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Show 12 — For the week of October 3, 2008 @ House Nanny ST. GEORGE NEIGHBORHOODS The Spectrum — www.thespectrum.com comes to the rescue of empty residences BY LISA LARSON larson@thespectrum.com ST. GEORGE — More than just having someone to take in the mail and water the plants while youre away, Janalee Riley hopes her business can offer people peace of mind. She calls herself The ‘House Nanny and she comes to the job of professional house sitting with more than 30 years of apartment management experience, as well as a strong sense of organization _ dud Burkett 1St George Neighborhoods Janalee Riley sets out a bowl of food for Sister Savanah, a cat living in the home she's house sitting in St. George. ed periods of time, it seemed like a perfect fit for a new business in the area. “| think there's a great need for this in St. George, she said. Currently Riley is living in Leon and Katherine Noorda’s second home while they are serving a mis- and cleanliness. “I knew there was’a need for this service, Riley said, explaining her business as ideal for people who plan to be away from home sion for The Church of Jesus Christ for long or short term. of Latter-day Saints in Indonesia. Riley recognized the need after Her duties range from keeping the spending 14 years as a milit property up to the home owners’ wife. She knows what it means to association standards, overseeing have to leave a home temporarily maintenance needs, taking care of behind and feel like you're imposmail, paying bills, having their cars ing on friends or family to take inspected and, recently, caring for care of things for you. the Noorda’s new eat. “I had the need myself and Sister Savannah — the cat — understand what the needs are; was shipped by the Noordas from she said of her qualifications for™ Indonesia and nowit is up to Riley the job. to have her adjusted to her new And with so many area homes *.' home: by the time the Noordas owned bysnowbirds or people who arrive. : are away serving religious misDuring her stay in the Noorda’s sions or visiting family for extendhome, Rile says she’s “become like part of the family; earning the nickname “Nanna Jana” from the Noorda grandchildren who have come to stay in the home while grandma and grandpa are away. “Tjust love people; Riley said. Leon and Katherine Noorda shared their thoughts on having a Riley as a house nanny in an e-mail from Indonesia, noting the peace of mind they feel knowing she is just a phone call away and that she is “capable to fix small things that go wrong in a house and (has) the ability to call in experts if some- thing big goes wrong” The Noordas said they didn't want to burden friends and family with the home's care while they were gone and this was “the perfect solution’ Betsy Simmons of Washington City met Riley through a mutual best friend and found out about the services she renders. She employed Riley to take care of her home while Simmons and her husband were gone short term. In this case, Riley did not live in the home but stopped by to take care of things regularly. “She takes it very seriously and is very responsible, Simmons said. “I have no qualms suggesting her to anyone else’ Because the Simmons’ needs were only short term, most of Riley's duties included checking the mail, and just keeping an eye on the house. But Riley said check- ing on the house takes more than just sporadically having a neighbor poke their head in the door and make sure things look normal. When a home sits empty there are things that need to be tended to, Riley said, like cleaning toilets, checking furnace filters, monitoring the water softener, running the washer through a cycle, even checking the floor and counters for ants. “I know what to do when there's a broken pipe, Riley said. “I’m seasoned in all these areas.’ After Simmons ° is sold. “She's the person to do it; Simmons said. “She's very dependable, responsible and neat and tidy: “T have totally found my niche. I can be of service, Riley said. “It's so rewarding to put people's minds at ease” |