BASF Continues Partnership With Tom Kraeutler of ‘The Money Pit’

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. — BASF Professional Pest Control has renewed its strategic partnership with Tom Kraeutler, host of the nationally- syndicated home improvement radio show “The Money Pit,” for the 2005 calendar year. Kraeutler will continue in his role as an industry and consumer media spokesperson for BASF’s line of professional pest control products, including Termidor and Phantom.

Since January 2004, Kraeutler has played an active role in various industry and BASF-sponsored events. He participated in and addressed PMPs at BASF’s February 2004 Summit in Tampa, authored articles for ASHI Reporter and do! Magazine, and promoted Termidor on “The Money Pit” radio show. As an ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors)-certified home inspector, Kraeutler was also instrumental in initiating dialogue between BASF and ASHI to conduct a home inspector survey about one of the most common—and costly—problems discovered when a house is slated to change hands: termites. With over 6,000 inspections under his belt and more than 15 years as a home improvement expert, Kraeutler’s role has brought him close to the issue of termite control as a nationwide problem.

“Tom’s home improvement experience, combined with his diverse media background, have allowed him to succeed in his role as a spokesperson in 2004, and given our overall marketing strategy a new dimension,” said Karl Kisner, Senior Marketing Manager of BASF Professional Pest Control. “His expertise as a radio show host, ASHI certified home inspector, and home improvement expert has helped BASF develop promising relationships over the past year; we look forward to nurturing these relationships, and building new ones in the coming year.”

In addition to participating in radio interviews that reached over 9 million consumers nationwide, Kraeutler has been interviewed by dozens of local and national media outlets that picked up on the importance of this home improvement issue. National cable network CNNfn, local network television affiliates in key markets such as New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Northern New Jersey, and nearly 200 newspapers across the country have featured Tom Kraeutler’s sound termite protection advice.

In recent years, Kraeutler’s advice has been regularly featured on MSNBC and CNN as well as in columns for Smart Money Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Consumer’s Digest and the best-selling book, “The Practical Guide to Practically Everything.”