Get to Know the New ASHI President, Alden Gibson

by Alden E. Gibson February 1, 2015

ALDEN GIBSON, PRINCIPAL AND owner of Inspections by Gibson, is the incoming 2015 President of ASHI. Here’s a brief Q & A session held with Alden that gives a more up-close and personal picture, demonstrating his passion for the home inspection industry and its related businesses. 

Q: When did you begin performing home inspections? 

A: My first home inspection was in 1992. With my renovation and construction experience, a closely related skill that was in demand was home inspection. Through my business networks, I researched, investigated and then ultimately completed the Home Inspection Training Program through Carson Dunlop in Toronto, Ontario. I found this course to be very helpful and thorough and feel that it provided me with the comprehensive knowledge to represent my clients thoroughly and fairly. I worked with The Home Inspector for four years and then opened my own business, Inspections by Gibson, in 1996. 

Q: Is your business a sole proprietorship or do you have partners in this venture? 

A: Currently, I am a sole proprietor, performing 300-350 home inspections per year. I do receive administrative support from my wife. I find that after being married to me for 36 years, she is an excellent sounding board and we work very well together. 

Q: How was your skill set developed to prepare you for a career in home inspection? 

A: Home renovation and construction has always been an interest for me. To officially connect my interest to a career, I started performing home renovations in 1981 and that led to a transition that resulted in custom home construction during the period from 1987 to 1996. 

Q: How have home inspections changed since you first began your inspection career? 

A: The home construction industry is constantly changing and the building codes change accordingly to reflect this. Keeping current with these changes is a definite requirement to completing a thorough and reliable home inspection. Gathering this type of knowledge is equivalent to continuing education courses for other licensed and/or certified professions. 

Q: Why did you become a home inspector? 

A: I really enjoyed the housing, real estate and construction industries – and I like helping people. When I can combine the two interests, I can achieve my goals while making a living at the same time. I like to stay connected to the related fields as well and have been able to do that by lecturing to several municipal real estate boards, real estate sales offices, at colleges and for the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. I’ve also enjoyed being an instructor for both OAHI and CAHPI. 

Q: Are you affiliated with other home inspection organizations, as well as ASHI? 

A: I am an active member of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI), the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors, Ontario (CAHPI ON) and the Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT). I am also an Associate Member of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists (OACETT) and have held executive positions in many of my associated organizations. I am especially proud of having received the President’s Award from both the Canadian and the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. Most recently, in 2012, I was pleased to receive the Innovation Award & Customer Service Excellence Award from Mike Holmes Inspections. In addition to my Canadian affiliations, I also conduct inspections for the United States Embassy and provide inspections for the U.S. in Canada for US Inspect and Fidelity Inspections & Consulting Services. 

Q: What is your top priority when serving as President during 2015? 

A: Build the ASHI membership. We are setting and promoting standards for property inspectors. By providing educational programs through the ASHI School and website for our members to achieve excellence in the profession, we will continue to improve the standards and build on education. The one thing we must understand is that ASHI members are all colleagues, not competitors.


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