In Borrego Springs, reputation and word-of-mouth means everything to a business. Especially a new start-up hoping to earn a living. Diana Fox has proven herself worthy of praise after her first year of hard work developing Welcome Home Borrego, a service for home cleaning and more.

Fox began one year ago by offering impeccable, white-glove cleaning while working two other jobs in town.

Today, you will see her with her manager, Carrie Roberts, driving vans around Borrego to do their next task.

She has four employees now: Lori Roberts, Antoinette Barnes, Tanya Tynan and Connie Flannigan. The ladies break up into teams to tackle home cleaning.

Welcome Home is a legitimate business with liability and Workman's Comp insurance, does pre-hire background checks, pays taxes and payroll through ADP, and is a tax-deductible service.

The cleaning service, available for residential, commercial and RVs, uses Mr. Clean Muscle and Magic Erasers, Dawn Platinum, pumice stones, Shark vacuums, spin mops and they do some main window washing.

Now, in addition to cleaning services (and discounts to veterans and seniors), Fox provides the following:

SUMMER MAINTENANCE:

• Mail pick-up

• Mail forwarding

• Plant watering

• Home checks

• Refill plumbing traps

• Cover drains to prevent bugs

• Flush toilets

• Dusting for cobwebs

REFERENCING FOR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS:

• Laidlaw Plumbing

• Desert View Window Cleaning

• Busic Home/Pet Sitting

• Kent Companionship for elderly/Home & Pet Sitting

• Back Country Canine Boarding and Grooming

• Decor Shoppe Carpet Cleaning

VACATION RETURNS:

• Package linens

• Cover furniture with sheets

• Close or open homes for occupancy

SALE/RENTAL STAGING and RENTAL PREPARATION:

• Repair furniture

• Hang artwork

• Arrange and/or decorate

• Refinish furniture

• Snowbird property maintenance

Welcome Home Borrego has earned themselves steady employment by realtors at Coldwell Banker Borrego and by the RoadRunner Golf Club.

"Linda Montgomery at the RoadRunner has been instrumental in gaining cleaning and staging work at the club," says Fox. "Christy in RoadRunner is absolutely our best personal promoter," she added.

"Kathy King of Coldwell Banker Borrego is not only a great real estate agent but a good friend and business associate. She refers new buyers, sellers and renters. We are the go-to for her," said Fox.

"I also have to thank the Borrego Sun for the great article they ran when I started my business last year. That article alerted Borrego to my service and I got immediate clients. Ellen, also of Graphics You Can Trust, created and printed my rack cards, business cards, car door magnets and note pads, giving us a professional representation."

"I must also thank my husband, Kevin Fox, who has been invaluable with his maintenance skills."

"These people have all helped me to become established and successful and I am grateful to each of them for their help," smiled Fox.

Welcome Home Borrego will be doing some hiring when the season picks up. 'Taking Care of the People of Borrego' is their motto, and business has grown so much, she will be needing help with that care.