‘Rent-a-Wife’ service draws variety of responses
Monday, February 26, 2007 11:37 AM PST
GRANTS PASS (AP) — Dawn Haney has advertised her ‘‘Rent-a-Wife’’ business for about two weeks now, and it’s getting some nibbles, not always the ones she wants.
Four responses rendered two clients for Haney, who says she will do housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, windows, errands, help with bookkeeping and be a party hostess for single men.
Asked how far her wifely chores go, she said, in effect, ‘‘not that far,’’ that the business is legit.
‘‘A gentleman wants me to come fold his laundry, do some odds and ends and he said he wants me to kill some bugs and bacteria,’’ she said with a laugh.
But she got a call from one man who asked how much she charged. ‘‘He was looking for a companion. When I explained that wasn’t what I do, at least he was polite.’’
‘‘Another one called to ask if this was an escort service,’’ she added.
‘‘I knew I was going to get stupid people calling.’’
In July she opened a commercial cleaning business in which she and her son clean businesses, homes managed by property management companies and new construction sites. Robert Holland, who owns Holland Capital Management in Grants Pass with his wife, Denise, has contracted with Haney for two months.
‘‘She’s great,’’ he said. ‘‘When she showed us her new (Rent-a-Wife business) card, we both laughed and said it would attract attention. But we think (the business) is a good idea. There are a lot of men out there who could use help.’’
Haney, who lived in Grants pass for 23 years, returned in May after 13 years out-of-state. She targets single men because she says she doesn’t like cleaning homes where women live.
‘‘Women have all those foo-foos, and I don’t want to clean them,’’ she explained. She said she has plenty at home.
‘‘And, I figure bachelor guys might need help with balancing their checkbook. I’ve been a treasurer for car clubs.’’
She also thinks single men might appreciate returning from work to a home-cooked meal. Her offers include spaghetti, lasagna, mushroom soup over pork chops and cream cheese cherry pie.
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Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
