Make your best investment count

One of Gerald’s passions is helping others who cannot afford to have necessary repair work done on their homes.

Recently, Best Investments Siding and Windows participated in the remodel of a home as a charitable event for 2010. All labor and materials were furnished for a complete exterior remodel on the home of Gilda Williams in Missouri City. The contributors heard about her plight when KHOU-TV did a story on Williams this spring. Missouri City had cited Williams for neglecting needed repairs to her home and was taking her to court; so she needed help.

“Best Investments Siding and Windows just did a $15,000 annual charitable project in conjunction with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and James Hardie Siding Corporation to give the homeowner a free complete exterior makeover. It was exciting to see their faces as they found out they had won the 2010 give away from NARI,” said Gerald.

When he came to Humble, Gerald bought a home and a building to locate his business, and he remembers that Humble was a lot smaller community at that time.

“I went into remodeling and construction installing siding, windows, roofing and patio covers in 1977. I started Best Investments Siding and Windows, and started running jobs in the Houston area. I got married and moved to Humble, and in 1983 I moved to Atascocita. I have always loved to help people fix their homes,” he said.

“The mall was not even built and the restaurants in town were Dairy Queen, Denny’s and Jade Palace,” he said.

Gerald said he was born in Texas and will die in Texas.

For more than 37 years, Gerald has been “fixing houses.”

Gerald is on the membership board for NARI for greater Houston, which is a nonprofit organization that promotes high standards from its contractors.

According to Gerald, NARI contractors are screened using stringent criteria for experience and workmanship. A contractor must display a commitment to the NARI Code of Ethics.

Gerald has garnered many awards from various organizations for his work.

“I have won 16 contractor of the year awards from 2005 - 2010 and four regional contractor of the year awards in 2008 and 2010 from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry; five Better Business Awards of Excellence from 2006-2010; four Golden Hammer Awards, as well as The Dave Glassburn award in 2009 from NARI for going above and beyond the call of duty. I won the AIM award from NARI in 2008 for the most new members across the nation,” he said.

“We take pride in our workmanship but we do not charge a premium price (arm and a leg) for our services. We are always booked up three to four weeks in advance, but great things are worth waiting for. We always answer our phone and always return phone calls. You, the customer are the key to our success. Even after the sale, if there is ever a problem, we take care of the problem as quickly as possible. That is how we treat our customers for that customer satisfaction,” Gerald said.

He is proud of the fact that Best Investments has certified remodelers on staff, including factory trained installers for Hardi-Plank windows and roofing.

“We are in business to help people get their homes fixed up, as well as save them money off their heating and cooling bills,” said Gerald.

The best thing about his company, Gerald said, is the ability to be competitive on pricing.

“If you are looking for quality work but not being charged a premium price, we are who you are looking for. We’ve had zero complaints with the BBB in 33 years. We also support the community, not only through our church, but with our support of the Humble ISD ads on school buses, and now on the Internet website of Humble ISD.”

Gerald said the most fulfilling thing about his work is getting to meet new people everyday and not doing the same old “humdrum job” each day.

“Everyday is exciting because you do not know what will come up. You might go from not having one appointment to having five appointments in a matter of one hour. The best thing that I love about my job is helping people get their homes fixed up. There are a lot of bad contractors out there that leave clients with a bad taste in their mouths over shoddy workmanship; or leaving a job not completed; or promising a client they will come back and never show back up; or only work a couple hours a day and leave a project lingering for months. That is why we do not ask for a penny down; you pay when the job is completed and you are satisfied – instead of being held hostage by a contractor not wanting to do any work until he gets more money and he stays ahead of you,” said Gerald.

For Best Investments Siding and Windows, he has one simple goal in place, and that is to try to grow about 10-15 percent a year. Keeping up with growth, he has hired new personnel to help with Internet and networking needs.

Staying involved with church and community is important to Gerald.

“I have been on the Atascocita United Methodist Church Golf tourney committee for the last 15 years, as well as 14 years with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo souvenir program committee,” he said. Gerald said he has enjoyed many past successes, and the highlight would be his two wonderful children and grandchildren.

“When I think back on all the awards for Contractor of the Year, the Golden Hammer Awards, five-time winner of the BBB Awards of Excellence, for example, I think back to a Baptist church meeting, where I went to see Drayton McLane (owner of the Astros) in the early 90s. He said, ‘Success in life is Jesus Christ.’ I believe this is true, because I am not working for myself – I am just managing this company, Best Investments Siding and Windows, temporarily, while I am down here,” Gerald said.

In recent years Gerald has put his advertising dollars to work by placing ads on school buses in Humble ISD through Steep Creek Media.

“Advertising on school buses helps the community and helps my business get name recognition as a company that does excellent quality work at affordable prices,” said Gerald.

Best Investments Windows and Siding is located at 12314 E. FM 1960. For a free consultation, call Gerald at 281-852-1866 or visit www.bestinvestmentssidingandwindows.com

Photos: (Top) Jerry Gerald, owner of Best Investments Siding and Windows, enjoys helping homeowners throughout Houston and surrounding areas fix their homes. Photo by Trilla Cook (Bottom) Gilda Williams thanks Jerry Gerald of Best Investments Siding and Windows for his part in the recent complete exterior makeover of her home.