Local Realtor receives “Best of 2026” from Business Rate

Caribou County realtor Alana Burns’ company Guardian Realty was recently awarded a “Best of 2026” award from Business Rate’s website.  The site uses Google Reviews to determine its rankings, which means that Guardian’s review “benchmark score” is based on real reviews from real customers.  

The overall “Benchmark "score came in at 273 when the average score is 230. Businesses are ranked within the same local service area and industry category, so the scores reflect a highly localized vote of confidence.  The scores were based on more than 100 applicable reviews. 

Alana and Travis Burns at the 2026 Stuffed Animal Sleepover at the Soda Springs Public Library.

At the time of publication, Guardian has 103 reviews and a 5 star rating. Burns explained that “each of these reviews requires dedicated service for several months each to earn, so I’m really grateful and proud to have received this support!”

Burns is the broker and owner of Guardian Realty, and she founded the company in 2019 after becoming licensed in Idaho. She has been a licensed broker/salesperson since 2014. She originally worked in Nevada for a real estate firm before moving to Idaho in 2016. 

Guardian currently has 3 licensees working with the brokerage: Brynna Zaharias, Ellie Smith and Hannah Beer, who sign on to the company slogan “We help you buy and sell real estate STRESS-FREE so you can actually ENJOY the process. All you have to do is hire us!”

Information and services can be found at the company website, GuardianRealtyID.com.

Burns graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah Tech University in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing and Mass Communication (with experience and training in Journalism and film production).  She is currently serving on the Idaho Realtors Association Forms Committee and the Professional Standards Committee, and is a member of the 2026 Idaho Realtors Leadership Academy working to support and improve the state Realtors association, Realtor membership, and the real estate industry in Idaho as a whole, in various ways. 

Guardian Realty team celebrates after receiving an award from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association at the 2026 STAR Celebration Luncheon.

 The Enterprise was excited to run a series of articles from Alana last year, updating people about important changes within the real estate industry.  In our opinion, her outward-facing public communication on this issue was extremely helpful for those looking at real estate from the perspective of sellers, buyers, and agents.

Guardian Realty, and Burns herself, sponsors a number of events directly and indirectly throughout the year, including the annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover at the library in Soda Springs and many more.  In fact, in September 2025, Burns was selected as a finalist for the Idaho Realtors Association “Good Neighbor Award” for her philanthropic commitment to the community in volunteering with the Friends of the Soda Springs City Park to fundraise for and install shade covers, a vending machine, bbq grills, picnic tables and trees at the Caribou CommUNITY playground at the Soda Springs City Park.

On a larger scale, Burns is currently drafting legislation to empower property owners against various forms of real estate fraud, and she is working with the Idaho Realtors Association and Senator Mark Harris to bring this bill to the 2027 legislative session.

In addition to all of that, she and her husband Travis develop real estate together, and in her words, “we complete DRASTIC home revocations in the area in an effort to provide updated, safe housing inventory for people to enjoy for decades to come, and to bring more homes back into circulation!”

Looking at where she is now with Guardian, Burns remarked, “When I started my business I was new to the area and had no immediate client base to begin with. To eventually thrive in the local real estate market required an ongoing commitment/dedication to providing 5-star service to all of my clients. Thankfully, I am now blessed to have repeat and referral business from people whose trust I have earned. Beginning as an outsider in a small town provided many challenges through this journey, but I am so proud to have a flourishing company with a wonderful team of smart, ambitious women by my side; each committed to delivering quality service with integrity, great communication and market expertise. I love my clients and feel privileged that I get to work at a job I love so much with people who become close friends through the process!” 

Alana Burns, Hannah Beer and Erika Dannelly in front of the Guardian Realty float in a 4th of July Parade in Soda Springs.

Congratulations to Alana and all the agents at Guardian Realty on their impressive accomplishment and continued amazing work!