Alan Carson lives home inspections. Even before he co-founded Carson Dunlop & Associates Limited in 1978 with Robert Dunlop, he was fascinated by the concept. Before the firm was established, he had searched through the United States, Canada and Great Britain for home inspectors.  

Company Growth

Since 1978, the company has grown. There are now eighteen technical people on staff who together with the support team, perform approximately 6,000 home inspections per year. Blvd. Property Inspection is part of the Carson Dunlop group who perform these inspections. CDW Engineering is another part of the Carson Dunlop family, performing commercial building inspections and providing training for commercial building inspectors.

Inspecting A House

Alan's work has diversified and he co-authored "Inspecting a House - A Guide for Buyers, Owners and Renovators", published in 1982 and again in 1986 by General/Stoddart Publishing. The book has been widely sold as a lay-person's guide to home inspection. The book has also been used as a course text by the Appraisal Institute.  Since 2003, it has been distributed by Dearborn Publishing in the United States. 

Home Reference Book

Alan enjoyed writing so much that he worked with Bob Dunlop to write the Home Reference Book, arguably the premier home inspection reporting system in the world. Even home inspectors who do not use the Home Reference Book as their reporting system typically have a copy on the shelf to refer to for technical guidance. This encyclopedic manual on homes is not only a report writing system, but is used by a number of real estate associations as course material in their licensing programs.

Horizon

This web-based report writing system is a revolutionary solution in the inspection profession. The significant database is reinforced with technical illustrations and articles that provide depth that goes well beyond conventional reporting systems.

Articles and Speeches

Alan's technical experience has also shown up in the writing of a number of reports, white papers and articles on building inspection. Alan also has participated in training his peers through seminar and conference presentations on topics that include plumbing, asphalt and wood roofing, electrical systems, report writing, commercial inspections, marketing, and slate and tile roofing. Alan has lectured in several parts of North America to home inspectors. Alan was also involved with the American Society of Home Inspectors' Technical Journal ("ASHI® Technical Journal") as an associate editor of this high-profile, technical magazine.

Classroom Training and Field Training

Alan's inclination to train has been fostered by the four month, in-house training program that all Carson, Dunlop inspectors go through when they join the firm. His relationship has developed with Inspection Training Associates in California. From 1991 to 1996, Carson Dunlop & Associates delivered intensive introductions to home inspection courses in Toronto. These courses typically involved 120 hours of home study and 80 hours of classroom time. Alan performed roughly 90% of the classroom teaching.

Founding Member of CAHPI and OAHI

Alan has committed himself to development of the home inspection profession. He was one of the founding members of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) in 1982. Although this organization did not flourish immediately, it has become a major player in home inspection in Canada. Alan was also a founding member of the Ontario chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors. This chapter, now called the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) was formed in 1987. Alan has served at several levels and is a Past-President of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors.

ASHI® President

Alan has also been active in the American Society of Home Inspectors ("ASHI®"), which is the leading international organization of home inspectors in North America. Alan has served on committees, including the Executive Committee and less president in 1994. In January 1996, he completed four years on ASHI's Board of Directors.

Greenford Award

In recognition of his dedication to the home inspection profession in Canada, Alan has received the Stephen Greenford Award.

Monahon Award

In 1997, Alan received the Philip C. Monahon Awarded for contributions to ASHI and the Home Inspection profession in the United States.

Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Training Program

The most ambitious project Alan has undertaken is the creation and refinement of the Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Training Program, for those who want to learn the profession. This 10 Module, 4,500-page program includes 1,500 illustrations, 1,455 multiple choice test questions and 9 CD-ROMs. It is the most comprehensive and sophisticated training program available for prospective inspectors.

The textbooks in this program include:

1. Communication and Professional Practice
2. Roofing
3. Structure
4. Exterior
5. Electrical
6. Heating I
7. Heating II
8. Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps
9. Insulation and Ventilation
10. Plumbing
11. Interior

These textbooks are augmented by the business book entitled Building Your Home Inspection Business.

This program is available throughout North America including through the American Society of home inspectors, who have labeled the program ASHI@HOME.com.  It is offered in classroom, correspondence and online formats, through training schools, colleges and a university.

Professional Designations

Alan is a member and Past President of the American Society of Home Inspectors (Member # 865).

Alan is a member and Past President of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors.

Alan is a National Certificate Holder (designated by the National Certification Authority in Canada)

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