July Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on August 1, 2025

Green Again

We don’t really like to toot our own horn very much. Or very loudly, but that is a different discussion.

However, we are super proud that we have again been certified 100% green and environmentally friendly by the Green Clean Institute.

We started this way back in 2007, before anyone was invested in green cleaning. As we have stated before, we were the very FIRST Green Clean Certified housecleaning company in Colorado back then.

Many have since followed suit, but we were the trendsetters.

Our certification continues, and we continue to lead the way in environmental responsibility in housecleaning.

Along the way, we have learned many lessons and hope to continue to grow and be even better going forward.

A good example of our commitment to the environment? We consistently get asked to use products that aren’t ours. While we do make some exceptions to this rule (Bona for floors, as an example), we won’t use anything given to us without thorough vetting.

No bleach, no toxic drain or oven cleaners. We won’t do it. Not only is it bad for the environment, but many common household products could be harmful to our ladies, so those are non-starters for us.

The good news is that we bring all of our own environmentally friendly supplies, equipment and people so you don’t have to worry about anything we use.

We also hope you understand why we are reluctant to use products we haven’t researched for safety.

As always, we thank you for your business and support. We hope that our focus on doing things the right way gives you peace of mind when we are in your home.

Quishing Scam

Here at Denver Concierge, we love learning new words.

The word of today is “quishing”. While that sounds like something cute, in reality it is not.

It is the name of the latest scam, where bad actors replace the QR code from something frequently scanned and replace it with their own.

This leads unsuspecting people to scan the QR code, immediately sending them to a place they shouldn’t be. It gets worse if credit card information is given.

This was just uncovered in Cherry Creek.

From the recent article on 9 News, “A viewer shared her story after she thought she was paying the city to park, only to receive a fraud alert moments later. When she returned to the parking sign, she discovered the QR code sticker easily peeled right off.”

It seems these fake QR codes are linked to some nefarious types in the Dominican Republic, and in this case immediately tried to use the credit card that was given.

Yikes.

So, what can we do to make sure this doesn’t happen to you?

First off, Cherry Creek does not currently use QR codes for parking. Other areas are experimenting with them, however.

The article goes on to provide some great tips on how to avoid this scam:

Pay at a meter or kiosk instead of scanning a QR code, if possible.
Inspect the QR code before scanning. If it looks like a sticker that’s been pasted on, avoid it.
Preview the website URL on your camera before clicking. Ask yourself: Is it an official site or a suspicious link shortener?
Watch for red flags: In this scam, Cherry Creek meters directed users to “eb.do” instead of the official PayByPhone website.

Our thoughts? Make sure you are using the correct parking app.

Denver uses PayByPhone. You can register here, download the app, and enter your information safely.

When you park, just enter the number of the area you are in directly into the app, and you will be fraud-free!

Be safe out there, folks.

Cell Phone Enforcement

Way back in January, we covered a list of new laws going into effect in Colorado.

One of those prohibits any use of a cell phone that is not completely “hands-free”.

While we thought we knew what that meant, Colorado has a very specific meaning, and 206 unsuspecting drivers (so far) have found out the hard way what that means.

From the Colorado DOT website, “In a move to enhance road safety and reduce distracted driving crashes, a new Colorado law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, that prohibits drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted.”

“The new law expands the ban on using cellphones beyond just texting. It now includes holding or manually using a phone or other mobile device for voice calls or any other reason, requiring all drivers to use a hands-free device.”

“Penalties for violating the law start with a $75 fine and two license suspension points for the first offense.”

We are usually pretty good about not messing with our phones while driving, and it is a safety rule that our ladies follow 100% of the time (we hope).

That said, we have “touched” our phones at stoplights (illegal). We have also taken speakerphone calls in the car (also illegal).

The bottom line? Touch your phone, go to jail.

Just kidding!!!

The truth is, you cannot handle your phone while in the vehicle, moving or otherwise. If they spot you, it will cost you money and points off your license. You won’t go to jail, thankfully.

The DOT did a great job of outlining this new law, and the details, along with FAQs can be found right here.

The only silver lining in this? The new law was passed with a compromise in which handheld cellphone use became a secondary offense.

It is not allowed to be the main reason that a police officer pulls someone over.

But, once you get pulled over for other crimes, like weaving between lanes or driving unsafely, they can then add the charge of handheld cellphone use to that case.

Probably better to just use hands-free all the time, seems like a silly ticket to get.

Gas from Thin Air?

Our country has always been dependent on fossil fuels.

We have also spent the last 50 years or so looking for alternatives.

The reasoning ranges from environmental concerns to the finite resources that fossil fuel usage continues to deplete.

Enter Aircela. Founded in 2019, Aircela has created a machine that creates gasoline directly from the air.

The technology involves capturing atmospheric CO2 and converting it into fuel on the spot.

The process is powered by renewable electricity, resulting in gasoline that is free from sulfur and heavy metals, making it compatible with existing engines without costly modifications.

How cool!

The fuel created can then be used by all existing engines and seems to be just what we need to slow down the depletion of fossil fuels. Not to mention the political ramifications of less energy dependence on other regions.

More information on this innovative company can be found on their website here.

The folks at Interesting Engineering also did a great piece on this startup technology and it is here.

We are impressed and thankful for the innovative spirit our great country possesses!

Colorado’s Homebuying Problem

We know how expensive it is to live in Colorado. It is getting worse.

Let us add to the number of lists that we do not want to be on.

Like the one that says Coloradans have faced the highest escrow increases in the entire nation, increasing 31% year over year.

For those of you who don’t know, escrowing is where you put aside property tax and insurance with your lender, and they add that amount to your monthly payment.

From the article in the Denver Post:

“Nationally, homeowners faced a 17% increase in the average escrow payment last year compared to this year, according to a study from Cotality, a real estate research firm formerly known as Core Logic.”

“Colorado led the country with a 31% increase. Other states with high increases include Louisiana at 28%, Wyoming at 26%, and Montana and Alabama at 24%.”

“In markets like Colorado, for example, it is the top market, it’s not just insurance, but it’s taxes as well,” said Selma Hepp, chief economist with Cotality, who was speaking at the National Association of Real Estate Editors in New Orleans.”

Couple these lovely facts with high interest rates, and it is easy to see why home sales might be slowing down in our state.

In fairness, part of the increase is the skyrocketing home values we have seen over the past five years or so.

Insurance has gone up as well, due to many natural disasters ranging from hail to the Marshall Fire.

Kind of a perfect storm, no pun intended.

We wish we had some advice on how to mitigate these costs, but alas, we do not.

Hopefully, mortgage rates will drop a bit, and our state government will figure out a way to get our property taxes down a bit.

The full article in the Post can be found here (paywalled).

The Coloradan did a nice job on covering the “hidden costs” of owning a home, and it can be located here.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for June were Patricia Rodriguez, Nimia Espinoza, Sandra Vidales, Silvia Anguiano, and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Isela Mendoza and Brenda Garcia.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of June.

We have a new addition to our Denver Concierge family. Meet Miguel, the little black Pug. We have officially added to the 50% of Denver residents who own dogs.

I am pretty sure the percentage of our clients who own dogs is closer to 90% judging from the number of houses where we are greeted with barks and wagging tails.

With that high a percentage of clients with dogs, our ladies have over time become quite familiar with doggie routines and can readily let the dogs in and out, fill their water bowls, and dispense treats

As for the dogs, they probably think we are there for their entertainment. A brief interlude between naps.

Our thought was that Miguel would be a cheerful start to our morning dispatch, waiting eagerly at the door to welcome the ladies as they arrive for their equipment and assignments.

However, during ongoing training for his new job as Greeter, I’ve found him falling short of the task. He is easily distracted and often wanders off from his post in pursuit of a new scent or toy.

So Miguel has joined us as my personal companion and aide de camp. A job at which he excels.

Welcome Miguel!

Bee

June Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on July 3, 2025

There’s Only One Maria

Maria is quite a common name. However, in the world of Denver Concierge, there is truly only one.

You may have deduced that the lovely person pictured above is indeed Maria, and you would be correct.

25 years ago, our Maria started with Denver Concierge, cleaning houses. It didn’t take long for everyone around her to realize what a shining star she was. Not long after, she was promoted to Team Leader.

Following that, she was brought into the office to dispatch our teams, manage quality, and oversee the day-to-day operations of running a housecleaning company.

In 2006, when the company was acquired by our fearless leader, John Kitts, Maria was officially named General Manager.

She hasn’t looked back.

She commands the respect of all the wonderful folks who are in your homes, and she is the one behind the scenes, measuring quality, efficiency, and our overall processes. When Angela is communicating with you about arrival times, issues or anything related to your cleaning, it is coming straight from Maria.

In short, without Maria, Denver Concierge would not be who we are today. For that, we express our deep gratitude to her for her service, dedication, and style.

Please join us in congratulating our one and only Maria Herrera for 25 years at Denver Concierge!!!

We can only hope for 25 more.

Read on, loyal followers, for some great updates in this month’s newsletter. We lean on our friends at Entavida for a brain health update, we have information on Denver school closures, we cover the best farmer’s markets in Denver, and we illuminate a dangerous trend called “jugging”.

Wow, that’s a lot, and it’s still 100% free.

We kid, of course, and we hope that you love reading our monthly newsletter as much as we love writing it.

Happy start of summer to you all, happy 4th of July, and thank you for supporting our small business and the wonderful people who make it happen.

Brain Health and You

It sure seems like most of us focus on our health pretty closely. We watch what we eat, try to exercise, and get enough sleep.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t consider our brain health regularly.

If you are like us, you have encountered friends or family who have dealt with decline, and it is a very painful thing to go through for all involved.

We have some great friends over at Entavida/A Wiser Mind, and they spend their lives understanding brain health and what drives it.

Based in Denver, they are experts at understanding cognitive function.

They recently posted a video from Dr. David Ward, who breaks down six key contributors to Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.

From their post, “ Memory loss isn’t random—it’s the result of specific, often preventable factors.”

“In this follow-up to ‘Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease,’ Dr. David Ward, DC, breaks down six key contributors to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s—factors that are real, measurable, and addressable through advanced testing and personalized care.”

“You’ll learn how chronic inflammation, nutrient and hormone imbalances, insulin resistance, environmental toxins, vascular issues, and past head injuries can work together to silently erode brain function over time.”

We think it is worth a watch, especially if you or a loved one is concerned with cognitive decline and brain health. The full video can be found here.

On a strongly gender-related note, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and there is a video related to this phenomenon as well and it can be found here.

For a deeper dive into the causes of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline across the board, visit our friends at Entavida here.

School Closure Update

We recently wrote about the Denver school closure plan and timeline.

Back in November of 2024, DPS announced multiple school closures and restructurings.

As a result, a new policy has been put into place regarding what is allowed going forward, which includes a 4-year pause on enrollment-based closures.

From the article on Denverite:

“No more Denver schools will be closed or consolidated for low enrollment until 2030 after the school board amended its policy Thursday to add a four-year closure pause.”

“But the pause isn’t an all-out ban. The amendment allows a school closure proposal to be brought forward “if there is a substantial shift in student enrollment, funding levels, or an unexpected emergency as determined by either the Board or the Superintendent.”

“Superintendent Alex Marrero also recently enacted a policy that allows schools to be closed for a different reason: persistently low student test scores.”

“Denver Public Schools is predicting its enrollment will decline by 8%, or 6,005 students, by 2029, according to the district’s annual Strategic Regional Analysis report released last week. The report says more enrollment-based school closures would likely be needed by 2030, particularly in the northwest, southwest, and central parts of the city.”

What a complex problem our public schools are facing.

The Denver Post also covered this topic (paywalled), and it can be found here.

We certainly hope that you and your families have not been negatively impacted by these closures, and we wanted to keep you apprised of the latest.

Stay tuned as we learn more, we promise to share it with you here!

Best Farmers’ Markets

We love a good farmers’ market.

There are few things better than a fresh coffee on a Saturday morning and visiting one of Denver’s great farmers’ markets.

In that spirit, we thought we would share with you a quick list of the best ones across the Front Range.

Courtesy of our friends at 5280 Magazine, read on for an impressive list that we wanted to share.

From Cherry Creek to City Park, Northfield, Stapleton, and beyond, Denver has an amazing variety of farmers’ markets to choose from.

We won’t tell you our favorite, but we will let you visit the list here.

We also liked Westword’s list of markets, and it can be found here.

We also wanted to share some specific links, so here are those:

Metro Denver Farmers Market

Finally, visit Denver put together a nice list as well, and it can be found here.

We will see you there!

What is “Jugging”?

At first glance, it sounds like it could be interesting. Maybe a cross between juggling and something else?

Sadly, it is much more sinister.

It seems the latest robbery trend involves teams of people setting up unsuspecting ATM users.

From the article on Fox News:

“The crime is known as “jugging,” a type of robbery in which criminals surveil banks and ATMs, watching for victims who withdraw large sums of money. When those victims finish their transactions, the “juggers” will usually follow them to a secondary location, where they will rob the victims, often inside their vehicles.

“Jugging rhymes with mugging, it’s spread from Texas to South Carolina,” Fox News Senior Correspondent Steve Harrigan said on “America Reports” on Friday. “Some police there weren’t even sure what the word meant until the crime started happening in their own districts. Law enforcement warns that it could be over in a flash.”

Wow, another way for criminals to invade our lives.

We found a fine piece by Colorado Credit Union that provides excellent advice on how to avoid falling victim to this dangerous new crime, and it is here.

Be safe and aware around ATM’s!!!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for May were Patricia Rodriguez, Maria Zapata, Haydee Espinosza, Irene Betancourt, and Silvia Anguiano.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Sotoa and Natalia Olivas.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that, we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of May.

Denver Concierge prides itself on being client-driven. We believe that it is this approach that has earned us so many long-standing and loyal clients through the years.

Clients who share their good news and bad, daily happenings, and calamities. We are like a work family now.

I have been the point of contact since the beginning of the company, so I am basically the voice of the company, and the voice the clients know and interact with.

The voice that listens to instructions and concerns and grants a client’s request to alter instructions, switch days, cancel a clean, move a clean, move the time of a clean, or change a team. A very significant aspect of being client-driven is, of course, the ability to say yes.

But behind the scenes, making these changes actually happen is Maria, our General Manager. Among her multitudinous duties, she drives the schedule, from dispatch through the end of the workday.

I am the talk, but Maria is the walk.

On a daily, often hourly basis, Maria is making adjustments to the schedule to incorporate changes or cancellations, whether for the day in progress, the next day, or the next month.

Changes that often mean moving entire teams, rearranging the order of houses, and the locations where the teams need to be.

It is due to Maria’s creative solutions that I can so cavalierly say yes to clients. I am but the messenger.

It seems only yesterday, but Maria has just completed 25 years with Denver Concierge.

It is an impressive accomplishment that deserves more accolades than I have space for here, so I wish her..

Congratulations and Felicitaciones!

Bee

May Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on June 3, 2025

Memorial Day

Each year on the final Monday of May, we celebrate those who have given their lives for our country.

Over the years, we have covered the history of Memorial Day and why it exists. We wanted to revisit some of that history in this month’s newsletter, so here goes.

Did you know that Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day?

It was originally meant to honor the Union and Confederate soldiers that died during the American Civil War. By the 1900’s it became a day to celebrate all Americans that have died in service around the world. It was renamed in 1967 and became a federal holiday in 1971.

Meanwhile, a few facts that you may not know about Memorial Day:

1. Congress passed a law in 2000 that requires all Americans to stop what they are doing at 3 PM on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have died in action.

2. The flag is supposed to be flown at half-mast until noon, then raised to full mast until sunset on Memorial Day.

3. There were more American lives lost during the Civil War than the two World Wars combined. Approximately 620,000 died during the Civil War while approximately 116,516 died in World War I and approximately 405,399 died in World War II.

4. There are more than 400,000 fallen soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery. On average, there are 25 burials there each day.

We take this time to honor the fallen and show our gratitude for the freedoms we have in our great country.

We hope you enjoy the three-day weekend with friends and family.

On a business-related note, we will be closed on Monday, May 26th to honor the fallen.

We will be back in the saddle on Tuesday, doing our best to keep Denver clean.

See below for just how clean Denver really is, as well as an update on the best neighborhoods in Denver, the end of the 16th Street Mall and more.

As always, thank you for supporting our small business and for reading our monthly newsletter!

The End of 16th Street “Mall”

You may have heard, the 16th Street Mall is no more.

That is a catchy headline, except it isn’t exactly true. The “Mall” part has officially been eliminated, however, and the new name will be 16th Street.

Hmmm, not the most original name we have ever heard. we kind of like “The Denver Way”, but we aren’t sure about that one either.

Regardless, this fall will culminate in a complete relaunch and rebranding of the old Mall area.

As a side note, we would have surely volunteered to help eliminate the “Mall” part for $100k, but we digress.

The ambitious project to upgrade the area began in 2022 and was supposed to be completed last year.

Like most projects of this size, it ran long and will be completed this fall.

From the article on the Denver Post:

“16th Street is not only the signature spine of our downtown, but the heart and the soul of our city, where our communities take center stage said Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, during a press conference Tuesday.”

“The 1.25-mile stretch of storefronts, restaurants, hotels, and office towers has received a $175.4 million makeover on its original 13 blocks. The project, which started in April 2022 on Market Street, is nearing the home stretch on Broadway and should wrap up in the fall, a year behind schedule.”

“Rather than waiting for the crisp autumn air, the city, the Partnership and Visit Denver are hosting a series of events throughout the summer, starting with a 16th Street opening block party on Memorial Day at Welton Street, one of three newly permitted common consumption areas downtown where alcohol can be consumed and carried around in a designed zone.”

“DJ Fisher is the headliner in a concert lineup which will include other electronic dance music artists. Garrett said the outdoor concert is expected to draw thousands of younger fans.”

The full link to the Post article (paywalled) can be found here.

You can also find a good recap (for free) here, courtesy of CBS Denver.

We are happy to see Denver working to restore the old Mall area. We are hopeful that it will come back with less crime and be a much more vibrant area going forward.

It looks like this weekend’s block party on Memorial Day might be a good time to take a fresh look.

How Clean Is Denver?

You can imagine the headline about Denver and cleanliness caught our eye, since cleaning is why we exist!

When we saw that Oxi-Fresh had researched this, we had to take a look and share with you here.

Using seven criteria, each U.S. metro area was rated on air and drinking water quality, litter, vandalism, and the presence of rodents and cockroaches.

They also added in population density for the final of the seven.

So, how did we fare?

From the article on KDVR,

Here are Denver’s data points for the key factors in the study:

Population density: 360 people per square mile
Rodents: 9% of housing units show signs of mice, rats or other rodents inside in the past year
Cockroaches: 2.5% of housing units show signs of cockroaches inside in the past year
Vandalism: 91.9% of homes do not have vandalism or abandoned buildings within a half-block radius
Litter: 88.1% of homes do not have litter, trash or junk on the streets or properties within a half-block radius
Air quality: 78 days in 2024 when the Air Quality Index values were classified as ‘Good’ for all pollutants
Tap water quality: 12.5 different types of contaminants exceeding the Environmental Working Group health guidelines were detected in drinking water

This was good enough for 8th in the U.S. in terms of “cleanliness” earning a “B” grade.

The cleanest city in the U.S.? Portland, Oregon with the only A+ score issued. We were very surprised by a few of these, and we bet you will be too.

The full study and methodology can be found here.

Meanwhile, we hope that our efforts are helping keep Denver clean!

Best Denver Neighborhood 2025

2025 has brought a change to the top-rated neighborhood in Denver.

Each year, 5280 rates each Denver neighborhood using their normal criteria based on four variables: home prices, crime data, school rankings, and an X factor score that accounts for things that can’t be as easily quantified, such as access to open space, public transportation, and restaurants and shops.

In 2024, the winner was Wash Park. In 2025?

Dethroned by last year’s number 2, Berkeley, pictured above.

In fact, Washington Park dropped from the top spot all the way to 14th! It looks like real estate prices really hit them, as their other scores were all in the top 10.

Congratulations to the Berkeley area for claiming 2025’s top spot.

The rest of the top 5? Hilltop, Denver Country Club, Wellshire and Southmoor Park rounded out the top 5.

The complete list of Denver’s top neighborhoods can be found here, courtesy of 5280 Magazine.

We proudly serve all of these wonderful areas, and look forward to continuing to do so, regardless of where a neighborhood is rated!!

Denver’s New Adventure Park

URWRLD? Yep, that is a thing.

In fact, URWRLD is coming to Denver, and it is one of the more innovative adventure parks we have heard of.

Featuring ice climbing, canyoning, coasteering, spelunking, and surfing just to name a few, URWRLD is a park like no other.

From the recent article in the Denver Post, “At the intersection of Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood, Fox Park is a 41-acre mixed-use community development that will feature 12-story office towers, an over 240-room Virgin Hotel, more than 3,400 residential units, a 20,000-square-foot grocery store, a mix of retail offerings, entertainment and 14 acres of interconnected parks and open space.”

“The company’s adventure facility will be in the World Trade Center complex, repurposing the former 320,000-square-foot Denver Post printing facility that was vacant for more than a decade.”

Very interesting indeed. While we love mixed-use developments and think it will be a fascinating project to watch, the new adventure park is the centerpiece of the project.

URWRLD brands itself as “An immersive experience like no other, and the first-of-its-kind, highly immersive active lifestyle destination, boasting 15 adventure sports and experiences in one indoor facility.

That sure seems to fit in with the Denver lifestyle.

9 News covered this as well and their take can be found here.

To learn more about URWRLD and their vision and mission, you can visit their website here.

What a fun and exciting project!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for April were Sandra Vidales, Rosario De La Rosa, Silvia Anguiano, Maria Zapata and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Sotoa and Laura Varela.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of April.

Now that warm weather is finally here, some post-winter attention to decks, patios, pool houses, and outdoor furnishings will undoubtedly be on the agenda.

Denver Concierge is happy to help, whether regularly or as needed before a party, after a Denveresque windstorm, or just to clear away accumulated pollen fallen from the trees.

As for projects beyond our scope of expertise, we may also be able to help.

Finding a reputable company can be daunting and often ends in frustration. Let us know if you have a project coming up.

We keep a list of contractors in various fields, compiled over the years from our clients’ comments, recommendations, and referrals.

These are not large corporations or franchises, but generally family-owned and operated.

We support these companies for a reason. We like that their growth is controlled; their hiring keeps pace with the work they bid, which means taking the time necessary to find dedicated and knowledgeable workers.

Workers who know their capabilities vis-à-vis the time it takes to do the job properly. Much like Denver Concierge.

Companies whose sole aim is rapid growth often suffer large client turnover. Their employee base lags behind the jobs booked, resulting in incompetent and quick hires, which begets shoddy workmanship, client dissatisfaction, and ultimately loss of repeat business.

We prefer one satisfied client at a time who will recommend us to anyone who will listen, thus building solid, long-term relationships that, through the year, continue to grow and thrive and branch out.

Kind of like a tree in the springtime.

Happy Memorial Day!

Bee

April Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on May 6, 2025

National Mental Health Month

We love May. It typically warms up and feels like winter may be fully exiting. This spring has been rather mild in terms of late snow, so we are hopeful that May will bring lots of sunshine to all of us, both literally and figuratively.

How so, figuratively, you may wonder?

May happens to be National Mental Health Month across the U.S.

Shining a spotlight on the importance of mental well-being, the annual observance started back in 1949. Denver Concierge wasn’t here yet, but we can assuredly say that the need for awareness of mental health has never been stronger in our world than it is today.

Technology has taken away much of the human element of our interactions, and that, along with all the other modern-day stressors, can be overwhelming.

We have good days and bad as well, and while we hate the bad ones, we work really hard at trying to stay balanced and wanted to share some of the ideas we have found to do just that. Meanwhile, from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing website:

1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year.
1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness each year.
1 in 6 U.S. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
In 2024, 22% of all high school students seriously considered suicide.

The last one really got us. The statistics on mental health and suicide can be found here, and the numbers are pretty shocking.

So, what can we all do to upgrade our mental and emotional hygiene? Some of the best tips we have run across include:

Moving Your Body: A 20-minute walk or yoga session can lift your spirits. Try free workout videos on YouTube or join a local fitness class.
Connecting Authentically: Schedule a coffee date or video call with a friend. Sharing stories builds emotional resilience.
Practicing Mindfulness: Apps like Calm or Headspace offer guided meditations to ease anxiety. Even five minutes daily can make a difference.
Setting Boundaries: Limit screen time or say “no” to non-essential tasks to protect your energy.
Seeking Help When Needed: Reach out to a therapist or use resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.

The most difficult and recurring theme in our research? People don’t reach out for help. By far the saddest part for many folks that struggle is the stigma behind asking for help and the fear that they will be unfairly judged by others.

If you gain 30 pounds, you might go to a nutritionist, and no one would bat an eye. If you seek mental health assistance, however, people seem to view it differently.

One of our main goals in even featuring this topic is to encourage anyone feeling down to seek help, with no fear of stigma or judgment.

Finally, National Mental Health Month isn’t just about awareness—it’s a call to action. By embracing small, sustainable habits, you can cultivate a healthier mindset in 2025. Share these ideas, check in with others, and explore resources to make mental health a priority. Together, we can create a culture of care and connection.

Mental health is a foundation for living fully. Simple practices like mindfulness, exercise, or connecting with loved ones can boost mood and reduce stress. In 2025, technology offers new tools, like meditation apps or virtual support groups, making self-care more accessible.

We found some excellent resources that we wanted to share:

Our last thoughts? Check in with the ones you love. Whether you are the one struggling, or the one reaching out, human connection can solve a lot of the issues around mental health.

We wish you the best this May, and hope that you will join us in bringing awareness to improving our mental health.

Meanwhile, read on to learn about Colorado’s standing in both tax burden and happiness. We also cover how to start your own garden and why some unscrupulous people are using AI to get hired.

We hope you enjoy our April newsletter, and as always, thanks for reading!

Tax Burden by State

When it comes to taxes, we can probably all agree we pay too much.

Taxes seem to fall into that category of “things we complain about”, like traffic and the weather.

We decided to dive in and see just how much tax we pay in Colorado, and how it really compares with other states.

The chart above will give you a quick look at how Colorado stacks up. For more details, we can thank the folks at WalletHub. From the article:

“To determine the residents with the biggest tax burdens, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on the cost of three types of state tax burdens — property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes — as a share of total personal income in the state.”

Key Findings

Hawaii has the highest overall tax burden, while Alaska has the lowest.
Vermont has the highest property tax burden, while Alabama has the lowest.
New York has the highest individual income tax burden, while eight states (including Texas, Florida, and Washington) have none.
Hawaii has the highest sales and excise tax burden, while New Hampshire has the lowest.
Red states have a lower tax burden than blue states, on average.

Interestingly, many of us feel like we have super high taxes, but Colorado ended up in the middle of the pack, coming in at 26th overall at 8.73%.

Fascinating data, really, and sheds a lot of light on the complete picture of tax burden.

The complete article and study can be found here.

Fake Job Applicants?

Why? That was our first thought when the notion of “fake” job applicants came across our desk.

Why in the world would someone do this, and just how rampant is it?

Turns out that it is way more common these days than we thought, and here is why, and how it is being done.

It seems that this is primarily an issue with remote workers, and the IT segment gets hit the hardest.

The main and most obvious reason a normal person would do this would be to obtain a position they weren’t truly qualified for. They would then earn more money than their skill level should allow.

Working remotely, they could use AI to help solve problems that were “above their pay grade”. Sneaky, but we can see how that could work.

The larger reason? Bad actors from not-so-nice countries like North Korea, attempting to gain access to company data.

They can then install malware on company systems, and in theory could access all client, vendor, and employee data.

From the article on CNBC, “Gen AI has blurred the line between what it is to be human and what it means to be machine,” Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO of Pindrop, said. “What we’re seeing is that individuals are using these fake identities and fake faces and fake voices to secure employment, even sometimes going so far as doing a face swap with another individual who shows up for the job.”

In fact, the article goes on to state that by 2028 globally, 1 in 4 job applicants will be fake.

That is a stunning number.

While tech and crypto industries are being hit the hardest, there are also examples from other industries such as television networks, defense contractors, and automakers.

Quite the revelation, especially for those hiring for remote work.

This very informative article by MSNBC can be found here. Worth a read for sure, especially for those of you hiring remote workers.

Finally, we found a few great articles on how to see through fake applicants and protect your company, they are below.

Hellersearch, September 2024

HRDive.com, July 2022

Ashby, October 2024

Beware out there, folks, lots of bad actors. We hope you learned as much as we did about this strange but understandable phenomenon.

Start Your Own Garden

It seems we spent the first few months of the year talking about egg prices.

We aren’t sure that is the proper barometer for economic analysis, but we do know that grocery shopping is way more expensive than it used to be.

Along the way, we have heard from lots of you that you are looking to grow your own vegetables at home.

We don’t blame you, and if you are on the fence (no pun intended), here are the pros and cons of starting your own vegetable garden.

Leave it to Gardenary to come up with a fabulous primer on How to Start a Garden.

They go through the 9 steps to successfully create a garden, everything from location, design, and materials.

Pretty cool, and comprehensive.

So, what are the pros? Kind of obvious, really, lower food costs, for starters. Also, gardening promotes physical health through exercise, reduces stress, and enhances mental well-being.

It provides fresh, organic produce, saving money and ensuring quality. Gardens boost property aesthetics and support local biodiversity by attracting pollinators. You control what grows, tailoring it to your preferences.

The cons? Gardening demands time, effort, and consistent maintenance. Initial costs for tools, seeds, and soil can be high. Pests, weather, and soil issues may frustrate beginners.

Space limitations can restrict garden size, and learning curves may lead to trial-and-error losses before mastering techniques.

We also recommend checking with your HOA/covenants (if you have them) to make sure you aren’t violating any rules there.

Beyond that, we say go for it. We have seen many beautiful gardens in the backyards of homes and expect to see more in the future.

Happy gardening!

Happiness by State 2025

Yes, we love a good survey. Especially when it involves being happy.

We are generally happy, but just “how happy” is our fine state?

Back to the survey-loving folks at WalletHub to come to our rescue.

In one of the greatest juxtapositions of all time, want to guess the happiest state of them all?

It would be the highest taxed state in the U.S. from the above article on taxes….Hawaii.

Highest taxes, highest happiness? Odd indeed.

WalletHub ranked every state on emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community, with Hawaii leading the way.

While this is not a “misery index”, the least happy state? Louisiana.

So, how did our fine state fare? Not very well, sadly.

We came in 35th. Our best ranking? Work environment. We were all the way at the bottom of the Community & Environment section, falling all the way to 48th.

That ranking includes volunteerism, ideal weather, leisure time spent, separation and divorce, and safety.

We can only guess at why we fell so far, but we have an abundance of leisure activity, so we might guess weather and/or safety.

Regardless, it’s sort of surprising that our wonderful state is only 35/50 in happiness.

The complete article with the very thorough methodology can be found here.

In the words of Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t worry, be happy.“

We wish that for all of us in 2025 and beyond.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for March were Patricia Rodriguez, Sandra Vidales, Maria Zapata, Aurora Dominguez, and Socorro Gonzalez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Laura Varela and Martha Rosales.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of March.

One of the common questions we are asked is, “Will Denver Concierge water my indoor house plants?”

The answer is yes, when requested, and with proper instructions, we will gladly water house plants.

We love plants, and far from simply adding beauty to your decor, they are also our helpers!

While we clean the nooks and crannies, plants like the Spider Plant and Peace Lilly, Bamboo Palm and Rubber Plant are working to keep the air inside your home free and clear of toxins, mold, dust, allergens, and chemicals.

Pretty impressive.

The Spider Plant absorbs mold and allergens while reducing dust in the air.

The Peace Lilly filters out toxic gases.

The Bamboo Palm is a natural humidifier.

The Rubber Plant removes chemical substances from indoor air.

Plants can ionize the air, which helps to clump dust particles together, causing them to fall to the ground rather than floating in the air.

They can also absorb volatile organic compounds, which are gases emitted by various household products and building materials.

Are plants sentient beings?

Maybe, maybe not, but they are living creatures, like the family dog or cat, bird, rabbit, or tortoise, and as such deserve the same care and pampering.

As we offer a treat to the dog, pet the cats (almost always plural), acknowledge the other household critters with a word or gesture, how do we know when we water the flora that they are not equally pleased by the attention?

Einstein said we free ourselves by widening our compassion for all living creatures.

That is what we strive for.

Bee

March Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on April 3, 2025

Allergy Survival Season

Last month, we discussed spring cleaning and how to prepare your home for the change of seasons.

This month we want to dive into allergies, as spring in Denver is beautiful, but for allergy sufferers, it can be a nightmare.

Pollen, dust, and pet dander can make their way into your home, triggering sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes. The good news? A cleaner home can help minimize allergens and keep you breathing easier. Here’s how professional cleaning along with a dose of diligence can make a difference:

1. Reduce Indoor Pollen and Dust

Pollen from trees, grasses, and flowers can settle on surfaces and in carpets, making indoor allergies just as bad as outdoor ones. Regular deep cleaning, including dusting with microfiber cloths and vacuuming with HEPA filters (which we use), helps remove these allergens before they circulate through the air.

2. Improve Indoor Air Quality

Airborne allergens often settle in air ducts, vents, and ceiling fans. Our service ensures these areas are properly cleaned, preventing allergens from being recirculated throughout your home. We also recommend changing HVAC filters every 1-2 months to trap dust, pet hair, and pollen effectively. You can also hire companies to completely clean your ventilation systems and air ducts, which the EPA covers the pros and cons of here.

3. Deep Clean Fabrics and Upholstery

Soft surfaces like carpets, rugs, and furniture trap allergens, making them a hidden trigger for allergy symptoms. Steam cleaning these areas removes dust mites, pet dander, and pollen buildup. Washing bedding, curtains, and throw blankets weekly in hot water is another effective way to reduce allergens.

4. Keep Mold and Mildew at Bay

Spring’s fluctuating temperatures and moisture can lead to mold growth, another common allergen. Our cleaning services target bathrooms, kitchens, and damp areas where mold tends to grow, helping to keep your home fresh and healthy.

At Denver Concierge, we specialize in allergy-proofing homes so you can enjoy the season without the sniffles. We are always here for a deep-cleaning that will help you breathe easier this spring!

We found a great resource to measure pollen counts and help prepare you for the worst days, courtesy of IQ Air, and it can be found here.

Finally, if you have it bad like we do, here is a good recap of over-the-counter allergy medicine and any potential side effects, courtesy of GoodRX.

Enjoy spring!

Denver’s Restaurant Crisis

Restaurants in the Denver area are in a deep crisis.

We were stunned to learn that in just three years, Denver has lost 22% of its restaurants.

At the end of 2021, there were 2,166 eateries licensed in Denver, and that number is now 1,693.

Not a good trend.

If you are a regular reader, you will know that we have always supported the restaurant industry in Denver.

We have many clients and partners in this space, and we do everything we can to keep them going.

The demise of local fixtures like Racine’s, The Market, Fruition, and White Fence Farm has been tragic, to say the least.

While the pandemic did many of these in, increased labor costs and inflation are squeezing the life out of many of our favorite eateries.

While we love to offer solutions here, we aren’t sure there is one in the current climate, short of eating out more and keeping abreast of legislation that could ease the pressures.

Colorado legislators are working on bills to assist restaurants in surviving the economic headwind they are currently facing.

The Colorado Restaurant Relief Act is being proposed to help with tip offsets, and the Colorado Restaurant Association is leading the way to support the industry.

Beyond visiting our favorite local dining spots, there isn’t a ton we can do.

They say awareness is the first step to recovery, so please support your local restaurants, or they may not be here tomorrow.

A sad list of closures (and some new openings) in 2024 was published by 5280 Magazine and it can be found here.

Partners We Love

It has been a while since we have put anyone in the “Partners We Love” category.

Mainly because we are super picky about who we put here.

Our reputation is all we have, so when we discover someone who merits inclusion here, we can promise they are good.

North Metro Plumbing fits the bill perfectly.

Paul Hojaboom, the owner (that’s him up there in the cool shades) is one of the finest service people we have ever met.

Our experience with repair people and contractors is always a crap shoot, but not with Paul.

He answers his phone, responds immediately, and his pricing is fair. More importantly, his work is flawless.

We used him for a pretty big job last winter, which involved cold weather, broken pipes, and lots of diligence to ensure the problem was resolved.

He did that and more. We have also used him several other times, and he is consistently the best plumber we have run across.

We highly recommend North Metro Plumbing. You can reach Paul directly at 720-404-9413 or via email here.

Finally, we don’t receive anything from our “partners”, it’s just our way of sharing excellent service providers with our wonderful subscribers.

Let’s hope you don’t need one, but if you do need a plumber, give Paul a call, you won’t regret it.

How’s Your Hygiene?

What an odd way to start a segment, and for purposes of this newsletter, it is purely rhetorical.

That said, as a cleaning company we always love to share tips about cleanliness, and this piece we found on Medium does the trick.

The article, titled “6 Everyday Habits That Make you Look Unhygienic” caught our eye and we wanted to share with you.

For starters, how many of us keep our toothbrush uncovered in the bathroom?

Again, don’t raise your hand, but you should know that this is a no-no. From the article:

“A study by the American Society for Microbiology has shown that toothbrushes stored in shared bathrooms tested positive for fecal matter in 60% of cases.'”

Every time you flush the toilet, an invisible cloud of microscopic bacteria called “toilet plume” is released into the air and can travel up to six feet, landing on nearby surfaces, including your toothbrush.”

“If you store your toothbrush near the sink or toilet, it’s likely collecting bacteria every time someone flushes.”

Yikes.

The article goes on to cover bath towel and loofah usage, pajamas, and reusable water bottles.

Oh, and lastly, about your favorite earbuds, and from the article:

“Earbuds trap sweat, earwax, and bacteria, creating a perfect environment for fungus and harmful microbes to grow.”

“When you put dirty earbuds back in your ears, you transfer these bacteria directly into your ear canal, increasing the risk of ear infections and irritation.”

“In a study by HealthLine, it was discovered that earbuds can carry hundreds of thousands of bacteria, which are known to cause ear infections and skin breakouts.”

Some great hygiene tips, and some things we hadn’t given enough thought to.

The complete article on hygiene courtesy of Medium can be found here.

We need to clean up our act, no pun intended (well maybe a small one)!

What is the 10 Minute Rule?

That dude above in the photo is Steve Jobs, founder of Apple.

We think he was a pretty smart cookie, so when we saw the “10 Minute Rule” we had to dive in.

The most recent neuroscience backs up this concept, so let’s explore it together.

When humans are faced with a tough problem, most of us double down on thinking about it, looking for solutions, and digging into resources to help us solve it.

Of course, these are tried and true strategies, but there are other ways to unlock how your mind attacks these challenging problems.

The answer?

Take a walk.

Yes, it is that simple. Jobs believed that any problem that could not be solved in 10 minutes required a walk.

From the article, “Taking a long walk was his preferred way to have a serious conversation,” reports Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson. “So much of our time together was spent quietly walking,” recalled legendary designer Jony Ives. Read any profile or book on Jobs, and you’ll find he spends a great deal of it padding around barefoot.”

“Jobs’s constant roaming wasn’t just about a love of the outdoors or physical exercise. The late Apple boss intuited something that neuroscience is now proving — walking makes your brain work a little bit better, helping you crack problems that stumped you while sitting.”

“Taking a walk “keeps you in the right alert mental state, so you don’t just drift off, you don’t just fall asleep, or feel lethargic, or [look] at your phone. But at the same time, it keeps your attention moving, because your surroundings are moving while you walk, so your attention can’t really fix on anything. So it drifts into your head and explores your problems and tries to solve them from different avenues,”

So there you have it, when you are stuck, get up and walk. If it worked for Jobs, we think it will work for us.

The complete article on Inc. can be found here.

We hope this helps you solve those tough problems!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for February were Rosario De La Rosa, Silvia Anguiano, Maria Zapata, Patricia Rodriguez, and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Soto and Isela Mendoza.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the ladies who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative of being a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of February.

How is Denver Concierge different from other cleaning companies?

For starters, our employees are paid by the hour, not by the house. This includes drive time, time awaiting access to a home, time lost en route, and time stuck in traffic.

We also have a very low employee turnover rate. Many of our ladies have been with us for over 20 years, creating a solid base which allows our clients continuity and the security of knowing who is in their home.

Because our employees are not paid by the house (see above), they are not clock watchers. Their focus is on doing the best job they can, efficiently, attentively, and thoroughly.

A schedule of assigned houses is issued daily by the office, with sufficient leeway to allow clients flexibility in their instructions.

Our employees also understand the importance of reporting a breakage or accident in the home. This simple act reassures our clients that we care about their furnishings and accept responsibility.

Denver Concierge is available to clients throughout the day via phone or text, and we even do our best to respond on weekends.

This way, any last-minute instructions or requests for the team, such as package delivery or pet concerns, can be communicated immediately.

Bottom line, we have worked for many years as a cohesive entity, developing and honing our skills and style, allowing us to become a thing apart in the cleaning industry.

We hope you agree.

Bee

February Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on March 5, 2025

Prepping for Spring

Hello, loyal readers, and welcome to the February edition of one of our favorite things, the monthly newsletter.

After enduring some bitter cold, spring is around the corner yet again. That makes us very happy here at Denver Concierge.

In that spirit, we wanted to provide a checklist of things to take a peek at this spring around your homes. Of course, since you are a client of ours, there won’t be as much to do, but we wanted to provide some other ideas that might propel you towards happy, warmer days.

Our quick checklist:

1. For Starters, Plan Around the Weather

Denver’s spring weather can be unpredictable, so check the forecast. Choose a warm, dry day to open windows for ventilation while cleaning.

2. Tackle Winter Dust & Allergens

Denver’s dry winter air can lead to dust buildup. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down surfaces. We use only microfiber cloths in your home.
Vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove allergens like pet dander and pollen that start circulating in spring. We also have HEPA filters in our vacuums.
Clean or replace furnace and air filters to improve indoor air quality.

3. Deep Clean Windows & Screens

Snow and windstorms leave grime on windows. Use a vinegar-water mix or a streak-free glass cleaner.
Remove and hose down window screens to clear out trapped dust.

4. Declutter and Donate

Spring is a great time to sort through winter gear. Donate coats, boots, and snow gear you no longer use.
Denver has great donation centers like Goodwill, ARC, and the Salvation Army.

5. Refresh Outdoor Spaces

Sweep porches, patios, and sidewalks to clear out winter debris.
Clean patio furniture and prep your garden beds for planting.
Ask Angela about this, our ladies can help!

6. Mind the Altitude for Cleaning Solutions

Some cleaning products evaporate quickly in Denver’s dry air. Use a little extra liquid for solutions like mopping floors to avoid streaks.

7. Check for Seasonal Home Maintenance Needs

Clean out gutters after heavy snowfall.
Inspect your roof for damage from ice and snow.
Check your sprinkler system before turning it on for spring.

8. Organize for the Changing Seasons

Rotate seasonal clothing—store away heavy coats and bring out lighter layers.
Swap out winter bedding for something more breathable.

That should get you started. Before you begin, let’s take a moment and dive into the February newsletter.

This month, we cover the new Real ID requirements, Denver’s gas station ban, and when (if ever) the DIA great hall project will be done. We also look at Denver’s dropping (wait, what?) rents, along with our always loveable Queen Bee and monthly award winners.

Read on, loyal follower, to learn more.

Meanwhile, we hope you are enjoying the early peek at spring, and as always, we thank you for reading and being a part of the Denver Concierge family.

Real ID Program

You may have heard that new identification is required for travel beginning in May of 2025.

The identification, known as a “Real ID”, was originally to be enacted way back in 2008, based on the REAL ID act from 2005.

The law was delayed a few times and was set to begin in 2020, but COVID derailed those plans.

Starting May 7 of this year, however, that changes.

The good news? Colorado has been Real ID compliant for a long time, going back to 2012. How can you tell if you have a compliant ID? If there is a star in the upper right (see photo above), you are good to go.

If there is no star? You have options.

You can renew your license/ID online or through the MyColorado app.

You can also use a valid passport or military ID if you have one.

The full explanation of the Real ID program in Colorado can be found here.

Good luck and safe travels! Read on to see what is happening at DIA these days.

Denver Gas Station Ban

Do you think there are too many gas stations in Denver?

We aren’t sure, but it seems the Denver City Council is.

Just this month, they blocked the construction of gas stations near train stops, low-density residential neighborhoods, and existing gas stations.

Sponsors say the ban will open more land for housing, restaurants, and other uses.

On the other side of the fence are commercial real estate developers who objected to the new law that will hamper development in Denver.

The bill, sponsored by three city council members, passed 12-1. What does it mean?

Gas stations are now prohibited:

Within a quarter mile of an existing gas station
Within a quarter mile of a rail transit station platform
Within 300 feet of low-intensity residential zone districts dedicated to single- and two-unit buildings.

We found a comprehensive article covering this topic, courtesy of Denverite, and it can be found here.

We aren’t smart enough to understand all the implications of this, but it is certainly a hot topic in our fine city.

Denver Rents Dropping

Yes, you read that correctly, Denver residential rents are dropping.

Well, you might think flight from the city to the suburbs is the reason behind this, but that would seem to be incorrect.

This looks like good ol’ supply and demand catching up.

In fact, of the 50 largest metro areas, 47 of them showed rent increases. On top of that, Denver led the entire U.S. in rent decline, showing a drop of 0.4%.

From the article in the Denver Business Journal, “Rent costs in the Denver-metro area recorded the largest monthly decline in the nation in January, according to Zillow’s monthly rental report.”

“Denver was one of 11 major metro areas where monthly rental rates fell, leading the way at a 0.4% decline in January rent costs, the report shows. Cincinnati and Birmingham tied for second place with a decline of 0.2%.”

“Denver also led the nation in its annual increase in the share of listings offering renters concessions, which jumped 20.7 percentage points year over year. That was followed by Nashville at 17.2 percentage points. Concessions increased from year-ago levels in 48 of the 50 largest metro areas.”

“In January 67.2% of rental listings in Denver included concessions, Zillow found — a far higher rate than the U.S. average.”

Wow, that stunned us. It seems that all the building in and around Denver has finally caught up, ala supply and demand.

Nearly 20,000 new apartment units came online in 2024, with more coming in 2025.

Hopefully the market will work itself out, but for now, renters in Denver are getting a big break.

If any of you are renegotiating leases, now seems like a great time to ask for some goodies from the landlord.

The complete article from the DBJ is here.

A non-paywalled version from 9 News can be found here.

DIA Update

It seems like we have been covering the airport renewal project for 10 years.

It’s close, as this project started in 2018. Through the years, we have been fairly critical of this entire thing, mainly due to budget misses and overruns.

Along the way, new vendors have been chosen, and the entire project has seemingly been plagued from the start with problems.

That said, we are approaching the end of this debacle. If you have been to DIA lately, you have seen the new security and TSA setup on one side of the airport.

The rest is coming, or so they say.

This month, the CEO of DIA, Phil Washington, presented the renderings and vision for the final phase of the project.

Scheduled to be completed in 2027, the final phase will include an additional runway, extension of concourse C by 11 gates, and improvements to Pena Boulevard.

It also looks like we will be getting new train cars, replacing the 14 that currently move folks out and back to the concourses.

In 2023, DIA served just under 78 million passengers with that number slated to rise to 120 million in the next 20 years.

CBS News did a fine article on the project and it can be found here.

DIA’s take on the project can be found here as well.

It will be a fine day when our airport is where it needs to be, even if it’s still two years out.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for January were Maria Zapata, Patricia Rodriguez, Aurora Dominguez, Rosario De La Rosa, and Josefina Quinonez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Isela Mendoza and Analili Garcia.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the ladies that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative of being a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of January.

Through the years Denver Concierge has been in business, I have received the random client comment that one of our ladies has not negotiated the sink disposal properly or has turned the faucet the wrong way and somehow loosened it.

Along the way, maybe a comment or two on patio doors not being locked properly or the stove or coffee machine not being put back together correctly.

These are always valuable comments, and we consistently take quick measures to make sure they don’t recur.

As newer homes are built and older houses refurbished and updated, more complicated accoutrements are often brought in to simplify, fortify, or please the eye.

These are not always user-friendly or, for that matter, obvious in their function. I have a fair collection of photos clients have sent of instructions for everything from trash cans to electric blinds, shower heads to toilets.

We’ve certainly come a long way since the Middle Ages when kitchens didn’t even exist. Cooking was done where there was a place for fire, usually in the main room with drying clothes and a pig or two.

Back to the present, the ladies do their best to negotiate their way through the houses, with each house being different and subject to upgrades with no notice.

As well as concentrating on their cleaning, they also need to keep in mind the functioning of many elements of the house.

Having said that, we do want to avoid damage and subsequent client inconvenience if possible, so I welcome any photos, instructions, or warnings that I can pass on to the teams to help avert mishaps.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Bee

January Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on February 4, 2025

Will You “Bee” Our Valentine?

Ok, not literally, as the kids say, but we figured we would throw it out there. Mainly because we aren’t sure how that would work logistically. Please know that we love you all year though, regardless of the holiday!

It also allowed us to shamelessly squeeze our Queen Bee Angela into the headline. Her always interesting monthly content is below, per usual.

Back to business, February indeed marks the loveliest of holidays, Valentine’s Day. While we don’t typically get that day off, and the banks are open, some of you folks out there know that messing this one up can have grave consequences!

In that spirit, we wanted to give out some good Valentine’s Day ideas that might not be as traditional. It’s easy to give red roses and go to dinner, but to that, we say “boring”.

Read here to see why you should avoid dining out on Valentine’s Day.

We found a fun and creative list of stuff on Buzzfeed. We really love the “burrito blanket”, for what it’s worth. The full list of 53 ideas can be found here.

A more traditional list can be found here, courtesy of ClassPop, also with some great ideas.

Enough about Valentine’s Day, you say, what else is in this month’s newsletter?

We are glad you asked.

We have some great new stuff this month, headlined by our annual winners in the Cleaning Associate and Team Leader ranks, including a rare back-to-back winner!

This is a big honor and is the culmination of a full year’s worth of work, your reviews and input. We thank you for that.

Read on to see who the 2024 best of the best at Denver Concierge were.

We also have one of our regular guest writers, Zoe Houston who provides a wonderful piece on living multi-generationally, which is more and more common these days.

We fill you in on Denver’s newest hospital, coming soon and we go into detail on just what it really costs to own a car.

Finally, doomscrolling and you. What is it, and why is it bad for us?

See, lots of interesting stuff, as promised!

We hope you enjoy and we really hope that those of you responsible for Valentine’s Day do it right!!!

Enjoy our January newsletter!

New Hospitals Coming Soon

It looks like Denver will be getting a brand-new medical center in the near future.

Enter AdventHealth, the latest to announce a groundbreaking for a new facility.

Located south of DIA, construction is now beginning on a 40-acre campus located in The Aurora Highlands, a master-planned community on the east side of E-470.

From the article in the Denver Business Journal, “The land will first be used to build an $81 million, 88,000 square-foot facility that includes a freestanding emergency clinic — Aurora Highlands ER — an outpatient imaging center, and shelled clinic space, the health system said.”

“After the clinic’s expected opening in September 2026, an acute care hospital rated for Level III trauma could follow in just a few years, said Michael Goebel, CEO of AdventHealth Parker Hospital and Aurora Highlands ER.”

It should be noted that this is the second major hospital project to hit the Denver area recently.

CommonSpirit in November purchased a 42-acre property in Douglas County’s unincorporated Meridian community to build a major medical campus offering yet-unnamed health care services. The project is expected to break ground in the third quarter of 2025.

Exciting news for a system that seems like it could use some new capacity.

The complete article courtesy of DBJ can be found here.

If you are interested in statistics for all the hospitals in Colorado, we found a cool site here, courtesy of the American Hospital Directory.

Multi-Generational Living

By Guest Writer Zoe Houston

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of a multigenerational home is gaining renewed interest, offering a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Living under one roof with grandparents, parents, and children can foster deep familial bonds and shared experiences. However, it also requires thoughtful planning to ensure that each generation’s needs are met. By focusing on space optimization, cultural celebration, and technological integration, families can create a harmonious environment that respects and values every member.

Enhance Your Home with Vertical Storage

Utilizing vertical storage solutions is an effective way to optimize space in a multigenerational household. By incorporating elements like stacking drawers or wall-mounted shelves, you can expand your storage capacity without sacrificing floor space. Transform unused wall areas with a pegboard or floating shelves to accommodate various items, from kitchen supplies to personal belongings. These strategies not only help in organizing belongings efficiently but also contribute to a tidier and more harmonious home environment.

Maximize Space with Digital Solutions

In a home where space is at a premium, digitizing documents can be a game-changer. By converting paper records into digital formats, you can eliminate the need for bulky storage solutions like file cabinets. This not only declutters your home but also enhances accessibility and security. Saving your documents as PDFs ensures they retain their original formatting and are secure. You can give this a try with a PDF maker, which allows you to create or convert any document into a PDF. Embracing digital solutions helps you maintain an organized and efficient household, allowing more time for family bonding.

Create Harmonious Outdoor Spaces

Designing versatile outdoor spaces can greatly enhance family bonding across generations. Transform your patio into a multifunctional haven where you can host gatherings, share meals, or simply unwind. Consider adding features like outdoor heaters or fire pits to ensure comfort during cooler months. Incorporating elements such as yoga platforms or meditation corners can promote wellness and offer a peaceful retreat. By investing in these adaptable outdoor areas, you create a welcoming environment where family members can connect and enjoy each other’s company.

Celebrate Cultural Heritage

Celebrating and understanding the diverse cultural backgrounds within your family is key to creating a harmonious home. Hosting cultural heritage days allows family members to share stories, traditions, and recipes passed down through generations. Activities like cooking demonstrations of traditional dishes or engaging in ancestral games can make these gatherings both educational and enjoyable. This approach preserves cultural legacies and ensures that younger generations appreciate and continue these traditions.

Build Stronger Family Connections

Cultivating active listening skills among younger family members is essential for nurturing empathy and understanding across generations. Encourage them to maintain eye contact and adopt open body language to facilitate meaningful interactions with older relatives. Techniques like paraphrasing and summarizing what they hear ensure they genuinely grasp their elders’ perspectives. This approach strengthens family bonds and enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills, contributing to a more harmonious home where everyone feels valued.

Integrate Wearable Health Tech

Incorporating wearable health technology into your household can greatly enhance the well-being and security of older family members. Devices like smartwatches and activity trackers continuously monitor vital health metrics, motivating healthier living and offering peace of mind to family members. This reduces the need for frequent clinical visits, allowing seniors to manage chronic conditions more independently. Fostering an environment where health is actively monitored can help all generations thrive together.

Craft a Family Heritage Album

Building a family cultural heritage album is a fantastic way to foster harmony in your home. This collaborative project brings grandparents, parents, and children together to document and celebrate your family’s unique history. You create a visual narrative that strengthens intergenerational bonds by capturing moments such as weddings, births, and cultural ceremonies. Each family member can contribute their stories and perspectives, enriching the album’s content. This endeavor preserves your family’s legacy and deepens the understanding and appreciation of your shared heritage.

A multigenerational home thrives with mutual respect, shared experiences, and a deep appreciation for each family member’s unique needs. Thoughtfully managing space ensures everyone has privacy while fostering communal moments. Embracing cultural traditions enriches daily life, creating bonds that span generations. Integrating technology can bridge gaps, making it easier for everyone to stay connected and engaged. By addressing these aspects with care, families can craft a nurturing environment where love, understanding, and support flourish, ensuring each generation feels valued, connected, and empowered to grow.

Discover the unparalleled cleanliness and comfort only Denver Concierge can provide, and transform your home into a welcoming haven today!

Are You a Doomscroller?

Ah, yes, the old internet “rabbit hole”, which I am sure we are all guilty of going down at times.

It made us wonder when we saw the term “doomscrolling”, which is exactly what it sounds like.

It got us wondering what are the effects of the content we ingest from our devices and how do we find a way to make it healthier for us?

Did you know that each day, the average person spends about 108 minutes scrolling on social media? In that time, one’s thumb travels approximately 38,880 centimeters, roughly the height of the Empire State Building. Wow.

There have also been many studies that show very plainly that negativity drives our online consumption.

So, what are the effects of all the negative stuff we ingest from the internet?

From an article in the Guardian, “Doomscrolling is the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening or depressing, a practice researchers found has boomed since the onset of the pandemic.”

The study, published in the journal Health Communication, found 16.5% of about 1,100 people surveyed showed signs of “severely problematic” news consumption, leading to greater levels stress, anxiety and poor health.

Associate Prof Bryan McLaughlin, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Texas Tech University, said the 24-hour news cycle could bring about a “constant state of high alert” in some people, making the world seem like a “dark and dangerous place”.

“For these individuals, a vicious cycle can develop in which, rather than tuning out, they become drawn further in, obsessing over the news and checking for updates around the clock to alleviate their emotional distress,” he said.

Wow, heavy stuff that we probably don’t pay enough attention to.

If any of this applies to you, we found a few useful resources to help. The first, from SoCal Health can be found here.

Finally, from Jefferson Health, a good set of ideas as well can be found here.

As someone smarter than we are once said “awareness is the first step”.

We hope this helps make all of us more aware of what we put into our brains directly from our phones.

There is a reason the 2024 Oxford word of the year ties directly into this concept, click here if you are curious as to what that word is.

Stay wise and discerning, Denver, and don’t take the negativity bait!

What Does it Cost to Drive Your Car?

How much does it really cost to own and operate a vehicle?

We decided to ponder this because it’s way more expensive than we realized, and it’s gone up a lot over the past five years.

Also, we have quite a few running around town, so this is especially important to us as well.

We went to the experts at AAA, who do this for a living, and here is what we found.

In 2024, the annual average cost to operate a new vehicle was just north of $12,000. This assumes an annual mileage of 15,000. Costs will obviously go up if you drive more than that.

Of course, this depends on the vehicle you drive, whether it is financed, etc.

From an average maintenance cost, you should plan on at least $1000 per year minimum to maintain your vehicle.

Consumer Affairs did a nice breakdown of repair costs in both the scheduled and unscheduled variety and it can be found here.

The problem for many of us is that we view the cost of the vehicle much too simply, looking at our payment with little regard to all the costs that come with it.

We found a very useful calculator, courtesy of Edmunds, that allows you to put in all the info about your vehicle and get a good look at actual cost, it is here.

All this lovely data is centered around planned maintenance. If you have an older car, or bad luck, the unexpected costs can really be surprising.

A new air conditioning compressor, for example? $1300-2600. Fuel pump? $1000.

And finally, “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of car maintenance and repair has gone up 36.2% from 2019 to 2024.”

That is a massive increase in operating costs.

It is also a lot to digest, but suffice it to say there are lots of big costs that many of us don’t think about when we purchase a car.

Here’s to better information and making sure we have no surprises in our future when it comes to our cars.

Monthly & Annual Award Winners

We love this time of year, as we get to recognize our top performers for 2024.

Before we do that, our monthly award winners for December were Maria Zapata, Sandra Vidales, Patricia Rodriguez, Josefina Quinonez, and Rosario De La Rosa.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Soto and Socorro Ibarra.

For 2024, we are proud to announce our top Cleaning Associate, Maria Zapata. The runners-up were Nimia Espinoza and Josefina Quinones.

More impressively, this is a back-to-back win for Maria Zapata. What a great honor and consistent performance.

As Team Leaders go, our winner was Socorro Ibarra. Runners-up were Mayra Soto and Isela Mendoza.

Interestingly, last year, Mayra won and Socorro was second, this year reversed. Outstanding performance indeed!

Huge congratulations to all of you, we are so grateful for your contributions.

Thanks to our clients for letting us be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of December, and for 2024.

December Newsletter 2024

Denver Concierge on January 7, 2025

2024 Musings & Welcome 2025

Welcome to the last day of 2024! It’s been a fun and productive year here at Denver Concierge, and we have proudly enjoyed every minute of serving you.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for supporting our small business. Our work is not without challenges, like getting our folks and equipment to you, managing the inevitable mishaps, and dealing with the unpredictable Colorado weather.

Through it all, we were determined to make sure your home is spotless, and we sure hope we achieved that goal across the board.

Our very own Queen Bee covers some of the more interesting challenges we overcame in 2024, read on to learn more!

Looking into 2025, the new year always brings change. As we have outlined here in past newsletters, there are some new laws on the books to be aware of.

Don’t forget the new hands-free cellphone usage laws, rules for car seats, and gun storage laws for your vehicle, just to name a few. The price of eggs will likely be going up too, due to new cage-free laws hitting the books tomorrow.

Crossing the HOV solid line will also cost you in new places, so beware.

For Denver Concierge and many other small businesses, 2025 will not be without its challenges, as we continue to face increased costs across the board. The minimum wage will be going up around 3%, statewide, from $14.42 to $14.82.

As you may already know, any business operating in Denver (like ours) will be subject to a minimum wage of $18.81, up from $18.29 last year.

Employee-friendly legislation is also at the forefront, as businesses are now funding Colorado Secure Savings, FAMLI Leave Act, and enhanced sick pay provisions, all of which have arisen in the past few years.

While there are lots of headwinds for small businesses, we always favor taking care of our associates.

We remain focused on efficiency and doing all we can to operate in the best possible ways to reduce our costs and keep our service affordable and the best in class.

A good recap of the main law changes can be found here, courtesy of NPR/KUNC.

This month, you will find more great content below.

We talk about why traffic stops are down in Denver, we have a wonderful guest writer who will teach you all about Denver’s hard water problem, and we cover Denver’s best neighborhoods as determined by 5280 Magazine.

We also take a quick look at some school closures by DPS, as part of their consolidation plans.

Thank you again for reading and for being part of the Denver Concierge family. As always, we are here to ensure your home is spotless and to provide the world-class service we hope you are accustomed to.

From our office staff of Angela (Queen Bee), Maria (who will be celebrating 25 years with us this year), Blanca (our glue behind the scenes), and John (our fearless leader), we want to wish you a safe and prosperous 2025.

Happy New Year, be safe tonight, revelers!!!

Traffic Stops & You

When was the last time you were pulled over for a traffic violation?

It seems like one of those things that we never forget. Maybe the stress of the lights, or some latent fear of the law…..we aren’t sure.

That said, if you have noticed fewer traffic stops around town, you have good reason.

From an article on this topic, courtesy of Denver 7, “In May of this year, the Denver Police Department shifted away from conducting low-level traffic stops in order to prioritize offenses that pose bigger threats to public safety.”

“New department data shows that traffic stops have plummeted 47% since that policy change.”

Wow, nearly down by half!

According to the department, low-level traffic offenses such as a broken taillight, a crack in a windshield, and expired tags on vehicles will be ignored, unless a more serious violation is noticed.

According to a Denver PD training bulletin, those more serious crimes include:

Driving under the influence
Reckless driving
Street racing
Hit-and-run accidents
Guns and gun violence
Burglary
Dangerous drugs
Any other similarly serious crime

Interesting change for sure.

The full article, including an interview with Chief of Police Ron Thomas can be found here.

As always, be safe out there!

Hard Water

By Guest Writer Tammy Pitts

Hard water is a common challenge for many homeowners, especially in and around Denver, where the quality of tap water may not be as pure and clean as we might hope for.

The minerals responsible for water hardness – calcium and magnesium – are picked up as water flows through soil and rocks. While safe to drink and use, hard water can affect how you clean your home. Here are some tips to minimize its impact.

How hard water affects soap and laundry detergent

One of the major effects of hard water on cleaning is that it minimizes the effectiveness of soap and cleaning products. When you wash with soap in hard water, the calcium and magnesium in the water combine with soap to create a sticky residue called soap scum. This residue doesn’t rinse off easily and leaves streaks and film on dishes, glasses, bathroom surfaces, and even skin. Using more soap or detergent won’t solve the problem; it’ll just cost you more without giving better results.

Laundry issues

Hard water makes laundry detergent less effective. The minerals in the water prevent the detergent from dissolving properly, leading to detergent buildup on your clothes. This can make your clothes feel stiff or look dull or dingy over time. The minerals in hard water can also make fabrics lose their softness.

Water spots and streaks

Ever notice streaks on your glasses after washing them in the dishwasher? This is often caused by hard water. The minerals leave a residue on glassware, making it look like they aren’t clean. This is especially noticeable on clear plastic containers and wine glasses. Hard water can even cause problems in your dishwasher by building up inside the machine, which affects how well it cleans.

Clogged pipes and appliances

Over time, the minerals in hard water can build up inside your pipes, appliances, and plumbing, causing clogs. The minerals can also reduce how well your appliances work — dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters can all be affected. Here in Denver, where some homes rely on well water or city water that can have a higher mineral content, this buildup can lead to costly repairs.

Hard water doesn’t just affect your pipes and appliances; it can also impact the water you use outside your home. There can be mineral buildup in kiddie pools or clogs with the sprinkler heads you use to water the vegetables in your garden.

How to fix hard water issues

It’s easy to get frustrated by this issue but there are simple solutions to fix it. For starters, you can install a water softener to treat your water supply. A water softener removes the minerals (calcium and magnesium) from the water and replaces them with sodium, softening the water. This helps improve the effectiveness of soap, laundry detergent, and household appliances.

Another option is to use a dishwasher rinse aid if you can’t install a water softener. The rinse aid helps break down the minerals, making it easier to remove water spots from dishes.

Vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar and baking soda are excellent natural cleaners for hard water deposits. I’ve learned they work quite well at cleaning soap scum. The acidity in the vinegar helps to dissolve the minerals, while the baking soda can help scrub and remove grime. To remove hard water spots from surfaces, mirrors, glass, or faucets, create a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.

Buy special detergents

Some laundry detergents are made specifically for hard water. These detergents work better by counteracting the minerals in the water, helping to clean clothes more effectively.

Clean your appliances

Hard water deposits can accumulate in your appliances, especially dishwashers and washing machines. Staying on top of household chores and regularly cleaning these appliances will keep them running efficiently and help them last longer.

Hard water can affect everything from your daily shower to how clean the dishes are, and even the lifespan of your appliances. And while hard water isn’t harmful to your health, it can certainly be a real hassle when it comes to cleaning. By understanding how it impacts your home and using solutions like water softeners or special cleaning products, you can make your cleaning tasks much easier and more effective.

As always, Denver Concierge is here to try and solve all your cleaning needs.

Our Guest Contributor Tammy has an extensive background in journalism, media relations, social media strategy, marketing, and brand management. She resides in Michigan with her family which includes her two sons and their Goldendoodle, Max. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, and root for the Michigan State Spartans. Go Green!

Denver School Closures

With much fanfare and resistance, Denver Public Schools (DPS) has decided to close seven schools and cut grade levels at three others.

From the November Colorado Sun article, “Seven Denver public schools will shutter at the end of the school year and three others will narrow the grades they serve after board members unanimously approved a controversial round of school closures Thursday evening.”

The schools that will close are: Columbian Elementary School, Castro Elementary School, Schmitt Elementary School, International Academy of Denver at Harrington, Palmer Elementary, West Middle School, and Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design.

Additionally, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, a K-12 school, will drop grades 1-5; Dora Moore ECE-8 School will only serve preschool through 5th grade, cutting grades 6-8; and Denver Center for International Studies will shift to cover 6th-8th grades, eliminating grades 9-12.

Needless to say, there are a lot of upset people about this controversial decision.

DPS elected to make a statement about the closures, and that announcement can be found here.

As they say at the track, we don’t really have a horse in this race, but there are some angry folks out there, and we cannot blame them.

Changing schools is a big project for any family, and we sympathize with any of you affected by this.

The complete article from the Colorado Sun can be found here.

Denver’s Best Neighborhood

We figured that would catch your eye, especially if you live in the winning area, pictured above.

Washington Park. Or, good ‘ol Wash Park as the locals call it.

For back-to-back years, Wash Park was named the best neighborhood in our fine city.

With 280 urban parks, and a population of just 7188, it finished first in 5280’s rankings once again.

Utilizing metrics such as average home sale price, safety, school ratings, and a mysterious “X-factor”, the mag was able to rank all the neighborhoods in and around Denver.

The top 5?

Wash Park
Berkeley
South Park Hill
Congress Park
Country Club

There are 20 more neighborhoods ranked and the complete list, along with links, methodology and the like can be found here.

Congrats to Wash Park for leading the way in back to back years!

We hope you like your neighborhood ranking, and if not, remember it’s not our list!!!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for November were Maria Zapata, Nimia Espinoza, Josefina Quinonez, Patricia Rodriguez, and Jessica Rios.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Socorro Ibarra and Natalia Olivas.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of November.

Also, stay tuned for our annual award winners, which will be announced in the January 2025 newsletter.

Before we close the door to 2024 let’s take a look back over some times during the past year when our Denver Concierge ladies demonstrated traits that go above and beyond their cleaning tasks.

For example, they found a lot of lost or misplaced items; including a diamond earring, a baby’s favorite stuffed rabbit, a cell phone, cash, car keys, and a kitten.

They spotted and reported out of the ordinary occurrences with potentially harmful outcomes such as a leaking pipe under a sink, a sick puppy, a loose step, a dangling power line, and a broken basement window.

The ladies also showed initiative under less-than-ideal cleaning conditions, from torn up access streets to a jammed elevator, houses under major construction, power outages and false fire alarms.

All in all it was a good year and we now bid it farewell with many thanks to our clients who have shown us kindness, patience, generosity and trust, which we will do our best to be worthy of again in 2025.

Happy New Year!

Bee

November Newsletter 2024

Denver Concierge on December 3, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon us, and we wanted to get this newsletter out before the holiday to tell you all just how thankful we are for you.

We remember learning about Thanksgiving back in grade school, but since we had forgotten nearly everything from then, we wanted to revisit it.

Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is a cherished American holiday rooted in gratitude and togetherness. Its origins trace back to 1621 when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people shared a feast to celebrate the harvest and their cooperation.

Over the centuries, Thanksgiving has evolved into a time for families and friends to gather, share a meal, and reflect on their blessings.

For Denver Concierge, Thanksgiving presents a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of a clean and welcoming home. As you prepare to host loved ones, a spotless home not only enhances the festive atmosphere but also ensures a comfortable and hygienic environment for your guests.

We know just how stressful holiday planning can be, and we are so glad that we can play a part in ensuring that your home is perfect for your guests.

We wish you and yours an amazing Thanksgiving, and Black Friday (if you are into that sort of thing) and we hope you get time to recharge with loved ones.

Our gratitude for being part of your lives is stronger than ever, and we thank you for allowing us into your homes.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! We will return to work on Monday, December 2nd to help with post-holiday cleanup.

Health Insurance Primer

Health insurance costs continue to rise. Based on the research we have done, it looks like we can expect a 6-7% increase in healthcare premiums in 2025.

Yikes, that’s a lot. If those projections hold, this will be the 3rd straight year of increases above 5%.

From the article we found on Healthcaredrive.com, “If employers don’t use cost-cutting strategies, Mercer estimates their expenses will rise by about 7% on average. Smaller companies with 50 to 499 workers would be particularly hard hit: Their expenses would spike by about 9% on average if they don’t take action to lower costs.”

Considering open enrollment is here for most of us, we wanted to see if we could help find cheaper alternatives, or at least shed some light on ways to save money on health insurance.

A few pointers from our research:

Go to your online health insurance marketplace and view all of your plan options.
Decide which type of health insurance plan — HMO, PPO, EPO or POS — is best for you and your family, and whether you want an HSA-eligible plan.
Eliminate plans that exclude your preferred doctor or that don’t have local doctors in the provider network.
Determine whether you want more health coverage and higher premiums, or lower premiums and higher-out-of-pocket costs.
Make sure any plan you choose will pay for your regular and necessary care, like prescriptions and specialists.

Finally, we found an article on Newsmax that also provides some great tips on which plan might be best for you, and it is here.

“Sin City”?

No, we are not talking about Las Vegas. At least not directly.

Leave it to the folks at WalletHub to come up with a list of the “most sinful” cities in the U.S.

Yes, Las Vegas came in first, which makes perfect sense. Our fine city actually came in sixth. While we aren’t sure about the veracity of this claim, this survey caught our eye.

From the article, “WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across seven key dimensions: 1) Anger & Hatred, 2) Jealousy, 3) Excesses & Vices, 4) Greed, 5) Lust, 6) Vanity and 7) Laziness.”

WalletHub then added them all up and came up with a “Vice Index”, with Denver finishing sixth overall.

So, who is more sinful than Denver? Well, Sin City for sure, as Las Vegas came in 1st. Houston, TX came in 2nd, followed by L.A., Atlanta, and Philadelphia.

The least “sinful”? Columbia, Maryland, for whatever that is worth. Our guess is they are also low on the “fun index”, but we digress.

The folks at Westword did a cute article on this survey and it can be found here.

Overall, Denver came in 41st on “greed”, but ranked eighth in “lust” and third in excessive drinking, which was part of the “excesses and vices” category.

Interesting study indeed, the full thing can be found here, courtesy of WalletHub.

We aren’t sure whether to be concerned or proud of our results, but it’s definitely a fascinating study.

Denver’s Best Restaurants

It’s been a while since we talked about Denver’s restaurant scene.

Leave it to 5280 Magazine to rekindle our focus on the best places to eat across the Front Range heading into 2025.

In looking at the list, we realized that we haven’t been eating out as much since COVID-19.

There are lots of new restaurants on the list, as well as an old standby or two.

Credit to 5280, they featured their list in a sortable fashion this year, focusing on price points.

If you love pizza, Dough Counter gets rave reviews and is listed in the under $20 category, along with Kike’s Red Tacos and Odie B’s to name a few.

We won’t go into the complete list here, but the complete article courtesy of 5280 Magazine can be found here.

Interestingly, Frasca, Bobby Stuckey’s 5-star-rated restaurant up in Boulder continues to make the list.

Finally, for another set of opinions, the folks at Eater published their top 38 places to dine in and around Denver, which can be found here.

Enjoy Denver! It’s great to see our restaurant scene thriving in 2024.

What is a “Wet Bathroom?”

No, it is not what you think. Well, maybe it is, but we don’t judge.

However, when we read about this new design trend, we had to learn more.

We reached out to our friend Marina Dagenais, with Designer Premier to figure out exactly what this is.

From her blog, “A European-style wet bathroom is a design that combines a bathtub and shower into one ample Space, with no distinct barrier between the shower and the rest of the bathroom floor. Combining these spaces creates a seamless and open concept, perfect for those who value elegance and functionality.”

“Unlike a shower room, which typically has a separate area for the shower and drainage system, a wet room is completely open and features waterproof walls and flooring. With its central drain, this design makes it easy for water to flow out and ensures a hassle-free shower experience.”

One of Marina’s designers did an amazing job on a wet bathroom project, and you can find photos, plans and all you need to know about this new design trend here.

The article includes the pros and cons of this type of design and we found the concept to be fascinating.

To be matched with a designer that fits your needs, reach out to Marina at Designer Premier here.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for October were Nimia Espinoza, Rosaria De La Rosa, Maria Zapata, Josefina Quinonez, and Guadalupe Caloca.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Isela Mendoza and Socorro Ibarra.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of October.

Thanksgiving has always been the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season.

For Denver Concierge it ushers in the busiest time of year, as we adapt to the clients’ special holiday requests.

Our clients’ homes are some of the most beautiful in the Denver area, even more so during the holidays when the decorations are up.

As many of the displays are delicate, we ask that you please let us know which items are not to be touched, or areas not to be cleaned during this time.

We also know you may be traveling more and hosting more. This will surely mean canceling a cleaning date or two. We try to honor all scheduling requests but ask for as much notice as possible.

This will allow us to rework the schedule so our ladies do not lose work hours, and other clients are not inconvenienced.

Altering the schedules at this time of year can also mean having a different team for a clean or two, which could affect gift-giving for those clients who like to leave something for their regular team.

With this in mind, it is advisable before leaving a gift to check with me to make sure it will be your regular team.

Denver Concierge listens.

We encourage client comments, requests, and instructions, especially during this time of year when routines are a bit unsettled. We will do our best to make December a stress-free zone for our clients, at least in our little corner of the world.

Happy Holidays!

October Newsletter 2024

Denver Concierge on November 6, 2024

Holidays Already?

Welcome to the holiday season, or so the calendar tells us. We agree that it still feels too early to think about, but we are into November once trick or treating is over this week.

That means ads for every variety of things and the stress that goes with holiday planning and shopping.

Also, don’t forget, Colorado goes off of Daylight Saving Time this Sunday, November 3rd, and our clocks will need to be set back one hour.

We will also have holiday closures, so our staff can enjoy time with friends and family.

So, first things first. We will be closed for Thanksgiving and the Friday after, which fall on the 28th and 29th of November respectively. For planning’s sake, we will also be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day, with both falling on Wednesdays in 2024.

Now, on to bigger and better things, the October Newsletter. This month, we highlight a great new benefit for Amazon Prime members, but it comes with some surprising news.

We also have a guest writer, who provides some great tips for living alone, especially for first-timers. Those of you with youngsters setting out on their own should find the article helpful indeed.

The IRS has published its inflation-adjusted tax brackets for 2025 as well, and we outline those changes.

Finally, November brings a celebration of small business, culminating in Small Business Saturday at the end of the month.

Read on for all the juicy details!

We want to wish you all a very safe Halloween this week if you are out and about. Beyond that, a happy Thanksgiving as well, since we won’t be published again until that turkey-fest passes.

We will see you back here at the end of November, stay safe, and warm…..our first snow is undoubtedly on its way.

Amazon Prime Gas Benefit

What will Amazon think of next?

You may have heard that the ubiquitous Amazon has now created a gas benefit. Unfortunately, it won’t work well for us here in Colorado. Read on for more.

For those of us that have Amazon Prime, savings of $0.10/gallon can be had at over 7,000 BP, Amoco, and AM/PM locations across the country.

From the Amazon press release: “This offer could save Prime members on average nearly $70 per year on gas if purchasing at qualifying locations.”

“Additionally, Prime members can expect even more savings on transportation-related costs in the future—in 2025, Amazon plans to add an electric vehicle charging savings offer with bp pulse, bp’s electric vehicle charging business, with more details to be revealed next year.”

To activate the $0.10 per gallon savings, visit amazon.com/fuelsavings. The offer only needs to be activated once—all customers need to enjoy these fuel savings is a Prime membership and free earnify account with bp.

Details on Earnify, and all it entails can be found here.

“Activating the offer will connect a member’s Amazon account and earnify™ account. Members can then use the free earnify™ app store locator to find the nearest bp, Amoco, or ampm gas station.”

That seems to be the good news. The bad news?

Astonishingly, there are precisely zero BP stations in our fine state, along with what seems to be zero Amoco stations and not a single AM/PM market.

Hmmm, well at least the benefit can be used in other states, as these brands are seemingly everywhere but Colorado.

For a complete list of BP locations, you can click here.

Meanwhile, here’s hoping that Amazon expands this program to some stations in our geography.

At least you can let your friends know the real scoop here in Colorado!

Living Solo

By Guest Writer Stephanie Haywood

Stepping out on your own for the first time is an exhilarating and challenging experience, filled with opportunities for growth and self-discovery. This transition requires not just adjustments to your living situation but also to your routines and responsibilities. Embracing this change with the right strategies and mindset can significantly smooth your path. It’s about finding your feet in a new phase of life, making it as enriching as it is educational. Denver Concierge offers these tips.

Mastering the Basics of Cooking

Learning to cook simple, nutritious meals is crucial when you first live alone, reducing reliance on expensive and less healthy takeout options. Start with easy recipes that use basic ingredients like pasta, rice, vegetables, and proteins. As your confidence grows, you can expand your culinary repertoire and explore more diverse dishes. Cooking at home allows you to control portions, ingredients, and costs, making it a smarter, healthier choice.

Building Connections in Your New Environment

Living on your own doesn’t have to mean feeling alone; actively building a social network is vital for a fulfilling life in a new place. Engage with others through work, school, or hobbies, and join community groups to forge meaningful connections. These relationships provide emotional support, practical help, and enrich your social life, acting as a crucial safety net in your new environment.

Staying on Top of Household Chores

Maintaining a clean home is easier with a structured cleaning schedule, assigning tasks to specific days to manage chores without stress. Regular upkeep, like vacuuming on Mondays or bathroom cleaning on Wednesdays, keeps your living space organized and pleasant. This routine not only fosters a conducive living environment but also prevents the buildup of chores that can become overwhelming. A clean home supports both comfort and productivity, enhancing your overall quality of life.

Navigating Your Rental Agreement

Thoroughly understanding your rental agreement is crucial; review all terms carefully before committing to your new home. Pay special attention to payment requirements, maintenance obligations, and the conditions for lease termination. Clear knowledge of these terms helps avoid conflicts and unexpected charges, protecting your rights as a tenant. Always clarify any doubts with your landlord to ensure mutual understanding and a smooth tenancy.

Keeping Your Important Documents Organized

Creating a system to organize crucial documents, such as insurance forms and bank statements, can drastically improve accessibility and reduce clutter. Digitizing these documents is a savvy move, enabling you to clear physical space and securely store everything from IDs to rental agreements. Should your digital files require adjustments, like changing their orientation, a PDF rotator can modify pages to portrait or landscape mode — this deserves a look. Once rotated, these documents are ready for easy downloading and sharing, ensuring you maintain both order and readiness.

Staying Organized with a Planner

Utilizing a planner, digital or physical, is key to managing your life’s logistics effectively, from appointments to bill payments. Schedule crucial tasks and reminders to keep on top of rent payments, work deadlines, and other commitments. Regularly updating your planner helps avoid late fees and missed deadlines, keeping your daily life orderly and predictable. This simple organizational tool is essential for maintaining control over your activities and responsibilities.

Preparing for Unexpected Events

It’s wise to prepare for emergencies, from health crises to unexpected home repairs. Know the location of essential services like hospitals and have your insurance details accessible for quick action during medical emergencies. For financial security, maintain a savings buffer to support yourself in scenarios like job loss. Proactively managing these plans ensures you can respond swiftly and effectively to life’s unpredictable challenges.

Managing Your Finances with a Budget

Setting a budget is crucial when living on your own, ensuring you can comfortably cover all expenses. List your fixed monthly costs, such as rent and utilities, and estimate variable expenses like groceries and leisure activities. Include savings in your budget to build financial security over time. A well-planned budget keeps your finances under control, helping you cut unnecessary expenses and save for future goals.

Living independently for the first time is a profound learning curve that shapes your future self-sufficiency. Each challenge faced and overcome adds to your reservoir of life skills, boosting your confidence and competence. As you navigate this journey, remember that the effort you put into organizing and adapting to your new life pays dividends in comfort and stability. Ultimately, this experience lays the foundation for a fulfilling, well-managed life ahead.

For friendly, professional house cleaning service, contact Denver Concierge today!

New IRS Tax Brackets 2025

This week, the Internal Revenue Service published its annual inflation adjustments for tax year 2025.

Each fall, the IRS issues changes to both tax brackets and the standard deduction. We have seen more significant changes in past years due to the high rate of inflation following the pandemic. 2025 will represent the smallest change in several years, however.

For tax year 2023, the adjustment to the income thresholds was 7%, for tax year 2024, it was 5.4%, and for tax year 2025, it is approximately 2.8%.

The updated marginal rates for tax year 2025 are as follows:

10% for incomes $11,925 or less ($23,850 or less for married couples filing jointly).
12% for incomes over $11,925 ($23,850 for married couples filing jointly).
22% for incomes over $48,475 ($96,950 for married couples filing jointly).
24% for incomes over $103,350 ($206,700 for married couples filing jointly).
32% for incomes over $197,300 ($394,600 for married couples filing jointly).
35% for incomes over $250,525 ($501,050 for married couples filing jointly).
37% for incomes over $626,350 ($751,600 for married couples filing jointly).

Additionally, the standard deduction for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately will rise to $15,000. For married couples filing jointly, it will be $30,000. For heads of households, the standard deduction will be $22,500.

Good news, we suppose, except for the inflationary effect overall. The complete update from IRS.Gov can be found here.

Celebrating Small Businesses

Each year, American Express sponsors Small Business Saturday.

Celebrated on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, the initiative was started by American Express back in 2010 as a way to promote small businesses.

Small businesses, like ours, are the backbone of the economy.

Some 2023 facts, from the SBA Office of Advocacy:

Most businesses are small- 99.9% of American businesses.
There are 33,185,550 small businesses in the United States.
Small businesses employ 61.7 million Americans, totaling 46.4% of private sector employees.
From 1995 to 2021, small businesses created 17.3 million net new jobs, accounting for 62.7% of net jobs created since 1995.
Small businesses pay 39.4% percent of private sector payroll.
Small businesses generate 32.6% percent of known export value.
About 38% of small businesses use specialized software in their business operations.

This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30. We encourage you to support the local businesses that contribute to our economy.

American Express came up with a great tool to help find small businesses near you and it can be found here.

We hope you join us in “shopping small” this holiday season, and we thank you for allowing our small business to serve you.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for September were Guadalupe Caloca, Rosario De La Rosa, Haydee Espinoza, Nimia Espinoza, and Josefina Quinonez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Socorro Ibarra and Natalia Olivas.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the ladies that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of September.

Most homeowners enjoy living in a house with appealing decor and well-appointed furnishings. What they don’t enjoy is the necessary upkeep, especially the cleaning.

Manufacturers of household cleaning products play on this, and would have us believe that using their brands will guarantee maximum results with minimum time and effort, a brief interlude in an otherwise busy day.

On the contrary it is our contention at Denver Concierge that a proper clean goes far beyond the cleaning solutions themselves.

Before touted miracle aerosols and mops and cloths housecleaning was a physical chore, and it still is. As the old saying goes, “elbow grease is the best polish!

A house may be pleasing to the eye but if the hard to reach out of sight nooks and crannies are not cleaned regularly they can create a health hazard; a hotbed for dust mites, allergens and mold.

Our ladies are professionals whose amazing results are proof that cleaning knowhow trumps fancy sprays any day. We supply our workers with simple tried and true cleaning solutions that ensure their health and safety and the health and safety of the home’s residents.

Much of success boils down to a simple maxim: Do the real thing and stop trying fake alternatives, which we do every day.

Bee