G. Gilbert (Gil) Engler has over 25 years of experience, with over 10,000 fee paid inspections all around the greater Washington metropolitan area and beyond.

About Gil Engler:
What is Mr. Engler's inspection and service philosophy?
What is Mr. Engler's experience?
What are some of things that you believe set your home inspections apart from others?


What is Mr. Engler's inspection and service philosophy?

"My father, an inventor, industrial engineer and manufacturer, always used the motto in his business, "Do the best job you can and the rest will follow". I have tried to follow that sound advice in my profession by providing the best service I know how giving my clients and their prospective homes my full attention during the time of the inspection. My job, as I see it, is to find, discuss and document significant deficiencies with the home while also emphasizing it good points; hence, the importance of the client's attendance at the inspection.

Mine is a service business and I am at your service. There are few advocates in the home buying process. The Home Inspector is one of them. Bring your questions and concerns and I will address them as best I can. If I don't know the answer I will attempt to find the answer or refer you to someone who can whether that person is an architect, structural engineer, tradesperson, code authority or other building professional.

To me, problems are opportunities. Most problems found during home inspections are readily fixable while some are more onerous. Some problems are corrected by the property seller by the terms of the sales contract while others are negotiable. The client and his or her real estate agent will determine which problems fall into which category. I haven't found the perfect house yet - they all have at least some problems and they all require maintenance. I try to put problems found in a perspective of how critical they are in immediacy, scope of work and expense.

Also important is educating the client about the home so that during their stewardship of the property, problems with the home are minimal. This takes an understanding of the home and its systems and the maintenance required to keep the structure in good condition and its systems operating smoothly. The "tutorial" during the inspection provides the foundation for this knowledge while the inspection manual provides the informational support needed through the years of ownership."

What is Mr. Engler's experience?

He has been performing home inspections since 1981 all around the greater Washington metropolitan area and beyond.
He has performed over 10,000 fee-paid inspections.
He has been a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) since 1986.
He wrote the entire text for the home inspection manual that the client receives at the end of the inspection - over 439,000 words and roughly 350 illustrations.
He has given home inspection related presentations to home owner's associations (HOA's), Community Development Groups, Federal Credit Union groups, RealtorŪ groups and other organizations.
He has volunteered his time and talents to volunteer organizations such as Christmas in April, a housing rehabilitation program for the needy.
Married and the father of four, he is also a 1967 graduate of Bucknell University and holds the rank of Commander, United States Navy, Retired.

What are some of things that you believe set your home inspections apart from others?

a. The experience of 25 years as a home inspector and over 10,000 completed home inspections.
b. Ease of relating to almost every client and a sense of humor.
c. A genuine service attitude. Mr. Engler wants his clients to participate in the home inspection as this is the best way for them to learn about the house they have chosen to buy. He wants his clients to leave the inspection feeling more informed, comfortable and confident about their prospective purchase then they thought possible. Questions are always welcomed and encouraged. He most of all wants his clients feeling that they received a very good value for their money.
d. Thoroughness in the conduct of the inspection and in the documentation of it.
e. Exceeding the American Society of Home Inspectors' (ASHI) Standards of Practice in the conduct of the inspection and in reporting.
f. A time-tested, well organized inspection report system that is coupled with a wealth of related house system and deficiency information including roughly 350 illustrations and over 439,000 words, all compiled and written by Mr. Engler. This information, used properly, will make home ownership easier and safer and will help to maintain, if not increase, the value of the home.
g. Helpful extras such as installing highly visual identification tags on important water and gas cut-off valves with instructions for their use.