages for 17 named towns and serve every town in the 6 counties on a service-area basis. Check the town list at the services page or just call.
Not currently. We focus on Northern NJ to keep service quality high and travel times short.
Yes. Hoboken brownstones, Jersey City high-rises, Fort Lee Palisades condos — we handle building-COI coordination and freight elevator scheduling.
Yes. Sentinel Handyman LLC is a registered NJ Home Improvement Contractor. License number is shown in the footer.
Yes. General liability and workers' compensation. We provide a Certificate of Insurance on request.
Yes. Anyone entering your home is background-checked and identifiable.
We make it right. The Sentinel Promise includes a satisfaction guarantee — if something isn't right, we fix it.
Workmanship on completed jobs is warrantied. Specifics depend on the work — we put it on the invoice.
NJ HIC licensees carry a bond as part of the licensing requirement.
For active emergencies (water leak, broken lock, fallen tree branch on roof) we prioritize same-day. After-hours availability depends on the situation — call (201) 400-9827.
Four standards we hold ourselves to on every job, every time.
You see and approve a clear, upfront price before any work begins. No surprises. No travel fee.
Background-checked pros in clean, marked vehicles. If we're going to be late, you'll know.
Square, level, plumb, and finished. Work we'd put our shield on.
Licensed, insured, and stand-behind. If something isn't right, we make it right.
Get a fast, no-pressure quote today. Most jobs booked within 48 hours.
