What HouseMaster does

HouseMaster, operating under the legal entity HouseMaster SPV LLC and headquartered in Somerville, New Jersey, is a privately held North American home and commercial property inspection company that has operated as a franchise network since its founding by Ken Austin in 1979. The company serves homebuyers, sellers, current homeowners, commercial property investors, and real estate agents through more than 200 independently owned franchise locations across the United States and Canada. Inspection methodology is built on conventional visual assessment enhanced by specialized diagnostic tools including thermal imaging cameras for moisture, insulation, and electrical anomalies, sewer camera scopes for pipe condition, and dedicated instrumentation for radon, mold, EIFS, water quality, and wood-destroying insect testing. Reports are delivered with same-day preliminary findings, accompanied by photographs, and are accessed through the proprietary HouseMaster Cloud platform which also provides a repair list generator and maintenance budget calculator.

The product portfolio spans three layers: core residential inspection services (Buyer Home Inspection, New Construction Inspection at construction-phase and final stages, Pre-Listing Inspection, Maintenance Inspection, Post-Close Inspection); specialized add-on services (EIFS, irrigation, air quality/mold, pool/spa, radon, septic, sewer scoping, thermal imaging, water quality, WDI/WDO, wind mitigation, four-point insurance inspection); and commercial services (Commercial Property Inspection and Multiple Dwelling Inspection for condos, apartments, townhouses, and small commercial properties). Revenue is generated per inspection on a one-time fee basis, with package customization and regional pricing variability; the Limited Repair Reimbursement Guarantee (up to $1,500 per claim, 90 days post-closing) and the Neighborly Done Right Promise provide a warranty layer that competitors do not consistently match. The customer-facing surface combines a national 800 number, an online booking flow on housemaster.com, the Neighborly mobile app on iOS and Android, and a real estate agent referral program with liability protection.

HouseMaster is the flagship inspection brand within Neighborly, a worldwide franchise holding corporation supporting more than 1,500 franchisees across ten countries and providing shared corporate infrastructure, mobile app, and cross-promotion with sibling home service brands such as Mr. Rooter, Mr. Electric, and Molly Maid. Distribution is franchise-based rather than direct, marketing relies on the housemaster.com website, SEO, content marketing through the HouseMaster blog, customer reviews, and Neighborly ecosystem cross-promotion, and the company claims 3.5 million+ inspections performed since inception with a 97% customer satisfaction rate across 20,363 five-star reviews. The company is privately held with no funding rounds or institutional investors disclosed in the available material, and is led by President and CEO Kathleen Kuhn following the passing of founder Ken Austin.

Name

HouseMaster

Legal name

HouseMaster SPV LLC

Website

https://housemaster.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HouseMaster is a privately held North American home and commercial property inspection franchise founded in 1979, operating 200+ locations across the US and Canada under the Neighborly brand umbrella, serving homebuyers, sellers, homeowners, commercial investors, and real estate agents with on-site inspection services and the HouseMaster Cloud reporting platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Home Inspection Services: One-time professional home inspection services for residential and commercial properties, including buyer inspections, seller inspections, maintenance inspections, and specialized add-on services. Revenue is generated per inspection with pricing that varies by property size, location, and services selected.
2. Inspection Packages and Add-Ons: Standard inspection packages that can be customized by adding additional services. Customers select from various packages and add specialized services such as radon testing, mold inspection, pool inspection, etc.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HouseMaster provides professional residential and commercial property inspection services through a franchise network of 200+ locations across the US and Canada. Core offerings include buyer home inspections, pre-listing seller inspections, new construction inspections, maintenance inspections, post-close inspections, and commercial/multiple-dwelling inspections, augmented by specialized add-on services (radon, mold, pool/spa, sewer scoping, thermal imaging, wind mitigation, four-point, etc.) and supported by the HouseMaster Cloud reporting platform and Neighborly mobile app.

Product overview

HouseMaster is a home and commercial property inspection company operating through a franchise model with over 200 locations across the US and Canada, founded in 1979 (with roots dating to 1971). Its core offering is a suite of residential and commercial inspection services organized into three tiers: (1) Core residential inspection services — Buyer Home Inspection, New Construction Inspection (covering both construction-phase pre-drywall and final new build stages), Pre-Listing Home Inspection, Maintenance Inspection, and Post-Close Inspection; (2) Specialized add-on inspection services including EIFS/Exterior Cladding, Irrigation System, Air Quality and Mold Testing, Pool and Spa, Radon Screening, Septic, Sewer Scoping, Thermal Imaging, Water Quality Sampling, WDI/WDO, Wind Mitigation, and Four Point inspections; and (3) Commercial services covering Commercial Property Inspection and Multiple Dwelling Inspection. These inspection services are supplemented by digital and guarantee products — HouseMaster Cloud (inspection report portal with repair list generator and calculator), HouseMaster Connects (home services concierge), Buyer Benefits (online marketplace with retailer discounts), the Limited Repair Reimbursement Guarantee (up to $1,500 per claim), and the Neighborly mobile app for scheduling and job tracking. The company is a subsidiary of Neighborly and positions its inspections as educational, thorough experiences backed by National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI) trained inspectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HouseMaster Cloud: Digital platform for accessing inspection reports, accompanying images, repair list generator, and repair calculator.
• HouseMaster Connects

Products and services

• Buyer Home Inspection Comprehensive pre-purchase home inspection for prospective homebuyers evaluating the overall condition and future repair needs of a residential property, covering more than a dozen home elements and producing a detailed written report with photos.
• New Construction Inspection Multi-phase inspection for newly built homes covering construction-phase (pre-drywall) and final new build stages, evaluating electrical, plumbing, framing, HVAC, and finished elements.
• Pre-Listing Home Inspection Seller-side inspection that identifies potential issues before listing a home, enabling sellers to make repairs or price accurately and reducing closing delays and renegotiation risks.
• Maintenance Inspection Maintenance-focused assessment for current homeowners covering 15 critical elements of the home, prioritizing immediate and long-term repair and improvement needs.
• Post-Close Inspection Inspection performed after purchase for new homeowners who skipped a pre-purchase inspection, covering readily accessible home components to plan for future repair and replacement needs.
• EIFS / Exterior Cladding Inspection Specialized inspection for Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS) and other exterior cladding materials, evaluating visual cracks, moisture content within the building envelope, and improper installations.
• Irrigation System Inspection Inspection of a property's landscaping and lawn sprinkler systems, covering sprinkler heads, controllers, zone testing, and water supply connections.
• Air Quality and Mold Testing Indoor air quality assessment and mold inspection combining visual inspection with moisture detection and laboratory sample analysis for airborne contaminants such as allergens, mold spores, and humidity levels.
• Pool and Spa Inspection Expert inspection of residential and commercial pools and spas covering physical condition, safety elements, equipment, drainage, and compliance with local pool regulations.
• Radon Screening Radon detection services using specialized monitoring equipment to identify hazardous radon gas levels, particularly in basements and crawl spaces, as a standalone or add-on to a full home inspection.
• Septic Inspection Well and septic system inspection evaluating tank condition, inlet/outlet blockage, drain field status, pump function, and sludge buildup to prevent costly emergency repairs.
• Sewer Scoping Sewer line camera inspection using specialized video equipment to evaluate the condition of sewer lines from the residence to the main sewer connection, identifying leaks, cracks, root intrusion, and obstructions.
• Thermal Imaging Inspection Infrared thermal imaging inspection using heat-sensing cameras to detect air leaks, water intrusion, elevated moisture, and insulation deficiencies invisible to the naked eye.
• Water Quality Sampling Water quality testing through certified laboratory analysis covering potability (bacteria, nitrates, acidity), volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals including lead.
• WDI/WDO Inspection Wood Destroying Insect/Organism inspection identifying visible signs of termite and other wood-destroying insect infestation, moisture levels, and conditions conducive to wood decay.
• Wind Mitigation Inspection Certified windstorm mitigation inspection assessing roof construction, secondary water resistance barriers, window impact ratings, and other wind-resistant features to qualify property owners for insurance discounts.
• Four Point Inspection Insurance-focused inspection evaluating HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing systems to help property owners qualify for or maintain homeowner insurance coverage.
• Commercial Property Inspection Comprehensive commercial real estate inspection including building history review, visual inspection of interior and exterior elements, and detailed reporting on property condition and repair estimates.
• Multiple Dwelling Inspection Multi-family property inspections covering third-party apartment inspections, condo and duplex valuations, and townhouse assessments for investors and property managers.
• HouseMaster Cloud Digital platform serving as the portal for accessing inspection reports and accompanying images, with a repair list generator and repair calculator for prioritizing and budgeting home maintenance.
• Limited Repair Reimbursement Guarantee Service guarantee reimbursing customers up to $1,500 per claim for unexpected repair expenses on eligible elements deemed satisfactory at inspection, valid for 90 days from closing or 120 days from inspection.
• Neighborly App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling users to search, find, and schedule appointments with HouseMaster and other Neighborly home service providers, with job progress tracking and push notifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% customer satisfaction rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NeighborlyflagshipOthersHouseMaster is a subsidiary and flagship brand of Neighborly, a worldwide franchise holding corporation supporting over 1,500 franchisees in ten countries. Neighborly provides the corporate infrastructure, brand platform, mobile app, and cross-promotional ecosystem for HouseMaster and other home service brands.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• A-Pro Home Inspection: National home inspection franchise network offering buyer/seller/maintenance inspections and specialty services. Comparable franchise model with similar agent-channel customer acquisition approach.
• WIN Home Inspection: National home inspection franchise with 200+ locations across the US, offering full-service residential inspections and specialty add-ons. Closely matches HouseMaster's scale, model, and service mix.
• AmeriSpec Inspection Services: Long-established home inspection franchise (founded 1987) offering residential and commercial inspections with multi-service add-ons. Directly comparable franchise model, geographic coverage, and agent referral positioning.
• The BrickKicker: Residential and commercial inspection franchise operating across the US, with comparable service offerings and franchise structure. Direct peer in the franchise inspection category.
• National Property Inspections: US and Canada-based home and commercial property inspection franchise with similar service portfolio and franchise structure. Comparable in scale, geographic reach, and target customer segments.
• Pillar To Post Home Inspectors: Largest home inspection franchise network in North America with a comparable franchise-direct model, multi-tier inspection services, and proprietary reporting technology. Pillar To Post competes head-to-head with HouseMaster for the same agent referral channel and consumer buyers.
• HomeTeam Inspection Service: Multi-inspector franchise model (sending 2-3 inspectors per job) with national coverage and a focus on agent referrals. Direct competitor in the franchise home inspection space.

Emerging players

• InterNACHI: Largest home inspector association and training organization, with a member directory and certification programs that shape the category. Not a franchise operator but a structural force that defines the competitive landscape HouseMaster operates in.
• InspectionGo: Tech-enabled home inspection booking platform aggregating independent inspectors. Represents the digital-native, on-demand model that could pressure traditional franchise inspection models like HouseMaster.

Broad incumbents

• Neighborly (parent): HouseMaster's parent company and a worldwide franchise holding corporation supporting 1,500+ franchisees across 20+ home service brands in 10 countries. Relevant as the umbrella entity that defines growth, capital allocation, and cross-brand strategy for HouseMaster.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/housemaster
• Facebookfacebook.com/housemasterhomeinspections
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/housemaster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HouseMaster