Tampa, Fla. - Pillar To Post, the largest home inspection company in North America, was recognized as No. 1 among more than 250 franchise brands this month when the franchise was recognized as the best in the "telephone response to franchise lead inquiries" category at the 13th Annual 2011 Franchise Leadership & Development Conference in Atlanta. President and CEO of Pillar To Post Dan Steward was presented with the "2011 Franchise Leadership & Development Conference STAR Award-First Place Winner in the Best Telephone Prospect Follow-up" category and was honored for being among the top performers in front of more than 340 senior franchise executives during the STAR Awards Banquet.

"There were many truly well-run brands and some incredibly competitive franchise leaders at the Franchise Leadership & Development Conference," Steward said. "This award is extremely meaningful given the nature of this competition."

Pillar To Post franchisees were unknowingly tested during "mystery shopping" sessions that rated each franchisor participating in the conference based on their professional follow-up and response time to franchise lead inquiries made over the phone and on the website. At the conference, Pillar To Post franchisees were recognized for passing the mystery shopping test with flying colors. Their No. 1 ranking was based on having an average lead response time of less than 90 minutes, asking the right questions regarding financial fit, setting forth a clear "next step" and providing a decision-making timeline better than any of the other hundreds of franchise brands at the conference.

"I left the conference more convinced than ever that Pillar To Post has something very special," Steward said. "We have a system and a team of people to be incredibly proud of-the sense of pride, respect, and admiration that was bestowed on us by winning this award in front of some truly brilliant franchise systems is difficult to put into words."

About Pillar To Post
With more than 400 locations in 44 states and nine Canadian provinces, Pillar To Post is North America's leading home inspection company, and the first to bring technology to the home inspection business with electronic reports. Pillar To Post's professional inspectors work with both the real estate community and the buyer or seller of a home to provide on-the-spot inspection reports to allow for rational thinking of an emotional purchase. The Pillar To Post home inspection report details more than 1,600 key components of a home and its condition.

Looking to the future, Pillar To Post is working towards adding 10 new franchisees by the end of 2011, and another 70 in 2012.

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