Kathleen Austin Kuhn has a long family history in home inspections. Her father, Ken Austin, is a Charter Member of ASHI, and in the mid-’80s she opened her own home inspection business shortly after college. Her husband joined the business several years later and continues to do inspections, while her youngest son is also a home inspector.
As a high school student, Kuhn worked with her father in his local home inspection business, which he used as a model to launch HouseMaster. HouseMaster launched in 1979 as the first company to franchise home inspections. After a short stint away, Kuhn returned to work in the family business and went on to become the CEO of HouseMaster. Before selling the firm in 2020, HouseMaster covered more than 320 markets across North America, conducting more than 80,000 inspections annually.
Kuhn is one of the few C-level female executives of a national organization in the home inspection industry. “This distinction has not only shaped my professional journey but also allowed me to make valuable contributions to the growth and awareness of the industry,” she said.
We recently talked with Kuhn to find out more about her journey:
What is your connection to ASHI?
My father, Ken Austin, played a pivotal role in the early days of the home inspection industry. Alongside Ron Passaro, he spearheaded efforts to unite fledgling home inspectors on the East Coast, leading to the establishment of a trade organization aimed at setting industry standards. He proudly served as one of the original members of ASHI and even designed the organization’s enduring logo.
Growing up, I actively supported my father’s business, handling tasks like answering phones, scheduling inspections, and typing reports (yes, they were typed back then). After several years in a corporate career after college my entrepreneurial genes kicked in and I left to launch my own home inspection business. While I never personally conducted inspections, I managed a team of inspectors and focused on business development and operations. Back then, joining ASHI was limited to those performing inspections, so I ensured my inspectors were members, keeping myself updated through their involvement.
I entered the home inspection industry and didn’t dwell on how few women were in the field. My advice to women in the industry is to focus on their skills, expertise, and contributions, not who they are as women.
What attracted you to the profession?
Aside from my family ties to the industry, three factors drew me in. Firstly, the field was in its infancy, promising ample room for growth and innovation. Secondly, leveraging my background in marketing, business development, and customer service, I recognized the potential for success by excelling in these areas within home inspections. Lastly, the profound impact we had on clients by providing vital information for their significant financial decisions was immensely rewarding. The personal satisfaction derived from delivering value to our customers was a major motivator for me.
What lessons have you learned from this industry?
The most important lesson I gleaned was the necessity of continuous learning and adapting to provide ever-greater value to clients. It’s tempting to resist change and remain entrenched in established practices, but embracing industry evolution benefits the home inspector, business owner, and the client. The most successful companies in the field are those that continually innovate, incorporating new technologies and services to empower home buyers with comprehensive resources for informed decision-making.
What advice do you have for women in the industry today?
My advice is to consider being a woman irrelevant. Reflecting on my own journey, I entered the home inspection industry with youthful enthusiasm and didn’t dwell on how few women were in the field. Whether I found myself as the sole woman in a meeting or event was inconsequential. My advice to women in the industry is to adopt a similar attitude, focusing on their skills, expertise, and contributions, not who they are as women.
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