How Clean is Your Air? 

One thing few of us seem to think about is air quality, especially indoors. Who out there has ever heard of a VOC?

We know all about VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and their effects on our health and environment. We had to, as part of our Green Clean Institute annual certification, discussed in past newsletters.

VOCs are a diverse group of chemicals that can easily vaporize into the air, emanating from various household sources such as paints, cleaning products, furniture, and even some building materials. While they are essential components of many products, high levels of VOCs can have adverse health effects, including headaches, respiratory issues, and even long-term health risks.

We try to do our part over here at Denver Concierge, and while we can’t do much about VOCs we can help improve indoor air quality (IAQ) by way of our very deep cleaning. 

A thorough deep housecleaning can significantly improve IAQ by removing dust, allergens, pollutants, and contaminants that accumulate in your home over time. Here’s how it works:

1. Dust and Allergen Removal: Dust is a common source of indoor air pollution and can contain allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. Deep cleaning involves dusting, vacuuming, and wiping surfaces to eliminate these particles, preventing them from circulating in the air and triggering allergies or respiratory issues.
    
2. Mold and Mildew Control: Damp or humid areas in your home can foster the growth of mold and mildew, which release spores and mycotoxins into the air. Deep cleaning tackles these areas, reducing the risk of mold-related health problems.
    
3. Pet Hair and Dander: If you have pets, deep cleaning helps remove pet hair and dander from carpets, furniture, and other surfaces. This can significantly reduce allergens in the air.
    
4. Chemical and VOC Reduction: Cleaning products and household items can release volatile organic compounds into the air. Denver Concierge uses only eco-friendly and low-VOC cleaning solutions, minimizing the introduction of harmful chemicals into your indoor environment.
    
5. Reduction of Pest Allergens: Deep cleaning can help control pests and their allergens, such as cockroach droppings. Proper sanitation can deter pests and reduce their impact on IAQ.

In summary, deep housecleaning removes various sources of indoor air contaminants and reduces allergens and pollutants. Regular deep cleaning, in conjunction with good housekeeping practices, can lead to a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment, ultimately enhancing IAQ and the well-being of occupants.

Beyond housecleaning, there are other ways to improve IAQ, including these ideas by the EPA.

Also, some practical tips from realsimple.com can be found here.

There is even a school of thought that plants can assist in keeping our air fresh. Read on for a great piece by guest writer Jo Ellen Myers Sharp on the usefulness of various plants in your home, including ones that not only smell good but deter insects!!!

Thanks for letting us help keep your air clean and healthy!!!

Leaf Peepers Rejoice

Fall arrived quickly, and it is a wonderful time to enjoy the beauty of nature in Colorado, especially near Denver, where there are many scenic drives and hikes that showcase the vibrant colors of the aspen trees.

Whether you are looking for a short trip or a full-day adventure, here are some of the best places to see fall foliage near Denver.

•  Guanella Pass: This 22-mile road connects Georgetown and Grant, and offers stunning views of Mount Bierstadt and Mount Evans. You can see aspens turning gold at elevations from 8,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level. There are also many hiking trails along the pass, such as the Silver Dollar Lake Trail and the Bierstadt Trail.

•  Peak to Peak Highway: This 55-mile route runs from Black Hawk to Estes Park, passing through Nederland, Ward, and Allenspark. You can enjoy the views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park. You can also stop by the historic towns and attractions, such as the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland and the Chapel on the Rock in Allenspark

•  San Juan Skyway: This 236-mile loop takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in southern Colorado, including the San Juan Mountains and the San Juan National Forest. Along with beautiful fall colors, you can explore the charming towns of Durango, Dolores, Telluride, and Ouray.

You can also visit the Mesa Verde National Park and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad along the way.

The fine folks at Denver.org published a great list of day trips for leaf peeping and it can be found here.

More info from Thrillist as well.

Finally, our friends at 5280 Magazine published their list of day trips with 20 hikes near Denver that are “perfect for fall”.

These are just some of the best places to see fall foliage near Denver, but there are many more to discover. So grab your camera and your jacket, and head out to enjoy the splendor of autumn in Colorado.

Plants That Repel Mosquitos? 

By Guest Writer Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the fragrance of roses or honeysuckle repelled insects? They don’t, but some plants with an enjoyable smell do deter mosquitoes and other pests.

The trick is these plants themselves might not have an enjoyable scent – or any smell at all – but they yield a fragrance when turned into an essential oil or when leaves are rubbed together that will keep away mosquitoes and other bugaboos.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look (or sniff) at basil, catnip, citronella grass, lavender, and mint. All of these plants are commonly found in herb gardens, cat toys, flower gardens, and yards in Denver’s best neighborhoods.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) 

Probably one of the freshest fragrances of summer, basil adds a wonderful brightness to many foods. It is prized for its flavorful leaves, and like other insect-repelling plants, it’s the oil in basil that fends off insects.

You may find some repellant if basil leaves are rubbed on your skin. Basil also may be helpful when crushed and rubbed on insect bites.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Cats love catnip and so do bees and other pollinators, but the magic repellant in catnip comes after the leaves are crushed and rubbed on the skin.

Catnip is in the mint family, however, and can spread quickly to take over a garden. Catmint (N. racemosa) is a catnip relative and cats like it, too, but it is a clump grower rather than a spreader. 

Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) 

True citronella – that scent that repels mosquitoes via candles, tiki torches, and coil bracelets – comes from citronella grass, a lemongrass-like plant.

However, unlike edible lemongrass (C. citratus), citronella grass, an annual, is not edible. Rather, its stalks are harvested for their essential oil. That’s the oil found in candles and other products with citronella as an ingredient.  

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

A beautiful and fragrant plant, English lavender is a popular small woody perennial in pollinator gardens. If lavender attracts buzzing insects, will it deter others?

Two types of lavender are recommended for the Colorado landscape. English lavender and lavandin (L. latifolia). English lavender usually blooms twice a season. Lavandin plants are larger, but they bloom only once. 

The best bug-fighting part of lavender is its essential oils. Look for lavender oil at health food stores and other similar outlets. Rub the oil on the parts of the body you want to protect.

All is not lost with lavender plants, though. Harvest the stems, pick off, and lightly chop the leaves to mix with scones, ice cream, or other food. Yum!

Mints (Mentha spp.) 

Mint plants alone won’t deter insects, but the oils of peppermint, spearmint, and other mints have repellant characteristics. Research shows the oil – menthol – has insect-fighting qualities.

Remember mints can spread way beyond their space with underground stems (rhizomes). Mints have many other uses in the home garden, however. They can be harvested for teas, jellies, salads, and other food and drinks, including mojitos and mint juleps.  

What We’ve Learned 

These and many other plants are credited with repelling insects while smelling good. While we appreciate the fragrance of these plants, we also recognize that the bug-fighting attributes come from the essential oils rather than the plants themselves.

While rubbing the leaves of these plants on your skin to fend off insects may help, it’s not as effective as using the essential oils associated with the plants. Some people may have an allergic reaction to essential oils rubbed on the skin, so test a patch first.

One option is to place aromatic plants in pots on the deck or plant them around the patio in the hopes of keeping insects away. But will plants alone repel bugs and other pests? You might want to light a citronella candle or tiki torch, especially if you want to keep away mosquitoes.

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp is an award-winning garden writer, editor, and speaker. Known as a hortiholic, she frequently says her eyes are too big for her yard. Find her blog at hoosiergardener.com.

Colorado’s New Laws 

We recently wrote about Colorado’s new “move over law” as well as the crackdown on crossing solid white lines in traffic.

What other laws are hitting the books this fall? Effective October 1st, the following new laws are in effect throughout our fine state:

• A law that requires a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases and allows victims of gun violence to sue the firearm industry for knowingly breaching.

•  A law that changes the right-of-way rules in roundabouts, giving priority to larger vehicles such as buses and trucks.

•  A law that clarifies the 48-hour bond hearing requirement for people in jail.

•  A law that reclassifies certain felony offenses, such as aggravated cruelty to animals.

•  A law that expands the eligibility for postconviction DNA testing for people who claim innocence.

•  A law that prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to waive certain legal rights in their leases, such as the right to participate in class-action lawsuits or jury trials.

•  A law that regulates the sale and possession of “ghost guns”, which are firearms that are not serialized or registered. However, some provisions of this law will not take effect until January 1, 2024.

Be careful in those roundabouts!

Maintaining Mental Acuity

As we journey through life, one constant companion is the inexorable passage of time. With each passing year, our bodies and minds undergo natural changes, including shifts in cognitive function.

Sadly, we know many of you have had experience with aging family members and we have as well.

It makes us wonder what can be done to slow the aging process of the brain, and just exactly how we “stay sharp” as we age.

The good news is that there are ways to slow down mental aging and maintain sharpness, reducing the risk of conditions like dementia. We rustled up the best tips we could find online below:

1. Stay Physically Active: Regular exercise not only benefits your body but also boosts brain health. It increases blood flow to the brain, encourages the growth of new neurons, and enhances cognitive function.
    
2. Mental Stimulation: Engage your brain through lifelong learning. Read books, solve puzzles, learn a new language, or take up a musical instrument. These activities challenge your brain and keep it agile.
    
3. A Balanced Diet: Proper nutrition is crucial. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in vitamins E and C all support brain health.
    
4. Adequate Sleep: Sleep is essential for memory consolidation and cognitive functioning. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.
    
5. Social Connections: Maintain strong social networks. Interacting with friends and family stimulates brain activity and emotional well-being.
    
6. Stress Management: Chronic stress can damage the brain. Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness to reduce stress levels.
    
7. Brain-Boosting Supplements: Some supplements, like ginkgo biloba or vitamin D, may support brain health, but consult with a healthcare professional before adding them to your routine.
    
8. Regular Check-ups: Monitor your overall health, as conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol can negatively impact cognitive function.

The National Institute for Aging published a list of ways to combat mental decline and it can be found here.

By adopting these practices into your lifestyle, you can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Finally, a fine list of tips on memory improvement can be found here, courtesy of the University of St. Augustine.

Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start working on your brain health. Embrace these habits, and you’ll be well on your way to a sharper, more vibrant mind throughout your life’s journey.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for August were Mary Moreno, Josefina Quinonez, Aurora Dominguez, Haydee Espinosa, and Fernanda Gonzalez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Soto 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 August.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

In response to a question I am frequently asked, we do not offer fixed quotes for house cleaning. We don’t feel that a walkthrough of taking notes while speaking to a client will result in a true reading of the time required to clean.

Quotes, by their nature, are based on an estimated time to do a job. If a quote is too low, there are two ways to deal with it. The team must work faster, or the company will lose money on that clean.

Neither option works for us. To put a time limit on a clean is not only unfair to our employees, but it most certainly would result in less than our trademark quality.

Denver Concierge has been in business for over 25 years based on the quality of our cleaning. We are the cat’s meow of home cleaning, paws down. We are certainly not going to jeopardize that.

As for losing money on our cleans due to erroneous estimates, well that would just be dumb. We don’t want clients losing either, by potentially overpaying if our time is off the other way on a given day.

Bottom line, we charge by the hour for a team to professionally, efficiently, thoroughly, and pleasantly clean your home for you and your family. Including the furry ones! 

Bee

New Cancellation Policy

Ok, not yet, but we hope it caught your eye, as it could be coming soon.

We pride ourselves in being a full-service outfit over here at Denver Concierge. However, we seem to be running into a very high number of cancellations, many at the last minute.

If you get to read Angela’s Queen Bee down below, it dovetails very nicely into the problem we are having. Our teams want to work, and when we get last-minute cancellations, there is nowhere for them to go.

Unlike other cleaning companies that pay by the house, we start paying our folks as soon as they clock in at the office. So, we end up paying a team of three people to go have coffee. Not to mention the cost of driving to get to the first job only to be locked out or cancelled at the last minute.

Needless to say, this raises our costs unnecessarily, and over time puts pressure on pricing as well. We don’t think it’s fair that clients that never cancel should bear the burden of people that do.

For the record, we have never charged for cancellations or lockouts, although many of our competitors do just that.

As you might imagine, we are in a conundrum. Life happens as they say, and most times there isn’t anything that can be done about emergencies. We have no issue with that and never will. That’s just part of trying to be a great company providing great service.

However, if we have a client that has canceled frequently, and at the last minute, we may have to reconsider our current stance. At a minimum, we may need to have a chat about whether or not that client should remain on their current schedule.

We are asking for your help. If you need to cancel, we fully understand, but would respectfully ask that it is done prior to the night before if at all possible. This will allow our scheduling folks to work their magic and make sure we are staffed properly for the jobs on the schedule.

In a perfect world, we would have a couple of days’ notice to shuffle things. Anything the night before or the day of is basically a nightmare for us, and results in all the bad stuff described above.

So, for now, there is no new policy, but we want to try and enlist your help with the problem, in the hopes we won’t need one.

Meanwhile, thank you for being a loyal client of our locally-owned company.

We will continue to strive to keep our costs down so you get a fair value for your price.  

We appreciate you and will always do our best to work with you when “life happens”.

Navigating Denver

Have you ever driven around downtown Denver and wondered just how drunk the city planners were when they laid out the streets?

We have been here a long time and we still aren’t sure what the rhyme or reason is. 

Did you know Denver has 225 one-way streets?

We didn’t either until we started snooping around at how our city is actually laid out.

We learned a lot! Did you know that there are two alphabetical groups that you can find on streets that run north and south? 

One group goes from east to west and the other from north to south.

Stick with us here.

The east-west streets are named for Native American tribes and begin with Acoma, ending in Zuni.

From west to east, and east of Colorado Boulevard, you’ll find Albion Street, followed by Ash Street to the east. This first alphabetical group goes from west to east and has two streets per letter.

More detail from the Fox 31 article can be found here.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole on the real origins of Denver’s street patterns, we found an amazing piece by Confluence Denver and it can be found here.

It all goes back to two rival settlements that combined way back in 1860. I suppose we should forgive them for not laying this thing out a bit better.

For now, we hope this helps you understand how this all came about, and hopefully where you might be next time you look up at a confusing street sign or wonder if you are pointing north or south.

Senior Moving Guide

Aging is tough. It becomes even tougher when you cannot function well inside your current home or need to move as you get older.

We also have a lot of clients and partners who are taking care of parents who are going through the same thing.

While the emotional part of moving an aging parent is hard to describe, there are practical considerations as well.

That’s where our friends at senioradvice.com come in. 

They put together a great resource for moving as a senior on their affiliate site caring.com.

From the intro to the article:

“For most people, aging brings a new set of challenges. New health problems may affect your ability to live independently, financial challenges make it tougher to maintain your lifestyle and adult children moving to faraway places may make you feel less connected to your home.”

“Some people move every few years or even more frequently, while others remain rooted in the same location for decades. But for many people, there comes a time in old age when it becomes necessary to move.”

“While relocating is never easy, moving as a senior carries its own difficulties. If you or a loved one is moving into an assisted living or memory care facility due to declining health, the very reason for the move will likely make the process even more difficult. A lifetime of accumulated possessions might be squirreled away in your home. And if the move is due to financial stress, moving itself can be expensive.”

We found it to be a very informative piece and we thank our friend Julia Walker for reaching out with this. 

The complete article can be found here, and we wish you patience and grace if you are experiencing this currently.

Denver Food and Wine Festival 

If you are a longtime reader of our newsletter, you know we love a good meal out.

Enter the annual Denver Food and Wine Festival. 

Billed as “A Multi-Day Extravaganza of Food Wine and Spirits”, we say yes, please.

The entire event will run from September 6-9 and features many great events and opportunities to engage with some of Denver’s best in the business.

From the “Shake and Brake” Showdown on September 7th, to the Grand Tasting on the 9th, this looks like a fun (and filling) event.

Reidel is also sponsoring a wine glass and tasting seminar (you get some great wine glasses if you go) which we love.

Full details of this cool event can be found here.

We hope to see you there!

Worst Drivers in the U.S.

Finally, a naughty list that Denver didn’t win on.

We meet a lot of folks from all over and nearly everyone thinks the drivers in their city are “awful”. 

We aren’t sure about why that phenomenon is, although most people think they are better at driving than they really are.

The good news is that for 2023, Denver did not make this list. 

Although the drivers in Lakewood and Pueblo said “Hold my beer”, as they managed to sneak into the top (bottom?) 20 in poor driving.

Consumer Affairs did a complete study on this for 2023 and the methodology is explained as well. 

The safest city? Green Bay, Wisconsin. No Colorado cities made that list.

Finally, Forbes did a similar review of bad driving by state, and we didn’t make that list either.

It can be found here.

So, next time someone says “Denver drivers are the worst!”, you will have some data to prove them wrong.

Safe driving!!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for July were Maria Zapata, Sandra Vidales, Josefina Quinonez, Guadalupe Caloca, and Silvia Anguiano.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Soto and Martha Rosales.

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 July.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

Our employees show up at the dispatch office every morning because they want to work.

Last-minute lockouts or cancellations during the day do not please them, as going home early means they lose hours and wages.   

It is disappointing to have their day cut short, unlike many less enthusiastic workers who might relish the idea of getting half a day off. 

With this in mind, our employees have done some really random things in their determination to clean the houses they were assigned for the day.   

Any request by a client in need is considered.

Forgot to leave the key? Can they climb over the side fence?   Forgot to have the dog sitter meet the team? Can the smallest team member squeeze through the doggy door?  You request and we do our best to oblige.

At times our teams will use their own initiative, which doesn’t always work out the way it should, but no one has ever been hurt, no property ever damaged, no dog or cat let loose. Thankfully, no harm has been done. 

A special thanks to our clients who find the humor in some of our maneuvers and have to defend us against a neighbor or household member who persists in questioning the logic when oft times there is none.

Suffice it to say that our intentions are always good. 

Bee

Green With Envy

Ok, not us, we try not to engage in envy.

But hopefully, our competitors do, because for the 16th straight year, we have been recertified 100% green by the Green Clean Institute.

In fact, we were the first cleaning company in Colorado to achieve this prestigious certification. It requires not only that we use products that are 100% certified green, but that our staff is trained as well.

We have to re-certify each year, and we are very proud that we have achieved this again in 2023. As a side note, we are currently the only cleaning company listed in the GCI directory in 2023 in Denver. Wow. 

We used to have a couple of competitors that were listed next to us, but it seems they have given up the pursuit.

The moral of the story for us is very clear. We are committed to doing things the right way, every time. Sure, it costs money and time to maintain our certification, but we do it simply because it’s the right thing to do.

We aren’t smart enough to understand all the ins and outs of our climate, our planet, and what is causing what. All we know is that we are trying to do our part. We hope that brings you a little comfort when you use our locally owned company.

For some reasons to use green products, the folks at Spruce came up with 10 Reasons to Start Green Cleaning Today and it can be found here.

We will always do our best to be unique in the way that we clean, communicate with you, and take care of your home. More importantly, we appreciate each and every one of you and we value our relationships beyond just being your housecleaner. 

We also take the responsibility of “taking care” of your home as seriously as we “take care” of the environment. We hope it shows through every day.

Thank you, as always, for your support and your business.

Social Security Myths 

Have you ever heard that our Social Security system is running out of money?

We have, and for those of us that have paid in for a very long time, it is quite alarming.

However, it isn’t true. At least not now.

Our fine friends over at Edward Jones published a great article entitled “5 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe about Social Security”.

AARP also did a great article on this. From that article: “As long as workers and employers pay payroll taxes, Social Security will not run out of money. It’s a pay-as-you-go system: Revenue coming in from FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) and SECA (Self-Employed Contributions Act) taxes largely cover the benefits going out.”

“Social Security does face funding challenges. For decades it collected more than it paid out, building a surplus that stood at $2.83 trillion at the end of 2022. But the system is starting to pay out more than it takes in, largely because the retiree population is growing faster than the working population, and living longer. Without changes in how Social Security is financed, the surplus is projected to run out in 2034, according to the latest annual report from the program’s trustees.”

While that is the biggest myth we hear about Social Security, there are others, such as the annual COLA being guaranteed, the effective age is 65, etc.

These and other myths (along with the truth about each) can be found in the articles above. 

We were very relieved to know that it does not appear that Social Security is going broke anytime soon. Whew.

New “Move Over” Law Coming

We do our best to keep our readers informed about changes in our fine city and state that might affect them.

This new law is one of those things to pay attention to.

You are probably already aware that Colorado law requires drivers to move over for emergency vehicles.

The law requires a driver who is overtaking an emergency vehicle, tow vehicle, or public utility vehicle that is parked on the side of the road to reduce and maintain a safe speed, as follows:

• 25 miles per hour if the speed limit is less than 45 miles per hour; or
• At least 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit if the speed limit is 45 miles per hour or more.

So, what is the new law? 

Starting August 7, drivers will be required to behave the same way for ANY vehicle with hazard lights on.

The same requirements from the previous law (above) apply. Failure to do so, if caught, will result in a $100 fine and DMV points off your license, so beware.

It seems like a sensible law to us, and we sure don’t need a ticket.

We hope this helps keep you from getting one as well!

The full law can be found here, at Colorado CDOT. 

Scam Avoidance 

Dang, scams are everywhere. 

If we get one more personalized email from someone who pretends to know us, we might lose it.

Between fake LinkedIn profiles, cleverly worded spam, and the like, there are lots of scams and new approaches to be wary of.

We are here to help.

It seems like Amazon is everywhere. Most of us use them and rarely have problems, however, there are lots of counterfeit items to avoid.

We hadn’t thought about this until Prime Day arrived and we read this piece on counterfeit goods on Amazon. Quite eye-opening.

Also, we have noticed a very high number of fake profiles on LinkedIn. Typically a very pretty person in a photo, with a background that doesn’t seem to add up. 

Sadly, most people just “accept” invitations to connect, and then the fun starts. Scammers will attempt to befriend you, with the ultimate goal of getting your information and money. When in doubt, google the person, you might be surprised they don’t exist!

Then there is the “lottery scam”. Most of us would scoff at this one, but remember, if these tactics didn’t work, scammers would stop using them!

Finally, some great tips from FDIC on how to avoid falling prey to these very clever scams.

Meanwhile, keep your guard up!

Save on your Summer Utility Bill 

Well, we knew this was coming. Sticker shock on our electricity bills. Now that it’s here, many of us are stunned by the increases.

Along the way, summer arrived and it’s been 95 degrees now for a good stretch.

What can we all do to save some dough on our electric bill? 

For starters, Xcel Energy (who has been the target of most of the vitriol online) offers some good tips for saving money. 

More importantly, they are also offering rebates on smart thermostats, LED bulbs, and water heater installation currently.

Incidentally, if you already have a smart thermostat, there are seasonal savings programs there as well.

We also spoke with a client about the installation of a whole-home fan, which seems to help as well. 

Finally, from CNet, 8 ideas on how to lower your bill can be found here.

Stay cool Denver, we hope some of these tips help!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for June were Haydee Espinoza, Guadalupe Caloca, Aurora Dominguez, Maria Zapata, and Juana Luna.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Juana Olivas 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 June.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

Cleaning is a dying art.  Much like ironing.   The modern approach to cleaning is the result of TV commercials starting in the ’50s featuring a well-dressed woman, often in heels, with a spray bottle in one hand and a pretty sponge in the other, sometimes wearing an apron. The message was clear. Our product can free you from drudgery.

So, what is the real art of cleaning?  Quite succinctly, it is Denver Concierge.

But to break it down, it is a solitary endeavor; a calm diligence and concentrated focus on taking away the dirt, grime, and dust from a room or object.  Efficiency is key. If too drawn out it becomes tedious.  If too rushed it becomes sloppy, with the likelihood of breakages. 

Non-toxic products are essential. Our products may not come in fancy packaging with fancy promises, but they have proven to be not only effective at cleaning but also at preservation and safety, allowing our ladies to do their job properly in the time they need, with no harmful cumulative after effects.

Of course, none of the products, applications, or methods are viable without employees who just quite simply know how to clean. 

Denver Concierge has the best of the best. Hats off to you ladies!  

Bee

Happy Independence Day 

247 years ago.

It’s been a long time since our great country formed its independence. Sadly, with all the strife and issues in our modern society, it is easy to forget the struggles we had to overcome together to survive as long as we have as a nation.

We are here today to share our appreciation for our country, its freedoms, and the liberties we all have thanks to the sacrifices made nearly 250 years ago by our independent and very stubborn forefathers.

In the words of French officer and American army volunteer Marquis de Lafayette, 

“The happiness of America is intimately connected with the happiness of all mankind; she is destined to become the safe and venerable asylum of virtue, of honesty, of tolerance, and quality and of peaceful liberty.” 

We love that quote, and we love our country, even with all its current challenges.

Many of us don’t realize that the Revolutionary War lasted nearly eight long years and we were massive underdogs against what was then the largest and most powerful military in the world, the British.

The American Revolution Institute does a great job of encapsulating our struggle in “One Lesson” which can be found here. We found it to be a great refresher to remind us of the sacrifices made and the difficult road to where we are today.

We sincerely hope you get to celebrate a wonderful holiday with your families this weekend and on Tuesday.

In that spirit, we will be closed on Tuesday but will be operating on Monday as usual. Odd holiday timing, but fortunate for our Monday clients who always get the short straw on holidays it seems. 

Meanwhile, happy birthday to our great nation. We thank you, our clients and partners for allowing us to prosper in it alongside you.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Casa Bonita Returns

Nothing like a good old-fashioned Denver institution making a comeback. 

In case you haven’t heard, the creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, purchased Casa Bonita last year.

Since then, they have invested $40 million into restoration and renovation, which is not a typo.

The duo has had a long love affair with Casa Bonita, even featuring it on a season seven episode of South Park.

On June 23-24, Casa Bonita reopened with a number of timed tickets. It is also open this weekend with a limited number of tickets for entry.

Dinner tickets are $39.99 for adults and $24.99 for kids aged 3-12. Ticket purchases also come with a 15% service charge.

Only eight people per group can get tickets at one time. Tickets must be purchased online and are final sales only, non-refundable, and non-transferable.

We found a great insider review from someone that attended the opening night last week and it can be found here.

It sounds like things are much better, yet familiar which is the way they should be.

We look forward to getting in and watching some cliff divers very soon!

Bravo to the South Park guys for restoring a Denver institution. Now, let’s just hope the food has improved, we bet it has.

Denver’s Best Neighborhood

Yes, it is that time again when 5280 Magazine unveils Denver’s best neighborhoods.

As they do each year, they followed a specific methodology which includes home sale prices, crime data, school ratings, and an X-factor score.

The winner?

Wash Park, followed by Hilltop, Berkeley, West Highland, and Cherry Creek.

You might recall we featured the 2022 list recently and those ranks were as follows: Wellshire. Belcaro, Wash Park, Platt Park, and City Park.

Quite the churn really, and congrats to Wash Park for moving up two spots to number one in 2023.

From the article regarding methodology: “Our ranking is 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.”

“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. Our initial list of 78 neighborhoods (which was whittled down to 75, as you’ll read below) is based on the city of Denver’s official map. That’s why you won’t see areas like LoHi or RiNo listed; officially, they’re not considered their own neighborhoods, despite what locals might say.”

Lists like this always stimulate thought and debate, the complete article can be found here.

We love all the neighborhoods in Denver, especially the ones we clean in!!!

Outdoor Music Venues 

We love a great concert, even better at a place like Red Rocks, which we are incredibly lucky to have so close.

Of course, when considering outdoor music venues, that is the first place that pops into mind, but there are so many more across our fine state that we wanted to make you all aware of.

We also are all probably aware of Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, which holds 17,000 people and gets a lot of big acts. 

What about smaller venues?

For example, did you know that the Denver Botanic Gardens has a concert series? 10 evenings over June, July, and August, as well as local musicians playing during the week.

We also have seen shows at Levitt Pavilion, which is a non-profit venue offering 50 free concerts a year.

How about the Mishawaka venue near Fort Collins, pictured above? It started as a dance hall after motorcyclist and musician Walter S. Thompson stumbled across the site in 1916. 

We are so fortunate to have these wonderful venues and many more to attend concerts at. 

The complete list of the “13 Best outdoor music venues” by 5280 can be found here.

We hope you get a chance to enjoy these wonderful and iconic venues in 2023!

What Is “Wealthy” In Denver?

Being “wealthy” has a different connotation for almost all of us. 

It is also impacted by the area we live in, as a dollar will go a lot farther in some places than in others.

So, what makes one “wealthy” in Denver? Well, Charles Schwab did a survey of Denver residents to find that out.

From the article in the Denver Business Journal: “In an annual survey conducted by Charles Schwab Corp., a nationwide financial services company, 37% of Denverites who said they feel wealthy had a net worth of $474,000.”

“But those same people said that to be “considered wealthy,” it takes an average net worth closer to $2.5 million.”

There you have it. From an opinion standpoint, at least.

For more hard data, you can refer to this survey that shows how much you need to be “rich” in the top 10 cities in the U.S. (yes, it’s led by California cities).

What about how far our dollars go here? 

Well, that is where it gets interesting. For example, in New York City, $250,000 income is effectively just short of $83,000 after factoring in the cost of living and taxes, the bottom of the list.

The place where your dollar goes furthest? Look no further than Memphis, TN, where $250k gives you roughly $180K in purchasing power.

We found the complete study by Smart Asset to be very informative about the real value of a dollar, by city.

Denver comes in at 55th, which means $250k here effectively is worth about $150k.

The complete study can be found here, and was quite eye-opening!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for May were Guadalupe Caloca, Maria Zapata, Josefina Quinonez, Maria Concepcion Reyes, and Sandra Vidales.

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

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 May.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

In the early days of Denver Concierge, we were less discerning than we are today.

We accepted jobs in outlying areas that sometimes meant a drive time of 2 hours one way. We accepted apartment move-out cleans where the teams had to wade through empty pizza boxes and dirty dishes. We cleaned offices and we cleaned the common areas of apartment buildings.

Then, gradually through the years, we developed a style more suited to the skills of our employees; a style that offers them a safe and attractive cleaning environment in some of the most beautiful homes in Denver, while allowing the company to thrive. 

We brought our service area closer to Denver and the South, focusing on single-family homes cleaned on a regular basis. The clients became part of the Denver Concierge family.

We pride ourselves on quality over quantity. With respect to our employees, we are very selective in who we hire to work alongside them. We are careful to bring in new clients who we feel will appreciate and respect our employees’ hard work.

This is Denver Concierge today. We’ve come a long way. 

Bee

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