The horror story
“The price grew every week. Final bill: 40% over the quote.”
Our fixWritten price in your contract. If anything changes, we explain it first and get your approval — because we inspect behind the walls like builders before we quote.
First Call. Only Call.Licensed & insured · 2,000+ NJ projects
Something broke? Don't hire a headache.
First Call Contracting is a licensed general contractor in Paramus, NJ, serving all 21 New Jersey counties. One crew handles 24/7 emergency repairs, remodeling, plumbing, roofing, electrical, heating and AC. You get a written, itemized price before work starts, and it cannot change without your signature.
2,000+ projects across New JerseyA real person answers, day or nightWritten price before work starts
Not sure what your place needs? Tap 5 buttons and we'll show you the fastest fix →
Kitchen RemodelingRoof RepairMaster BathroomsWater HeatersBasement FinishingReplacement WindowsDrain CleaningPanel UpgradesSiding & RepairTub-to-Shower ConversionsHome AdditionsFurnacesDecks & PorchesSump & Ejector PumpsGutters & DownspoutsEV ChargersAttic InsulationEmergency PlumbingKitchen RemodelingRoof RepairMaster BathroomsWater HeatersBasement FinishingReplacement WindowsDrain CleaningPanel UpgradesSiding & RepairTub-to-Shower ConversionsHome AdditionsFurnacesDecks & PorchesSump & Ejector PumpsGutters & DownspoutsEV ChargersAttic InsulationEmergency Plumbing
0+New Jersey projects completed
0 yearsServing New Jersey — one company, one standard
0+New Jersey towns served, all 21 counties
24/7A real person answers — not a machine
What you get
Four things, every job.
Licensed & insured crew
Registered New Jersey home improvement contractor. Licensed master plumber, electricians and HVAC techs on staff.
Price in writing
No hidden charges. No surprise bills. Itemized, line by line, before we start.
Changes need your approval
Nothing gets added without your sign-off on a written change order.
24/7 — a person answers
Real help when you need it. Burst pipes, storm damage, no heat: we dispatch around the clock.
The menu
Two ways in.
Planning a project? Book it. Something broke right now? Call. Same crew, either way.
Planned work
Remodeling & upgrades
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions, interiors, attic and garage conversions — plus roofing, siding, windows, decks and outdoor living.
Book a free consultation →Same-day consults · written price on the spot
Right now
24/7 repairs & emergency
Leaks, storm damage, board-ups, no heat, structural scares — and the handyman punch list you've been putting off. Dispatched around the clock.
Call (201) 676-3099A person answers, day or night
Most requested
The three rooms that sell a house.
Drag the handle to compare. These show the kind of finish our crews deliver; ask us and we'll text you photos of a finished job like yours.
Example finishes shown. See our work →
Watch the transformation
Before to after, in five seconds.
Realistic 3D previews of the kind of finish our crews deliver. Your project gets a plan like this before we start, so you see it before you pay for it.
▶ See all 20 transformations →Tap to watch every before-and-after — bathrooms, kitchens, pools, roofs, exteriors and more.
Previews show example finishes, not a specific customer's home. Want one of your own room? Send two photos, it's free →
Want one of these for your room?
Send two photos. See your new room before you pay for it.
Take a picture of the room you have. Add a picture of the look you want. We turn them into a realistic 3D preview of your room, then put a price on it in writing. Free, and you keep both even if you never hire us.
1
Snap the room you have
Stand in the doorway, lights on, one wide picture.
2
Add the look you love
A Pinterest pin, a screenshot, or a photo of a room you saw somewhere.
3
Get your preview and your price
A realistic 3D preview of your room with the new look, plus a written price. Free.
What we do
Every trade under one roof. One phone call.
Most home problems need more than one trade. A leak ruins a ceiling; a remodel needs a plumber and an electrician. We handle all of it, so you never chase three companies.
Plumbing & Drains
Repairs, water heaters, sewer and water lines, drain cleaning, gas lines and leak detection.
All 20 plumbing & drains services ▾
Heating & Cooling
Furnaces, boilers, water heaters, AC, mini-splits and air quality — repaired or replaced.
All 10 heating & cooling services ▾
Roofing & Exteriors
Roofs, siding, gutters, windows, doors, decks and masonry.
All 18 roofing & exteriors services ▾
Bathrooms & Showers
Full bathroom remodels, tub-to-shower conversions, walk-in showers, tubs and glass.
All 21 bathrooms & showers services ▾
Remodeling & General Contracting
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions and whole-home work — one licensed crew, one written price.
All 31 remodeling & general contracting services ▾
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Basement Finishing
- Home Additions
- Flooring
- Interior & Exterior Painting
- Cabinet Refacing
- Interior Remodeling
- Handyman & Small Jobs
- Attic Insulation
- Waterproofing & Foundation
- Closets & Storage
- Garage Floor Coating
- Attic & Garage Conversions
- Home Offices
- Built-ins & Millwork
- Murphy Beds
- Garage Storage
- Crawl Space Encapsulation
- Stair Lifts
- Foundation Piers & Wall Anchors
- Home Gyms
- Home Bars & Wine Rooms
- Condo & Co-op Renovations
- Historic Homes
- Insurance Reconstruction
- Investor & Landlord Renovations
- Commercial Build-Outs
- Asbestos & Lead Paint
- Home Care Plan
- Pre-Purchase Consults
- Renovations While You're Away
Electrical
Panel upgrades, EV chargers, generators, lighting, outlets and switches.
All 4 electrical services ▾
Outdoor Living
Outdoor kitchens, pool equipment, fire features, patios and outdoor showers.
All 11 outdoor living services ▾
Everything the national chains do — plus the trades they don't
One number instead of five companies.
The big remodeling chains sell baths, windows, doors, roofs and siding. We do all of that, and we also own the plumbing, electrical, heating and emergency work that they hand off to strangers.
| What you need done | National chains | First Call |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodels & bath conversions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Walk-in showers & walk-in tubs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Replacement windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entry & patio doors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roofing (asphalt & metal) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Siding, soffit & fascia | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gutters & gutter guards | ✓ | ✓ |
| Attic insulation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basement waterproofing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchens, basements & additions | — | ✓ |
| Plumbing, drains & sewer | — | ✓ |
| Heating, AC & electrical | — | ✓ |
| 24/7 emergency repairs | — | ✓ |
| Owner answers the phone | — | ✓ |
We read the one-star reviews of the big chains
Then we built the opposite.
The same complaints show up again and again in public reviews of the national remodeling chains. Every one of them became a First Call house rule. No company is named here — look up the patterns yourself.
TheyA 2-to-5-hour sales pitch in your living room
First CallA 45-minute visit from the crew lead who will do the work. No script, no 'let me call my manager', and we leave when you want us to.
TheyA huge first number, then a 'tonight only' discount
First CallOne written price. It is good for 90 days and it is the same whether you sign today or in March.
TheyPrices two to three times what a local contractor charges
First CallFair New Jersey pricing, itemized line by line. Bring any written quote and we match the scope line for line.
They'Free estimate' — but only if every owner is home
First CallWhoever is home is fine. We email the written price and you decide on your own time. Nobody is asked to sign on the spot.
TheyCancellation fees of 35–50% after you change your mind
First CallNo deposit on most jobs and no cancellation fee before work starts. Custom-ordered materials are the one exception, and we tell you before we order them.
TheyInstallers who turn out to be subcontractors you have never met
First CallOur own crew, one lead, the same faces from the first day to the last. Licensed trades in-house, not rented.
TheyDamage to your home, then a contract clause that says it is your problem
First CallWe photograph your home before we start. Anything we damage, we fix, at our cost, in writing.
TheyA 'lifetime warranty' that costs money every time you call
First CallA plain-English warranty and a phone that gets answered. Warranty calls get a response within two business days, with no per-piece fees.
| How it goes | National chains | First Call |
|---|---|---|
| Sales visit | 2–5 hour presentation | 45 minutes with the crew lead |
| Your price | 'Tonight only' discount | In writing, good for 90 days |
| Who must be home | Every owner, or no price | Whoever is home; price is emailed |
| Deposit | Often 30–50% up front | None on most jobs |
| Change your mind before work starts | 35–50% cancellation fee | No fee |
| Who does the work | 1099 subcontractors (most chains) | Our own crew, same faces every day |
| Warranty service call | Weeks of waiting; per-piece fees | Answered within 2 business days; no per-piece fees |
| Door-knocking & robocalls | Standard practice | Never |
| Price vs. a local contractor | 2–3× (public complaints) | Fair NJ price, itemized, scope-matched |
Get matched · step 1 of 5
Not sure what your place needs? Tap through it.
Five taps. No hard words. We'll show you the fastest fix — and get the First Call crew on it.
Instant ballpark
See a typical price range in 5 seconds.
Pick the job from the menu, then the size. You get the range we quote every week in New Jersey. Your exact number goes in writing after a free visit — and it never goes up without your signature.
Our promise, in writing
The No-Surprise Guarantee
Printed in your contract — not on a poster.
01Your price is in writing
No additional charges without your approval. We inspect like builders before we quote — so the number you sign is the number you pay.
02You know the plan
Clear scope, clear communication and an expected timeline before work begins — plus a photo update text every workday.
03We stand behind our work
If there's a workmanship issue covered by your guarantee, we come back and make it right. Simple as that. Anything that carries water is covered by our 5-Year Watertight Guarantee.
Free consultation — here's what you keep, even if you never hire us
Book your free consultation and walk away with a written price, a project plan, and a free design plan.
- A full walkthrough and measurement by the crew that will actually build it — not a salesman
- Same-day & next-day appointments — call before noon and we're often there today
- Your written price, itemized line by line, on the spot
- A clear project plan and expected timeline
- A design plan built around your budget, at no cost
- Any written competitor quote matched scope-for-scope, line by line
Claim my free consultation →
No deposit · no obligation · if we're not a fit, keep the plan
Or call (201) 676-3099Why remodels go wrong
It's never the tile. It's the layers.
Most contractors don't do the work. They hire other people you never met. Every extra person costs you money and time. And when something goes wrong, they all point at each other.
First Call works the other way. One licensed crew does your whole job — first hammer to last coat of paint. One name on the contract. One person who picks up the phone. That's how we can promise the price and the day it's done.
The same crew, every day, until it's done
Heard one of these before?
The 4 contractor horror stories homeowners tell us all the time.
We hear them at almost every consultation. Here's each story — and how First Call was built so it can't happen to you.
The horror story
“Week 3: nobody showed up. Week 4: same. No calls, no explanation.”
Our fixOne dedicated crew stays on your job, you know the plan and the expected timeline, and you get a photo update text every single workday.
The horror story
“A different crew every day. Nobody knew the plan. Nobody was in charge.”
Our fixThe people who quote your job are the people who build it. Same crew, same foreman, every day. Big chains rent subcontractors — we don't.
The horror story
“They took the deposit. Then they stopped answering the phone.”
Our fixWe don't take deposits — you pay as work gets done, because we stand tall on our work. And the number on your contract rings the owner, 24/7. Try that with a national brand.
Why families pick us over the big chains
Get my price in writing →
15–30% less than the big-name chains.
The big companies pay for TV ads, salesmen and rented subcontractors. Guess who pays for all of that? You do. We run one crew as one lean New Jersey team, and the owner answers his own phone. Bring us any written quote — we'll match the scope line by line.
Areas we serve
All 21 counties. 219+ New Jersey towns. One company.
A local contractor near you — not a national chain. Based in Paramus, we build across all of North, Central and South Jersey and dispatch emergencies to the nearest crew.
Bergen County 67 towns
- Allendale
- Alpine
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rockleigh
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County 16 towns
- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County 20 towns
- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Upper Montclair
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Morris County 28 towns
- Boonton
- Butler
- Chatham
- Chester
- Denville
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Harding
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Long Valley
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morris Township
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Mount Olive
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Towaco
- Whippany
Hudson County 11 towns
- Bayonne
- Guttenberg
- Harrison
- Hoboken
- Jersey City
- Kearny
- North Bergen
- Secaucus
- Union City
- Weehawken
- West New York
Union County 16 towns
- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Rahway
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Somerset County 15 towns
- Basking Ridge
- Bedminster
- Bernardsville
- Bound Brook
- Branchburg
- Bridgewater
- Far Hills
- Green Brook
- Hillsborough
- Martinsville
- Montgomery
- Peapack-Gladstone
- Somerville
- Warren
- Watchung
Monmouth County 14 towns
- Colts Neck
- Fair Haven
- Holmdel
- Lincroft
- Little Silver
- Marlboro
- Middletown
- Monmouth Beach
- Oceanport
- Red Bank
- Rumson
- Sea Girt
- Spring Lake
- Wall
Central Jersey 14 towns
- Cranbury
- East Brunswick
- Edison
- Hopewell
- Lawrenceville
- Metuchen
- Milltown
- Old Bridge
- Pennington
- Princeton
- Princeton Junction
- South Brunswick
- West Windsor
- Woodbridge
Jersey Shore 18 towns
- Sea Bright
- Long Branch
- Deal
- Allenhurst
- Loch Arbour
- Asbury Park
- Ocean Grove
- Bradley Beach
- Avon-by-the-Sea
- Belmar
- Manasquan
- Brielle
- Point Pleasant Beach
- Bay Head
- Mantoloking
- Lavallette
- Toms River
- Brick
From our blog — free guides
Do your homework here — it's free.
Plain-English guides from the crew that answers the phone at 2AM. Read up, then get your answer in person — free.
Costs · PlumbingHow much does a plumber cost in NJ? (2026)Hourly rates, service call fees, emergency pricing and flat prices for the 12 most common jobs — plus what a $495 minimum visit actually covers.Read the guide →Costs · PlumbingWater heater replacement cost in NJ (2026)Gas tank, power vent and tankless prices, what a real install includes, the permit you need in NJ, and which utility rebates to check.Read the guide →Costs · BasementsBasement finishing cost in NJ (2026)$35–$130 a square foot, $40K–$95K for a typical basement, plus the permit rules and the egress window a legal bedroom needs.Read the guide →Costs · Drains & SewerSewer line replacement cost in NJ (2026)Per foot and whole-job prices, trenchless versus digging, who owns the pipe under the street, road opening permits and what insurance covers.Read the guide →Costs · BasementsSump pump cost in NJ — and what to do when the basement floodsReplacement, new pit and battery backup prices, flood cleanup costs, why NJ basements flood, and the five-minute check that predicts failure.Read the guide →Emergencies · PlumbingNo hot water or a leaking water heater? Do these 6 things firstSix checks to run before you call, when to shut off the gas and water, repair versus replace by age, and what the visit costs.Read the guide →
Straight answers
Questions every homeowner asks
How much does a remodel or repair cost in New Jersey?
Every job — from a small repair to a major renovation — gets one number in writing before we start. Bathrooms run about $8K (powder room) to $85K+ (master suite); kitchens $35K–$150K+; most emergency repairs $250–$3.5K. Your exact number comes from a free in-home visit, fixed and itemized.
Are you licensed and insured in New Jersey?
Yes. First Call Contracting is a registered New Jersey home improvement contractor, fully insured, with a licensed master plumber and licensed electricians and HVAC techs on the team. The license number is on every contract.
Do you handle permits and inspections?
Always. We pull the permits, schedule the inspections, and build to code in every town we serve. You never go to town hall.
Do you really answer 24/7?
Yes — the phone rings a person, not a machine. Burst pipes, storm damage, no heat: we dispatch around the clock. Call (201) 676-3099.
Which areas do you serve?
All 21 counties in New Jersey. Our home base is Paramus in Bergen County, so North Jersey emergencies usually get the fastest response, and we travel statewide for projects.
I searched "contractor near me" — are you actually near me?
If you're in New Jersey, yes. We're based in Paramus and our own crews — plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, roofers and carpenters — cover all 21 counties. Most of Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex is 15 to 30 minutes from our shop, and emergencies go to the nearest crew, 24/7.
Do you require a deposit?
No. You pay as work gets done, and you hold the final payment until we walk the finished job together and you sign off.
Stop calling contractors.
Make the first call the only one.
Call, text a photo, or send the form. A real person calls you back — within minutes for emergencies, the same day for everything else.