Below is a small sample of the appreciative notes that regularly arrive in David Gerstel's inbox:
I am a builder and mostly build family properties and larger estate homes. I worked for a general contractor for 20 years. During my time with them, I discovered your book, Running a Successful Construction Company. It truly was my Builders Bible. When your book Building Freedom came out, I bought a dozen copies and handed them out to my subcontractors. Thank you for all the wonderful information you have provided. You have transformed many lives.
Francisco Henningsen., Builder in Northern California
I'm a younger carpenter just jumping out on my own. Everything you've put out has been a total asset for me, so I just wanted to throw you a huge thank you. You are definitely the real deal.
Andrew Coulouris, Carpenter and Startup General Contractor, Texas
I have often thought about how I would like to let you know the credit we give you for the success of our business. We (wife and myself) started our business twenty-seven years ago. We relied heavily on your book as a how-to guide for structuring our business, and for various management insights. Your book helped us understand how much we didn’t know about running a business, and it gave us good and tangible insights into how to get started. Your book was definitely our foundation. We are currently into the sixth year of an eight-year transition plan in which we are selling our business to one of our employees. I am grateful for the opportunity to thank you for your insights, and for helping make our business successful.
Tim Welsh., Builder in Atlanta
David is the builder's builder. His exacting attention to detail and his supreme organizational ability have made him the go-to person for any contractor with questions on how to improve their business or for any homeowner interested in hiring the best contractor.
Larry Hayden. Owner of a remodeling company in Northern California
David, I have purchased and read several of your books and they truly have helped and I have enjoyed them.
Wade Rolles, Builder in Nashville, TN
Your book was instrumental in helping me run my construction business, and later I used it to grow the design/build firm I worked at from $600K to $5M in annual revenue. -
Michael Maines, Designer in New England & co-author of Pretty Good House
I can’t stress enough how important I feel Gerstel's voice in the industry is and how much I want his ideas to be heard on the pages of The Journal of Light Construction. I am quite serious about my use of terms like “revolutionary” and “restore balance” to describe his work.
Clayton DeKorne, Editor of the Journal of Light Construction
I have had the opportunity to get to know David over the last few years, and during that time I have realized that his unique ability to run a successful construction company and even teach those principles to others is not even his greatest skill. It is his ability to think independently, challenge assumptions, and to arrive at better answers. Our interviews with David are among our highest rated.
Jared Gossett, Austin Texas Homebuilder of the Year and Founder of the Building Optimal podcast
I have already purchased my copy of Nail Your Numbers. It looks like it will be a wonderful teaching tool, as is Running a Successful Construction Company. I was a general and electrical contractor. When I first read your book, I went WOW!
Mark Van Meter ., faculty member, Cabrillo College, Aptos, California
Mr. Gerstel, from your books, I learned to save money, stay lean, manage well, seek profit, be humane, and build a residential complex on my own without any kind of bank loans.
Joseph Hough., Builder in Vancouver, Canada
Two days ago I got to chatting with another carpenter. At one point he complained that people just don’t get what it means to be a carpenter. I wanted to know if he knew the term “artisan contractor,” so I asked if he knew David Gerstel. Well, of fucking course, his eyes lit up and he went on and on about how much your book helped him. I’m in the middle of nowhere, 20 miles from the Mexican border, walking my dog, and I still can’t get away from you. -
Kevin Ireton, Builder and former Editor-in-chief of Fine Homebuilding
Gerstel knows his stuff.
Edgar E. on YouTube