Alan Carson and the Company that Established a Quiet Legacy of Home Integrity in Canada

Back in the mid-1970s, Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, who were fire protection engineers inspecting industrial buildings for insurance companies, had not yet seen the emergence of the profession of “home inspection” in Canada.

Their daily work involved assessing large mechanical systems, risk protocols, and structural vulnerabilities on behalf of insurers. Their focus was on ensuring the safety of people.

However, things took a turn when Dunlop purchased an old, deteriorating house in Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighborhood. Carson, approaching the structure not as a buyer but as an inspector, walked through it with him. Their concern was not about resale value, but about the structural integrity of the house.

Carson still vividly remembers the Realtor’s smile and the question that changed their lives: “That was smart. Can you do that for my next client?”

The Beginning of Home Inspection in Canada

This seemingly casual comment marked a significant turning point, although it came without any grand announcement.

Carson and Dunlop believed they had introduced a new service. However, a few days later, they discovered that detailed residential inspections had been a common practice in the United Kingdom for many generations. The United States was also beginning to formalize it. Yet in Canada, it was unexplored territory.

One snowy afternoon while inspecting a facility in London, Ont., the two got snowed in and began discussing. By nightfall, Carson Dunlop & Associates was established. Each of them contributed $1,000 to start the first dedicated home inspection company in the country.

There were no elaborate strategies or growth targets. It was all about hard work, humility, and the simple belief that homebuyers deserved to be informed about what they were getting into.

Carson was only 26 years old at the time.

Putting Clients First

When asked what set Carson Dunlop apart, Carson emphasizes one thing without hesitation.

He explains, “It’s incredibly simple. We built everything around the idea of taking excellent care of our clients. Buyers, sellers, Realtors – they are all our clients. Treat them as you would want to be treated.”

This wasn’t just a philosophy; it was a policy that shaped the company culture for years to come.

When a client raised concerns about a home with UFFI, Carson could have argued that it was not detectable. Legally, he was likely in the clear. However, the client brought in a lawyer, and Carson chose to listen and settle for a small amount. Surprisingly, the lawyer later asked for business cards, referring clients for years.

This kind of story became common. In another instance, a student left a negative Google review, mistakenly upset with a community college Carson Dunlop partnered with. Without prompting, the team reached out, clarified the situation, and resolved the misunderstanding.

This was the standard not because it was mandated, but because it was demonstrated. Do the right thing, go the extra mile, take responsibility for the outcome, and always leave people in a better place than you found them.

A Business Built on Trust

Carson Dunlop was not intended to be a high-growth business. It grew organically through trust. Carson humorously admits he is not a great businessman and struggles with sales and marketing.

However, he excels at communication. To Carson, inspection is all about effective communication. A home may have countless complex components, and the inspector’s role is to filter, interpret, and explain.

Carson emphasizes, “We are in the communication business; we just happen to conduct home inspections.”

Inspectors were not only trained in structure and safety but also in communication. Carson teaches them to adapt their language based on the audience, using technical terms with engineers and analogies with first-time buyers or artists to make the information more relatable.

They understood that language could either calm or confuse, and they made sure to communicate clearly. Carson believes this skill is often overlooked in the industry.

Carson Dunlop did not chase deals; they focused on building partnerships. By educating Realtors about home inspection and hosting seminars, they gained the trust of a generation of agents who saw them as allies in helping clients make informed decisions.

An Educator First, an Entrepreneur Reluctantly

Carson’s preferred role…