Memorial Day & Spring Things

Memorial Day is upon us. Also known as the unofficial start of summer. Please don’t ask us what happened to spring, it seems like we don’t get those around here anymore.

Between our finicky weather, what seems like a moth infestation, and property tax notices from hell, it’s been a challenging time to say the least. The good news is we have updates on the last two items, read on to learn more.

Meanwhile, let’s find ways to enjoy what is left of spring!!! 

As you probably know, we will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day. We have often talked about the significance of Memorial Day so we will spare you here, but if you are curious, the history is a fascinating one and you can learn more here. 

We want to express our gratitude to all that have given their lives for our freedom. It certainly isn’t “free”, and many have given the ultimate sacrifice so we can have it.

So, what do we do with the rest of spring in our fine state? If the mountains are your thing, there are lots of fun festivals you can attend over the weekend. Vail and Beaver Creek have Blues and BBQ and comedy festivals going on, for example, and we also found a cool list of the top 10 things to do this weekend in the mountains and it can be found here.

For those of you wanting to stay closer to home, visit Denver came up with their list of things going on and it can be found here. The Rockies are in town as well as the Denver Arts Festival at Central Park’s Observatory Green.

Lots of great stuff to do in our fine city and surrounding areas. 

We hope that you have a wonderful three-day weekend and get some great time with family and friends. Be safe and we will be back at it on Tuesday!

Moth Problems?

We don’t like moths. Not sure why, maybe it was the creepy movie poster for Silence of the Lambs, we can’t be certain.

Either way, we have tons of them in our client homes (and ours) and wondered why, and what to do with them.

Evidently, the little guys make an annual migration from the eastern plains to the mountains and the native flowers there.

What we didn’t know is that they are big-time pollinators. We think of bees and butterflies as pollinators, but moths are critical to the ecosystem in that regard.

The folks at CSU put together a quick fact sheet on these intrepid insects, in case you want to learn more.

We also loved this piece in Denverite about why they do what they do and why they are called miller moths.

So, how do we handle this problem once it’s inside our home? Well, the good news is these aren’t the type of moths that will destroy clothing, so that is not a worry.

If you just can’t deal with them, the folks at Enviropest came up with some good suggestions and those are here.

The good news is this is a temporary situation, and they will all be headed west soon.

Property Tax Update 

A year ago, we warned everyone that this was coming. We have been hit by the perfect storm of COVID and home price escalation and the timing of tax assessments.

On top of this, the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment made it pretty clear this was on its way and going to be painful.

The good news is that our homes are going up in value, the bad news is well, quite obvious.

Douglas County saw the largest median residential increase at 47%, and the lowest was 33% in Denver. The metro area also includes Adams (38% increase), Arapahoe (42%), Boulder (35%), Broomfield (41%), Elbert (35%), Jefferson (36.5%), and Larimer (40%).

The good news is there will be a November ballot measure for a 10-year relief plan. The bad news is it will likely be at the expense of TABOR refunds. 

The other way to tackle this is to apply for relief with your local assessor via appeal. 

The procedure for this varies by area, but we found guidelines from Colorado Judicial here.

The deadline to appeal is June 8, but after that, you can still file an “abatement” petition for 2 years.

Links for appeals by county are here:

• Adams adcogov.org/appeals-process
• Arapahoe tinyurl.com/36yjdbjc
• Boulder tinyurl.com/2p8tbsz5
• Broomfield tinyurl.com/2p9bch9m
• Denver tinyurl.com/4ryjsr6f
• Douglas douglas.co.us/assessor/appeals
• Jefferson jeffco.us/431/Appeals

Good luck in your efforts, and let’s be thankful our homes are worth more, at least on paper.

Spring Home Makeovers 

Guest writer Ethel Lair, Legacy Based Living

Are you feeling stale in your home and need some inspiration? A home makeover is a perfect way to inject some energy into your living space. Here’s a step-by-step guide from Denver Concierge on how to revive your home with a makeover.

Rearrange Furniture

One of the easiest ways to refresh your living space is to rearrange and reorganize the furniture. Even small changes can make a big difference, such as changing the position of chairs or the use of area rugs. Experiment with different configurations before settling on the final layout that suits your needs.

Update Your Accessories

Updating accessories is an easy and low-cost way to breathe new life into a room. Consider adding colorful throw pillows or blankets, decorative vases, or pieces of artwork that complement your decor. Accessorizing also allows you to experiment with creative combinations until you find something that looks just right for each room.

Add Throw Rugs

Throw rugs are an ideal solution for adding color and comfort without breaking the bank. Look for sizes and colors that suit every decor style and leave plenty of blank space in between elements so they don’t start competing against one another visually.

Update Light Fixtures

Lighting can change the entire ambiance of a room simply by selecting bulbs with different wattages, temperatures, or styles. It’s often possible to find more modern fixtures at affordable prices if you shop carefully; this will instantly bring any room up-to-date while also helping create a relaxing environment perfect for unwinding after work or studying throughout the night.

Give Each Room a Theme

Creating a theme that ties each room together doesn’t have to be difficult. It simply means deciding on one palette of complementary colors and patterns per area in order to make them flow seamlessly together when combined with varying textures like throw rugs, curtains, furniture fabrics, etc. For example, choose an earthy boho theme in one corner of the living room while opting for something minimalist yet bold in another corner. This will create visual interest without making things too overwhelming!

Declutter and Organize Throughout

Decluttering and organizing are two critical tasks when it comes time for any renovation project, but they’re even more important if you want to revive your home quickly. Take some time out over the weekend, clear out what you no longer need enough space so that all remaining items can fit neatly within each area. Then, add storage baskets, shelves, or ottomans as needed for extra organization points around every corner. Don’t forget to hire Denver Concierge to help you keep your organized space clean!

Utilize Storage Solutions

Once decluttering has been done successfully, find solutions that will help keep everything in its place moving forward. Storage solutions such as baskets or shelves can be used strategically around walls or tucked away underneath tables/couches when not in use which helps maintain a modern clutter-free look throughout every zone inside your dream abode.

Hang Curtains or Sheers

Hanging curtains or sheers is an underrated yet impactful way to spruce up any living room instantly. Not only do they provide additional color/pattern options but they also give off texture and dimension which immediately makes things appear much more put together than before — plus they provide privacy from peeping neighbors outside too.

Digitize & Organize Your Documents

With many people looking to organize their personal files, digitizing documents has become increasingly popular. Fortunately, you can do all of this online using free online tools. Not only will converting files to PDFs help keep everything organized, but this format is also great to help with searching for important information when you need it.

Reviving the atmosphere of your home can be a simple and affordable process. Rather than extensive renovations, small changes such as rearranging furniture, updating accessories and light fixtures, introducing color schemes and textures, decluttering and organizing, and utilizing storage solutions can have a significant impact. Additionally, hanging curtains or sheers and adopting digital document organization practices by converting relevant files into PDF formats can further improve the feel of your home. By following these steps, your home can be transformed into a fresh and revitalized space in no time!

How Do You Say “Poudre”?

Ever have someone mispronounce your name? It’s so personal that it always feels a little weird.

We are sure if our different Colorado places could speak, they would feel the same way!!!

Did you know that Poudre is pronounced like “Poo-Dray”? We always said “Poo-Der”. Oops.

Closer to home, and we hear this one all the time, is Arvada (we also know people from Nevada, and the same problem exists).

The correct pronunciation is AR-VAH-DA, not AR-VA-DA, or AR-VAY-DA. Same with Nevada, if you are keeping up. 

We ran across a fun article that 9 News did about the correct way to pronounce many of our commonly mispronounced places and it is here.

It even includes quick videos on each, which are very fun.

How about a list of the four most mispronounced places by northern Coloradans?  

We had no idea Lyons was pronounced this way.

Finally a quick article from Fox Denver on this topic here.

Fun stuff, hope you enjoy!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for April were Maria Zapata, Josefina Quinonez, Cecilia Reyes, Sandra Vidales and Fidelia Bautista.

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

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 April.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

I heard another disaster story yesterday from a client who had a plumbing problem.

It could have been resolved quickly if the plumber had not been completely inadequate   Maybe he wasn’t even a plumber. 

It brought to mind a short list of companies that I have used for my own house or who have been recommended by our clients, and I would love to hear from any client who has had a positive experience with work done.  

I don’t like having workers in my home and my dog Frankie doesn’t like it either,  but I have had one or two repairmen who entered and gained his trust right away. I think they must have had treaties in their pockets.

Just to name two companies we have used and recommended for years:

Chase Carpet – Rug and carpet cleaning and repair but also specializes in water damage, duct cleaning, and mold. I have used them for over 25 years. 

As You Wish – They recommended the kindest and most caring dog sitter to me and offer all manner of concierge services.  We have championed the company in our previous newsletters. 

In any case, if you have a minute or it occurs to you during one of our texts back and forth I would love some names that would help other clients feel more at ease when hiring in-home help. 

Everything is so wildly expensive suddenly that it isn’t as easy to just brush off a bad experience.

Speaking of recommendations, I have brought some amazing new clients on board, all of whom came highly recommended by neighbors or family who use Denver Concierge.

I am constantly amazed at the great compliments we receive about our service, especially when you take the time to brag about us to friends and neighbors.

Thank you!!

Happy Memorial Day! Woof!

Bee

What Can We Do Better?

Surveys. We are not big fans of the way most places handle them.

It seems like most companies shove them in our faces every time we engage in the most basic of commerce. Then we respond, give feedback, and nothing changes. That is precisely how companies lose their most valuable resource and the people that pay the bills. 

That would be our clients.

If you have been part of the Denver Concierge family for any time,  you know we do things differently. We are that rare company that prefers human contact. We also like to think that our clients are pretty good at keeping us on the straight and narrow by giving us feedback in real-time.

We are lucky to have you and by the looks of things, we feel like we are doing a pretty good job for you.

But we want to know more. Rather than invite you to click on some link or go to some third-party site, we prefer good old-fashioned communication.

So, we ask today, please let us know what we can do better. Our loyal and trusty Angela is standing by to ensure you are always 100% satisfied with what we do.

We know we aren’t the least expensive company in town. Our goal each and every day is to exceed your expectations to the point where you believe every penny you spend with us is a great value.

So please email us at [email protected]. Or text us if that is easier, at 303-588-6847.  If you want to call directly, you can do so at 303-975-2808 as well. We promise a quick and positive resolution to whatever you might have going on.

Remember, in the absence of feedback, we will assume we are doing things perfectly. The only way for us to improve at what we do is when you tell us. 

Don’t be shy, we love getting better.

As always, thank you for being part of the unique company that is Denver Concierge. We will continue to earn your trust every day.

Senior Care Resources

The difficulty of caring for an aging loved one is a burden that one cannot relate to until you have gone through it.

We recently heard from the nice people at senioradvice.com about promoting their services and after doing some research we are happy to do so.

These folks have put together a wonderful resource for anyone looking for assistance with an aging loved one.

Their website not only includes a comprehensive list of providers but also other resources like the best cities for retirement, as well as advice, and much more.

From their representative, Julia Walker,  “Many aging adults are unaware of the available care options and programs that can help them maintain their independence and quality of life. So we created a free resource that provides comprehensive information on topics like financial support and in-home care options that are available in their area.”

We think that says it all, and we are grateful that they reached out to us for publication.

The complete website with all the wonderful resources can be found here.

What is Chat GPT? 

When we see interesting things, we love to share them with our readers. When we hear Elon Musk say that AI is the biggest threat to humanity, it really gets our attention.

So what exactly, is this ChatGPT that has been in the news lately?

From the CNBC article, “ChatGPT is an advanced form of AI powered by a large language model called GPT-3. It is programmed to understand human language and generate responses based on huge bodies of data.”

It first hit our radar when we saw college students using it to write papers. 

Musk founded OpenAI, which is the startup that created ChatGPT.

So why should we be concerned? Well, a recent article by Business Insider referenced ChatGPT “coming for our jobs” and 10 roles that AI could replace in the near future.

Those include tech jobs like coding, media jobs like ad creation and copy, and even legal industry jobs to name a few.

There is even a belief that ChatGPT could teach classes, replacing teachers entirely.

So while we may not have to worry about AI taking over the planet in the immediate term, job security could certainly become a real thing.

As long as AI cannot figure out how to clean houses, we feel pretty good, but we are watching you closely, AI, very closely…..

Dog Lovers Paradise 

The news in Colorado hasn’t been wonderful lately, as we rise up the rankings for car thefts, homelessness, and other categories we aren’t very proud of.

However, there is one nice category that we found that puts Colorado at the very top of the list.

Dog lovers. Yes, that is correct. Forbes recently did a survey and found that Colorado has the most devoted dog owners in the country.

Some fun facts about our love for furry friends:

• Colorado dog owners were second most likely to move from an apartment to a house so their dogs would have a yard (19.5%).
   
• 7% of Colorado dog owners left a job they liked because another company let them work from home or had a dog-friendly office (the third highest percentage, tied with Massachusetts and Ohio).
   
• 11% stayed at a job they disliked because it allowed them to work remotely or had a dog-friendly office (the sixth highest percentage).
   
• Colorado is also home to the fourth-highest percentage of dog owners who have lived on a tighter budget in order to afford their dogs’ expenses (43.5%), tied with Arkansas and Mississippi.

Finally, how much would you spend to save your pet? According to Forbes, 43.5% of Colorado dog owners would spend $4,000 or more out-of-pocket on life-saving medical care for their dogs.

Wow, that’s a big number but we get it. Pets are family. 

For the complete comprehensive study on dog friendly states you can also visit Forbes here.

Denver Restaurant Week

Since COVID, we have written a lot less about getting out and about. Now that it is mostly over and things are getting back to normal, it might be time again.

So, one of Denver’s traditions is back once more.

That would be Denver Restaurant Week, which has been going on here for 18 years, in some form or another.

This year, and from the Denver.org website, “Denver Restaurant Week will be held for 10 days March 3 – 12, 2023. The program will showcase the creative, exciting menus that diners have come to expect – with both to-go and in-person options.”

“Once again, Denver Restaurant Week will include three price points: $25, $35, and $45 for a three-course meal. The program will also focus on advocacy for the industry while keeping the health and safety of the community top of mind.”

Every step we take toward normalcy brings us comfort, and restaurant week is no exception.

The full list of all 221 restaurants participating, along with sortable categories including price point, location, and cuisine can be found here.

Happy dining Denver, hope to see you out there!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for January were Sandra Vidales, Maria Zapata, Haydee Espinoza, Maria Carmen Del Estrada, and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Rosa Chavez 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 January.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

Confusion in the house!?

Denver Concierge Team Leaders receive instructions every morning at dispatch, so each house is custom cleaned according to the client’s wishes for that specific visit.

As Client/Team Liaison, I am the translator of instructions. 

Clean this room and not that room; this level and not that one. It sounds simple enough. Sometimes it isn’t. So I have to ask.

Downstairs as in lower level? Or basement (finished room)? Or cellar (as in wine)?

First floor as in American style? Or European/South American style (one level up from ground level)?

Every client has a unique vocabulary when describing the rooms, furnishings, and levels of their homes, based on their personal preferences and history.

A powder room sounds more delicate than a commode. Den has fallen out of favor and been replaced with library or study.  Sunroom has myriad synonyms going back thousands of years in various cultures, 

Unfortunately, to date, there has been no such upgrade for the room that is  “a filter that snares the debris of the outside before it can migrate into the public areas of the house.” 

The inelegant yet aptly named mudroom. 

I like to think I know many of the houses well enough to quasi-intuit the instructions but if Confusion arises I hope you don’t mind me asking. 

Bee

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Wow, it’s been a rough winter so far. We are in the middle of a very cold and snowy one, my friends. Sadly, we have had a couple of closures due to snow, and Monday we tied a 38-year-old record at -10 degrees.

We have been In Denver for many years and it’s hard to remember snow being on the ground this long. 

For those of you that have been watching your power bill, this has been a double dip this winter, as we have seen massive increases in our rates across the Front Range.

So what the heck can we do about it? Well, there are two aspects of our bitter winter that we have tried to tackle. 

First is the excessive heating bills we are seeing, as confirmed by this piece in Westword. 

For starters, if you have fireplaces, use them, as you likely won’t find a cheaper alternative than wood. Normally, it would also be wise to use your natural gas fireplace, but according to Xcel, natural gas prices have gone up faster than electricity costs.

The trend for natural gas in 2023 however, is positive, although they expect a lot of volatility going forward.

We found a good list of money-saving tips here, along with 17 ideas for lowering your heating bills here.

What about the psychological toll of a bitterly cold winter?  We have you covered there as well, with some great tips from Lifespan, and they can be found here. Of course, winter stress is exacerbated by high heating bills, so we are using every technique we know of in pursuit of a nice warm spring.

If things are really bleak (and we hope they aren’t), we found an interesting article on spoon theory, which we had never heard of.

Meanwhile, stay warm and safe Denver, and we will do our part to make sure you have a spotless home to be watching the snow from. 

Denver’s Best Areas to Live

Of course, we know that a headline is a very subjective thing.

Every year, 5280 Magazine publishes its list of Denver’s Best Neighborhoods.

They have adopted a specific formula for calculating this list.

From the article: “It includes four variables: home prices, crime data, school rankings, and an X factor score that accounts for things that can’t be easily quantified, such as access to open space, public transportation, and restaurants and shops.”

“Each category is weighted: 30 percent for year-over-year percentage change in home values; 25 percent for safety; 15 percent for neighborhood school ratings; and 30 percent for the X factor.”

So….who is number one?

Wellshire. Followed by Belcaro, Wash Park, Platt Park, and City Park.

Interesting and quite probably polarizing, the complete ranking and methodology can be found here.

Congrats to the best neighborhoods!

Are you in the top 1%? 

We don’t spend much time worrying about this headline applying to us, but we know some of you out there might be curious.

Just how much money do you need to make to be in the top 1% of earners?

In Colorado, that number is $683,000 per year. That number is 10 times the state’s median income, and more than enough to purchase a median-priced home in the Denver area.

What state has the lowest bar for the top 1%? West Virginia at $375,000. That number is just slightly lower than Mississippi, New Mexico, and Arkansas.

The highest bar for this exclusive club? Connecticut, at $955,000, followed by Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and California.

What about net worth? In order to be in the top 1% nationally, you would need to be worth just over $10M, according to Forbes.

The comprehensive study of the “1% club” by Smart Wallet can be found here.

Finally, the tax rate on the top 1%? Colorado ranks in the top third at just over 25%.

So, if you are in this club, it would seem that you are paying your fair share of taxes to our fine state.

The Best Local Hospitals 

Just how good is our medical care here around the Front Range?

Our experience is that it is pretty good, but we love data so here we go.

Every year, Healthgrades does a complete list of hospitals, starting with America’s best 250.

The complete methodology is too much for this space, but it can be found here if you are curious.

They then go down to the 100 best, and finally the 50 best hospitals in America.

It is important to note that being a top 250 hospital puts that facility in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide, a very fine distinction.

Who made it in Colorado?

Poudre Valley in Fort Collins topped the list, making the top 50 in our state. Sky Ridge (pictured above) made the top 100.

Rose, Swedish, and St. Joseph’s, along with the Medical Center of Aurora were all top 250, and they are joined by Penrose Hospital in the Springs on this illustrious list.

Overall, a very good showing for Colorado health care.

Please join us in congratulating these fine facilities on this prestigious award.

The complete list of America’s Best Hospitals can be found here.

Downtown COVID Recovery

For those of you that spend time downtown, you can probably relate to the feeling that things have dramatically changed.

We aren’t sure about you, but that vibrant, bustling feeling that we used to feel just isn’t there anymore.

It is not our imagination.

School of Cities tracked the recovery of 62 North American cities and the results are very interesting.

From the article, “Among 62 cities in the U.S. and Canada, Denver’s recovery ranks 35th. It ranks 33rd out of 52 U.S. cities, and 19th among the 27 cities west of the Mississippi. Its recovery rate is similar to that of Tulsa, Austin, Houston, and Phoenix.”

We were surprised that four cities have actually exceeded their pre-COVID levels of activity, led by Salt Lake City which is nearly 140% of past levels.

Denver sits at 59% of activity, barely half of what it was in 2019.

The complete study, entitled “Death of Downtown” can be found here.

Here’s hoping our great city recovers in 2023 and beyond.

Monthly & Annual Award Winners

It is that time again when we recognize our top performers for the year.

First off, the monthly Cleaning Associate award winners for December were Haydee Espinosa, Sandra Vidales, Maria Zapata, Cecilia Reyes, and Nimia Espinosa.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Juana Olivas and Mayra Soto.

Now the important part, our annual winners. In the Cleaning Associate category, the winner for 2022 is Guadalupe Coloco. Runner up was Maria Zapata.

For Team Leaders, our annual winner for 2022 is Mayra Soto. The runner-up goes to Rosa Chavez.

We like to think that all our people are deserving of awards and our hats are off to all of our wonderful staff.

For the winners, we thank you for setting the pace.

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.

We will be back next month with our January winners for 2023.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

Rugs present a challenge to housecleaning staff for the very reason that they are walked over not only by the humans in the house but also by the various pets. 

We take it for granted that the primary purpose of carpets is to cover floors and add beauty to a room, but in the 15th century, carpets were so highly prized that they were hung on walls as artwork and used as table coverings but seldom as floor coverings.  

Early paintings in the grand estate homes at times depicted the painter’s subjects standing on carpets as a way to signify their wealth and status. 

Doubtful that family members were allowed the same privilege, let alone the dogs and cats of the house. 

Many of the carpets we care for are antiques and need to be treated with a light hand. This means no beater bar to pull threads, and being given several passes with a vacuum if there is a pet in the house. 

We take very seriously our responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the furnishings in the houses we clean. 

Bee