In the late 1960s, after 15 years in senior marketing positions at several Fortune 500 companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Warner Lambert, Ken was ready to make his move. He met a successful east coast builder who shared with Ken his idea for a new concept called a home inspector business and the rest is history! Ken knew that with the right marketing strategy and a solid technical program, home inspectors could become an integral part of the real estate transaction.

Nearly a Half Billion Dollars and Two Million Inspections!
By the mid 70's Ken had a thriving multi-inspector home inspection business and felt the fledgling inspector industry needed to establish standards and gain recognition. In 1976, Ken Austin became a founding member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. By 1979, Ken was ready to go national and launched HouseMaster. HouseMaster was the first company to franchise in the home inspection industry, which garnered much positive media attention, including an article in the Wall Street Journal. Since then, the HouseMaster System has generated almost a half billion dollars in inspection fees and almost 2 million home inspections.

Marketing savvy combined with a commitment to technical, service and inspector excellence has been the mission at HouseMaster, now run by Ken's daughter, Kathleen. Kathleen Austin Kuhn is a 20 plus year veteran of the system and former franchisee. Many of HouseMaster's senior staff have almost 20 years experience with the system.

But home inspection expertise goes well beyond the corporate office. That's because HouseMaster franchisees and their inspectors are also among the most experienced in the industry, and will be a great source of support, motivation and camaraderie for you.

Like a family, we depend on each other and acknowledge that for our inspectors and franchise offices to truly succeed we need open communication, teamwork and commitment to the brand.

Click Here to download a copy of the HouseMaster Fact Sheet and Company Background.