DIA Great Hall Update

Now that travel seems to be back in style, we figured it might be time to look at our beloved airport to see when all the construction might be done. If you have been to DIA lately it seems patently obvious to us that this will take a while. We have discussed this debacle in past newsletters. This project has been plagued by issues from the start, including a snafu with the original vendor. Back in 2017, DIA started a .8B project (yes billions) to renovate the Great Hall. The agreement with the original contractor fell apart and Greeley-based Hansel Phelps picked it up and started work again in March of 2020. From the article: "The project is meant to increase passenger capacity, improve the experience of people passing through the airport, and reduce security vulnerabilities, outgoing DIA CEO Kim Day previously told Denver City Council members. It's also creating more ticketing and baggage drop-off space to accommodate the airport's two biggest carriers, United Airlines and Southwest." We wish we had good news, like the project will be done soon. It won't. It appears this project will take at least two more years to complete, and a potential phase three is being contemplated, so this could drag on for a bit. How will this impact us as travelers? In August, the airport will close four of the 12 security lanes at the north end of Level 5 to allow work to proceed on the new checkpoint at the northwest corner of Level 6. As they say, forewarned is forearmed, so we can at least plan for some disruption going forward. For the complete piece by the Denver Business Journal, visit them here.

Selling Your Home?

Guest Writer Suzie Wilson at happierhome.net Looking to Sell Your Home Quickly? Start With These Projects  If you need to sell your home quickly, you’ll need to make sure your home is looking its best. You can get your home in top shape and encourage more offers by focusing on some key home improvement projects. Wondering where you should begin? Start your upgrades with these basic home tips. Give Everything a Deep Cleaning   The most important project you can complete before you list your home is a good, deep cleaning. Buyers love to walk into a home that looks, feels and smells fresh and clean, so take a day or two to go through and tidy up your home. Put away any clutter or get rid of it, even in storage areas. Then, clean everything from top to bottom, including ceiling fans, vents, curtains, countertops, and of course...the floors and carpets. If you’re working with faulty equipment, this difficult task will be that much harder. Do a quick assessment of your cleaning appliances before starting. If you need to upgrade your vacuum, be prepared for a dizzying array of options. Do your research to figure out what vacuum best suits your needs. Need your home professionally cleaned before selling? The premier house cleaning service in the area, Denver Concierge has the expertise to deliver exceptional results. For a quote, reach out to us today! Freshen Up the Front    When potential buyers take a look at your home, they pay attention to the exterior first, so you should pay attention to your curb appeal. Tidy up your yard and make sure your lawn is neat. Then, look at the exterior to see if you need to make improvements there as well. If you have siding, brick, or stone in need of repair or an update, take care of those upgrades before you begin showing your home. Now is also a good time to address more hidden elements around your home like having your gutters and downspouts cleaned. This could even make a difference in your inspection. Use an online search like “gutter cleaning services near me” to connect with seasoned professionals who can remove debris and even alert you to necessary repairs.  Update Your Kitchen   Kitchens are king when it comes to showing a home. Buyers look for well-maintained, updated kitchens. If you’re only going to renovate a few things around your home, put your kitchen at the top of that list. A major overhaul will cost the most, but even smaller upgrades can make a difference. You can switch out fixtures or invest in some new appliances. Need to update kitchen cabinets? Try painting them a different color, adding some new hardware, or even replacing wood panels with glass for a more boutique feel.  Freshen Up Your Bathroom  Another room that buyers always pay extra attention to is your bathroom(s), so add it to your list of home renovations if it’s in need of repairs or updates. If you have multiple bathrooms in your home, seriously upgrading one may be enough to boost your home sale, but bathroom improvements can be inexpensive and easier than you think. You can change out faucets for different colors or materials, or change up your mirror. Even switching out lighting fixtures can make your bathrooms seem brand new. Play up special features, like a deep soaking tub or large windows, with some effortless bathroom staging. Replace the Roof     If your roof is getting old, replacing it may be a good move before you try to sell your home. Depending on the material and composition of your roof, it should be replaced every 15-20 years. A new roof can also make your home appear cleaner and more appealing from the outside. This is also a home project that adds value to your home. If your roof is fairly new, still make time to check it over for issues that may need repair. Clear off any leaves or junk that has accumulated there over time. Patch up any holes and replace any damaged or missing shingles. Ensuring your roof is in good shape can help sell your home more quickly. Making improvements around your home and property is the best way to help your home sell quickly. By focusing on the areas buyers care about the most, you can be sure to attract more attention and get an offer on your home much sooner. Before you know it, you’ll be closing on your home and enjoying the profits of all of your hard work!

Our Dangerous City

In the first six months of 2021, a person was shot in Denver every 36 hours. Yes, you read that correctly. In fact, violence in Denver is set to surpass 2020, which was the worst year on record since 1981. It seems the easing of the pandemic restrictions is not our only issue. The Denver Post did an informative article on this and covered many key statistics. From the article: "In the first six months of this year, 43 people were killed in Denver homicides — a few more than the 39 people killed in Denver in the same period last year. Denver police Chief Paul Pazen said in January that he didn’t want the 95 homicides recorded in 2020 — a 51% increase from the prior year — to become the norm. But the violence hasn’t abated. “We’re trending even above where we were last year, and last year we had too many people who lost their lives in our city,” Pazen said in a June interview." “The city looks great from the outside with all the development, but it has internal bleeding,” said Gerardo Lopez, executive director of violence prevention organization Homies Unidos. “We didn’t develop youth programs and mental health programs at the same pace.” We find this very concerning as our once safe city seems to be getting a little edgier. Certainly, as we grow we will have more "big city" problems, but we all want to feel safe when we go out downtown. The complete piece from the Denver Post can be found here. For Denver violent crime statistics, check-in here.

Are you a Good Tipper?

Most of us probably think we are. We aren't sure about you, but we have been "overtipping" our service providers just because we are glad they are still there through all of this. We saw a catchy headline about tipping and which generation is worst at it. We had to share. The answer and from the article: "The younger generation was found to be the worst culprit, specifically millennials, ages 25-40, and Gen Zers, ages 18-24, who were both found to be the worst tippers." "The study also found that there is a strong correlation between income and how much people tip. Almost 85% of higher-income households with an annual household income of over k, who go to sit-down restaurants, were found to always tip. On the other hand, only 77% of middle-income households, with an annual income between -80k, were found to tip, and only 65% of lower-income households, who make less than k annually, leave a tip." TD Ameritrade did a survey and found that 59 percent of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are likely to tip 19 to 25 percent. Meanwhile, only a third of millennials – ages 23 to 39 – and Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980) do the same. We loved the data in the TD "etiquette survey" report, so we are providing it here for your reading pleasure. We hope you join us in making sure our restaurant staff and servers are still there when this is finally over. Interesting data for sure! The full piece by Fox News can be found here.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for June were Maria Zapata, Fidelia Bautista, Sandra Vidales, Aurora Dominguez and Josefina Quinonez. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Isela Mendoza and Simona Estrada. We are so proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your lives during these challenging times. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of June.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

This month as we welcome new clients into the Denver Concierge fold we realized that each one had come to us through recommendations from current clients. This is a huge compliment for our teams and a huge compliment to the way we do business as a company. Even more so when taking into account that several of the new clients actually preferred to wait for an opening with us rather than go to another service. As an aside, we are very careful in our hiring and sometimes there is a short wait to get on our schedule. We don't hire to fill an urgent need. Over the years we have tried to create a niche in the market that has served us well.  We treat our clients like family and are always upfront and candid in our dealings. Most importantly, we listen. We are always just a text away.  This approach has brought us some truly great clients. Thank you to those who recommended us.  It was a kind gesture and much appreciated. Bee

Guide to Summer 2021

We made it to Summer. Sadly, no one seemed to tell Spring, which evidently took a wrong turn and never made it here. But that's ok because the nice people at 5280 Magazine came out with a bunch of fun and interesting things to do in our wonderful state. They covered nearly everything, from road trip gear to the best rooftop patios in Denver. We didn't know that Le Meridien hotel actually has the highest open-air rooftop deck in Denver, the 54thirty lounge. We also love to eat so seeing the best BBQ joints in Colorado made our mouths water. From the best bike rides to try to improving grilling skills, they did a great job of encapsulating all that is Colorado in one place, and that can be found here. We hope you have a wonderful Summer!

Colorado Income Tax Cut

You read that right, income taxes are going down in our state. Amazingly and despite COVID, Colorado now is expected to exceed the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights revenue cap for both this fiscal year, which ended on June 30, and for the next two years as well. From the article in the Denver Business Journal: "Colorado will have to employ all three of its methods for giving back excess revenues — reimbursing local governments for Homestead property-tax exemptions, reducing the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.5%, and offering sales-tax refunds directly to state residents." Great news for all of us, and the article also goes into Colorado's unemployment numbers and why we are still slightly behind the national average. The full piece from the Denver Business Journal can be f0und here.

Is Working from Home Here to Stay?

Last month we asked how much working from home was worth. In many cases, ,000 wasn't enough. We wanted to dive into this issue further, more specifically what are most companies planning as they move forward? What are the pros and cons for both employee and company? In a great article, Stanford Business published a piece on how the pandemic "Blew up the American Office, for Better and Worse." As the graphic in our header shows, working from home increased eightfold in 2020 from 2017. Where will it go from here and how will it impact business going forward? What are the takeaways? For starters, it seems that a consensus is emerging about a hybrid approach where employees would work both from home and at the office in a split. More fascinating to us was the belief that innovation would be impacted by working from home in the long run, due to the creative collaboration that it requires. Finally, this shift has harmed cities' downtown areas in many ways, as people remain at home in the suburbs and not spending money downtown. Very informative piece and it made us think about this tricky issue. You can find the entire article here.

How's Your Sleep?

Hopefully, it's getting better as life is getting back to normal around us. When we found a simple sleep assessment tool, we took the leap to see just how many bad bedtime habits we really have. The answer? A lot. The quiz took us only a minute or so to complete, and then gave us a score of 10 out of a possible 18 points. Normally scoring a 10 is perfect, but in this case, it told us we have some work to do. At the end of the survey, you can provide your email and you will get a five-part series on improving your sleep, along with exercises, videos, and the like. If you aren't sure about your sleep, the stats say it can probably be better. The most recent data shows that in America, 70% of adults report that they obtain insufficient sleep at least one night a month, and 11% report insufficient sleep every night. With thanks to the folks at Better Humans, you can link to the quick sleep survey here. For more data on sleep habits and the state of sleep in America, visit the American Sleep Apnea website here. Good luck improving your sleep, we are surely working on ours!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for May were Simona Estrada, Rosario De La Rosa, Maria Zapata, Aurora Dominguez and Patricia Rodriguez. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Laura Varela 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 continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your lives during these challenging times. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of May.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

This month I celebrate 20 years with Denver Concierge. 20 years!! Yikes! I doubt many people can say that their job is so closely aligned to their personality that the two actually mesh and the word ‘work’ ceases to apply. It’s a tough business we’re in and can be stressful if not handled with care, respect, and endurance. A sense of the absurd is always handy; a sense of humor is essential. I applaud our clients for offering me all of the above. As I accept this gold statue of a giant bee, I’d just like to say that I have been inordinately lucky to work with the best in the business and for the best in the business.  Bar none. I love you all! Bee

Crime in Denver

Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule?  Basically, it states that most of the outcomes tend to result from a small portion of the causes. When it comes to crime in Denver, it certainly applies. In fact, 40% of Denver's violent crimes happened in only 10 of our neighborhoods. Sadly, 2020 was one of the most violent ever. Our murder rate spiked by 29% along with property crimes spiking even further, and 2021 is shaping up to be a similar year. The most shocking number to us was Denver experiences about 8 violent crimes per day. Montbello, Five Points, Central Business District, Capitol Hill, Westwood, East Colfax, Green Valley Ranch, Union Station, Central Park, and North Capitol Hill have the highest amounts of aggravated assaults and murders so far this year. Click here for a complete map, along with the DPD plans to combat this ugly spike in violence in our fine city. 

Denver's New Area Code

Hey, all you cool kids with 303 or 720 area codes.....hang on to them! Denver is out of space with those area codes and will be rolling out area code 983 early next year. Did you know that the 303 area code was implemented in 1947? How about 720? It came about in 1998. From the article on 9 News, "Colorado PUC said the current 303/720 area codes are projected to run out of available phone numbers by the fourth quarter of 2022. The new 983 code will not be assigned until the current numbers are exhausted, said PUC." The new area code is projected to last approximately 25 years, but with all the people moving to Colorado, that may be optimistic. As always, you can contact us at 303-975-2808 for the best clean around. We are old school here and proud of it! The full article from 9 News can be found here.

What is Working from Home Worth?

How does ,000 sound? Well for some, that just isn't enough to go back to the office. In fact, in a blind survey of 3,000 employees of 45 companies, 64% chose the work from home option instead of the k. Only two companies saw over 50% of its people choose the k, JP Morgan and Qualcomm. From the article, "About 64% of Amazon workers who answered the question preferred permanent work from home, as well as 62% of Microsoft employees and 67% of Google employees. Apple employees would rather take permanent work from home over ,000 more at 69%, and Salesforce employees at 76%." Interesting data for sure, although Blind did another survey about productivity and 48% of the respondents said that working from home has led to a decrease in productivity. To see the full article from Business Journals, click here.

Summer Food and Drink Festivals

I am sure we have mentioned how happy we are to see this pandemic winding down. As it does, we are keeping our eye out for fun things to get back out and do in Colorado. In that spirit, we wanted to share some fun food and drink festivals for this summer, courtesy of 5280 Magazine. For you beer lovers, there is the Vail Craft Beer Classic, from June 25-26. Prefer wine? Lots of fun ones this summer, including the Telluride Wine Festival, Vail Wine Classic, and the Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival. The big one is the Aspen Food and Wine Classic in September, but it is already sold out. For those of you that prefer to stay close to home, Denver.Org published a good list of local events coming up this year as well and it can be found here. So glad that we can get back out to do the things we love, especially eating and drinking!!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for April were Maria Zapata, Josefina Quinonez, Aurora Dominguez, Yesica Censo, and Vanessa Perez. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Rosa Chavez 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 continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your lives during these challenging times. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of April.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

The most frequently asked question I get from the clients is what time will the team arrive? Years ago, before we offered partial cleans, all rooms were included whether they were used or not. Back then, we were able to put a very specific clean time to a house. However, as we gradually acquired larger and larger homes it seemed a bit unfair to clean guest quarters that only saw guests once a year, or children's rooms of empty nesters. To be more client-friendly, we changed from full cleans to client-specific instructions. This makes it difficult to project arrival times, and I thank you for bearing with us on this issue. We do also have a work order that goes out with the team along with instructions that do not change from clean to clean, such as those pertaining to access or pets. Immediate instructions can always be given to me when I text the clean confirmation the day before. As always thank you for being our clients and for all the compliments you consistently send. Bee

Best Performing US Cities

The Milken Institute annually ranks all major cities in their "best-performing" rankings. We came in 11th. Not quite top 10 material evidently, but we still love it here. The ranking system historically includes cities’ job and wage growth and strength in high-tech sectors. This year they added broadband access and housing affordability in an effort to highlight how much infrastructure improvements and other metrics reflect the inclusiveness of local economies. Did you know that 92.5% of Denver households have access to broadband internet? We also ended 2020 with a median price for a single-family home at 7,000. The best performing city? Provo, Utah. In fact, there were three Utah cities in the top 10. The good news is the list was dominated by areas in the west, so we will take that. The complete article, including methodology and a PDF can be found here. Top 10 next year for sure!

2021's Well Designed Home

If COVID has done anything, it has changed us forever in some ways. From Zoom calls to no more handshakes, we aren't sure what will stick and what will fade away when this crummy pandemic finally leaves us. One thing is for sure, our relationship with our homes has changed dramatically. One of the leading interior designers in Denver offered her perspective on this in January's 5280 Magazine. “The way we interact with our homes is never going to be the same after 2020,” says Sari Mina Ross, who moved her residential interior design firm from New York City to Denver just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She offers at least four new trends that will be hitting in 2021. Starting with high-performance kitchens, and ending with circadian lighting systems, we found the information to be very solid, and it spurred many ideas! The complete article on 2021 home design trends can be found here.   

What's Your Net Worth? 

What is your net worth? Just kidding, we don't want to know. We remember being in college, hoping we could "earn our age". Those were the days. Yep, we are old and k doesn't go very far these days. We ran across an interesting article about net worth by age. Of course, we went right down the rabbit h0le to see how we stacked up. Some data for you. The average net worth for someone aged 35-44 is 6,000.  From 45-54, it rises to 3,000. The highest average net worth belongs, as you might figure, to the 65-74-year age group, averaging a cool .2MM. At 75+ it drops a bit, probably due to health care costs and fixed income, coming in just under a million bucks. Kind of interesting and the full article by CNBC can be found here.

Sense of Humor

If there was ever a time to have a good sense of humor, it's the COVID era. Heck, our patience used to get tested before COVID, so these days it's easy to lose sight of what's important, and even harder to keep our perspective. Like you, we run across some people who take themselves a bit too seriously, we pride ourselves in not being one of "those people". So, what is the cost of being humorless? The smart folks at Stanford Graduate School of Business put out a nice piece on this and we wanted to share it. From the article, "A 15-year longitudinal study of more than 50,000 Norwegians found that women with a strong sense of humor had a 73% lower risk of dying from heart disease and an 83% lower risk of dying from infection." The other main takeaway? Humor is not necessarily innate. It can be cultivated and grown like a muscle. The full article is here, and it reminds us that no matter what, humor can bring us all joy during these tough times.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for January were Maria Zapata, Fidelia Bautista, Martha Garcia, and Patricia Rodriguez. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Laura Varela and Mayra Soto. We are very proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your lives during these challenging times. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of January.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

Like many of you, for many months now I have been working from home.  I am mostly texting our clients, but when I receive or place a phone call you can hear my assistant in the background. His name is Frank, my protective Corgi. He feels it is his job to be part of an incoming or outgoing call and he’s pretty hard to ignore. His barks can be momentarily disconcerting to the uninitiated. Happily, his persistent presence has prompted clients to send me photos of their "assistants" also.  I have built up quite a portfolio of cute images. If there is a bright spot in this dreary time it comes from our animals. They keep us smiling and keep us sane.  Love to them all. Bee

Restaurant Update

We may have mentioned we have quite a few clients and partners in the restaurant space and they have been hit particularly hard by COVID. You also may have heard about the new "5 Star" program that is allowing restaurants and other businesses to gradually move towards normalcy. The basics are as follows: The 5 Star State Certification Program enables businesses that meet enhanced safety guidelines in qualifying counties and municipalities to open at a greater capacity. The voluntary program recognizes businesses that have gone above and beyond to keep their communities safe. Further, each county or municipality can decide whether to implement the 5 Star State Certification program. So how is it calculated? Well, it depends firstly on the dial level of the area the business operates in. Ranging from Green (good) to Purple (Very Bad), each area has a rating. Establishments can then apply for variances based on where they currently operate and the "dial level" around them. They are expected to exceed normal COVID requirements, hopefully making them much safer to visit. We are excited to see the state helping small businesses get back up and running. While we haven't been able to find a certified list of 5 star approved restaurants yet, we hope one is coming soon. Meanwhile to learn more about the program click here.

Better Peace of Mind

Yes, 2020 was a bear. There were many days when we struggled with the uncertainty, chaos, and disruption caused by COVID. We like to think that we are mentally tough over here at Denver Concierge, but we are human and are always looking for better ways to cope. Along that journey, we ran across a solid piece by the folks at Medium.com (one of our favorite self-help sites) about how we might obtain better peace of mind during these tough times. One of the great concepts from the article is to focus on the stressors, not the stress. Our minds are hard-wired to outrun animals that might be chasing us, looking for their next meal. While those were real concerns for our ancestors, they really aren't anymore (at least for most of us hopefully). Yet our brains are hardwired to react with "fight or flight" reactions to things that truly are not life-threatening. We found the article informative and helpful and we sure hope you do as well. The complete piece on psychological habits for better peace of mind can be found here. We wish you much peace of mind in 2021.  

2020 Words of the Year 

Want to take a guess at the word of the year in 2020? If you guessed PANDEMIC, you are correct. Words fascinate us and the ones that come to the forefront each year are an interesting cross-section of what is going on in our world in a given year. We were extremely interested to read Merriam Webster's top 12 words of the year in 2020. Based on search history they list the most-searched-for words How about "Kraken"? "Schadenfreude"? Those were two words that were very popular, mainly thanks to the Seattle hockey team calling themselves the former and for people delighting in other people's failure for the latter. Our guess is our tumultuous political climate pushed schadenfreude into that spotlight. Plus, as the article says, it's a fun word to say. In respect to Kobe Bryant (rest in peace), the word "Mamba" was the most searched word shortly after his tragic helicopter crash. It's a quick read but gives great insight into our culture and the words we use in our daily lives. The full article can be found here, and we are sure hoping that words like "vaccine" and "normalcy" are popular this year!

101 Ways to Enjoy 2021 in Colorado

Wait, isn't there a pandemic going on? Well, yes, it technically is still here, although we are making progress. Knowing that, what can we do safely and enjoyably in our wonderful state in 2021? The nice people at 5280 Magazine published some great ideas in their article titled "101 Things to Do in Colorado This Year". Everything from adventure-packed road trips to cool classes you can take, the list is diverse and comprehensive. Besides, if you are like us, we are ready to get out of the house at least a little bit (socially distanced of course). Did you know, for example, that Denver has a "beer spa"? For you can soak in a tub of unfermented beer. We aren't sure about the health benefits of this but may just have to go see for ourselves, mainly because it involves the word beer. Some great ideas to put a dent in the repetitive boredom of home confinement. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did, the complete list can be found here.

Annual Award Winners

We are super excited to announce our annual winners for Team Leader and Cleaning Associate of the year. First, our monthly award winners for December were Rosario De La Rosa, Paz Jimenez, Martha Garcia, Simona Estrada, and Juana Luna. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Laura Varela and Rosa Chavez. Now, drum roll please..... Our winner for best Cleaning Associate in 2020 is Maria Zapata. Runner up goes to Aurora Dominguez. Our top Team Leader for 2020 goes to Socorro Ibarra. Our runner up is Juana Olivas. It was a close race and one that was determined over only 9 months (thanks COVID) rather than the usual 12. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your lives during these challenging times. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for 2020, the year of COVID.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

Denver Concierge is a Green Certified Company. This makes us a bit old fashioned, as we don't use harsh chemicals or cleaning methods. Our cleaning is meant to be thorough and yet preserve what we clean, whether furniture, carpets, keepsakes, or collectibles. We are not alone with our preservation mantra.  There is a local contractor who has bought several rundown houses in one area of the city and surprisingly renovated them, rather than razing them, preserving history with a touch of progress. His current endeavor is a hundred-year-old church which he has somehow managed to convert to inconspicuous condos without changing the street view. Preservation teamed with artistry and imagination. A good roadmap to the future.

The Best of the West

In the spirit of a better 2021, we are starting to think about all the fun things we can do! 5280 Magazine published their "Best of the Mountain West" piece this month and we found it very interesting. They celebrate 26 captivating people, beautiful places, and irresistible things from the West. It made us feel good about where we live, and the culture that surrounds us. Beyond the places to visit, which are cool, like Polebridge Mercantile (see below photo) in Montana, the article is a celebration of style, culture, and the people of the West. We found it uplifting and makes us happy to be part of it. The complete piece can be found here.

Vaccination Schedule

Thankfully, vaccines are arriving in cities everywhere, including Denver. So just how long will we have to wait to get ours? Well, that depends. Healthcare workers will be first.  Folks in nursing homes, first responders, and those with health risks will go next. Other essential workers, teachers, and even some prisoners (yes, you read that right) will go before healthy folks do. The New York Times came up with a calculator that will show you roughly how long it will take before you are vaccinated depending on the category you fall into. It even depicts where you would be in a virtual line, which is sort of cool as well. The full calculator can be found here. You should be able to view and operate the calculator without signing up for the Times, which is a relief. If you don't have the patience to look at the calculator, the rough numbers put a healthy person living in Denver County behind about 500,000 people. The bottom line? Be patient for sure. The WHO published a full list of Q&A about the vaccine, timing etc. and that can be found here. Stay safe Denver, we will see most of you in line in early to mid-2021!

Best Home Light Shows 

One of our favorite things to do during the holidays is to load up everyone in the car, get some hot cocoa, and drive around looking at the light displays. This year it's also one of the few things we can do that is socially distanced and somewhat normal. So many neighborhoods have beautiful holiday light displays in and around Denver, we have many options to explore. From downtown Denver to Cheesman Park, Arvada, and many of the suburbs, there are some very creative and special people that take the time to make their homes special. So you don't' wander around aimlessly, we have provided the best info we can find on where to go to see these wonderful displays. We found a good article from Trips to Discover, that gives some good neighborhoods to take a peek in and that information can be found here. Of course, our friends at 5280 Magazine also published their list as well, with specific homes and addresses listed. The list includes the Gingerbread House, "which features 10,000-plus lights meticulously outlining nearly every edge of Walter Hazard’s home, and is beloved by those near (neighborhood kids were the ones who named it “The Gingerbread House”) and far (German magazine Der Spiegel featured it in a roundup of the best holiday displays in America). " The complete article from 5280 can be found here. Finally, we found one more resource from milehighonthecheap.com that lists many places in and around the Front Range to view holiday light displays. See below for a preview of some of our favorites. Here's to making the best of this most different holiday season!!!

A Healthier Home

By Guest Writer Curtis Fisher We naturally think of our homes as being a place of comfort, but have you given thought as to how much your home promotes your well-being? Your house doesn’t need to be a passive player in your health regimen! Here are some ideas for ensuring your home plays an active role in your personal wellness program. Is Your Home ‘Breathtaking’? The air in your home plays a vital role in your general wellness, but most of the time, we don’t give it much consideration. Yet the American Lung Association says our homes can harbor indoor pollutants like lead, allergens, and asbestos. Those pollutants can cause a variety of health problems, such as asthma and respiratory illnesses. If you have symptoms like headaches, sneezing, coughing, or memory issues, it’s wise to get a feel for your home’s air quality to find out if it’s a contributing factor. There are kits you can use to test the air in your home that measure mold, radon, and so forth. It’s a step toward wellness that you can easily DIY! Better Breathability One of the easiest ways to tackle air quality is to regularly replace your HVAC filters. The type of filter will determine how often it needs to be replaced. By updating your filters when it’s time, you can ensure healthier air and a healthier HVAC system. Looking for an air-refreshing DIY? Add some houseplants to your household! It’s a simple way to help eliminate toxins from your air, and if you opt for an herb or two, you can even add them to meals. Your Indoor Herbs notes lavender (Lavendula), mint (Mentha), and rosemary (Rosmarinus) are a few selections you can grow to help reduce your home’s indoor pollution, and they offer the bonus benefit of being useful in culinary pursuits. Lighten Up — Naturally Allowing more natural light into your home is a simple and effective way to enhance your health. It’s a great way to boost your mood and productivity and can even help you sleep better at night. If your home has small windows that don’t allow in much light, you could have them enlarged for around ,000. A window can be enlarged by most handymen. Just like with your HVAC system, whenever you’re hiring someone to work on this type of home upgrade, check their credentials and get some references. Be alert to red flags like requests for advance payment or vague proposals. And once the work is complete, just make sure you open your window coverings throughout the day to make the most of those sunbeams! Looking for a light-oriented project you can do yourself? Consider changing up your light bulbs. As Alpha Emerged explains, the artificial lighting in your home can play a significant role in how you feel. Red spectrum bulbs promote slumber, while daylight-simulating halogen bulbs help you feel more awake. Choose the former for bedrooms and the latter for places you intend to be productive, like the kitchen and your home office. Cut Your Clutter One last home upgrade that can really pack a wallop on your well-being: decluttering. As Prevagen explains, being surrounded by too much “stuff” can take a toll on your health. It can make you less productive and more anxious, and even appears to encourage overeating. Decluttering is an undertaking you can DIY, and once you’ve pared down and are organized, you’ll be feeling great! Plan Ahead In addition to all of this, it helps to plan for inclement weather. For example, if you live in an area that’s prone to heavy snow and ice storms, it might be a good idea to purchase and install a generator. That way, if anything happens to your electricity, you’ll have a way to stay warm until power gets restored. However, keep in mind that it could cost upwards of  a day to keep the generator fueled. Is your home playing an active, positive role in your health regimen? Make sure your air is fresh, let the sunshine in, choose healthy artificial lighting, and cut down on clutter. Your house will have your back with these simple, health-enhancing steps!  

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for November were Josefina Quinonez, Aurora Dominguez, Guadalupe Caloca, Maria Zapata, and Rosario De La Rosa. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Socorro Ibarra and Natalia Olivas. We are very proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your lives during these challenging times. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of November. Our annual award winners will be announced in January 2021.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

2020.  What’s to say that hasn’t been said? Still, soldiering on, I would like to offer my deepest thanks to our clients, this year especially. You stood by us when the pandemic forced us to close for weeks,  when it necessitated last-minute schedule and team changes, cancellations, and even shortened cleans.  You all made it work. I spoke to each of you many times over the past months. Your kindness and easy acceptance were universal and overwhelming despite the hardships you all undoubtedly had in your own lives due to this beastly pandemic. We end the year grateful to have such amazing clients. May 2021 usher in a healthy and happy time for all. Bee

Just How Risky is Thanksgiving?

Ah, the tradition. We love getting together for Thanksgiving (and any other holiday where we can eat). So much controversy this year about Thanksgiving being "cancelled" and everyone being discouraged from getting together. That said, nearly 40% of people say they will likely attend a Thanksgiving gathering with 10 or more people despite the risk of catching COVID-19, according to a recent survey by Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. Another survey of parents nationwide found nearly a third say the benefits of gathering with extended family for the holidays are worth the risk of spreading or getting the coronavirus. The survey, conducted by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in partnership with the University of Michigan, says almost 3-in-5 plan to see extended family in person. We get it. Should you decide to expand the guest list, we wanted to provide a resource that will help guide you regarding exposure risk. Denver 7 published an interesting, interactive map created by professors at the Georgia Institute of Technology, that shows the likelihood that at least one person would test positive for COVID-19 when gathering with a group of 10 or more people in a given area. For example, under current case rates, a gathering of 10 people in Denver would have a 38% chance that one person there would be infected. Fascinating data and you can look anywhere in the US to determine the risk. The source interactive map and planning tool can be found here.

Upsizing Your Home? 

By Guest Writer Bob Shannon, Seniors Meet.org. Downsizing has become an incredibly popular retirement trend in the past few years. While many benefits come with sizing down into a smaller home—lower costs, less maintenance, and simpler living—there are also many good reasons to go against the grain. Depending on your retirement goals, upsizing to a larger home and property might be the better choice! Keep reading to learn more about upsizing in your senior years and how to make it happen. If you’re selling your existing home to help pay for a larger one, use a site like Redfin to learn how much comparable properties in the Denver area are selling for. If you’ll be taking out a mortgage for your new space, increase your borrowing power by paying off debt and boosting your credit score. Having a larger home in retirement comes with many perks for seniors. For example, you can set up a hobby farm your grandchildren will love visiting, and you can rent out the basement for some side income. Once you’ve made your move, unpack strategically by setting up your living room and bedroom first. You can dive into bigger projects later, like setting up a sewing room, so you’re not overwhelmed with laying out your new home. Downsizing isn’t for everyone. If your dream is to spend your golden years on a big, beautiful property and you have the financial means to make it happen, go for it! As long as you take your time to plan your big purchase and prepare for your move, your transition to a larger space will be smooth, stress-free, and, most of all, exciting!

How Expensive is Denver? 

Last month we were happy to report that Colorado fared very well in the annual Best Places to Live survey. With all that excitement, we thought we would take a look at just what it takes to survive in our fair city. For example, if you are a renter and want to live in Denver, you need north of 0k annually to do it. Wow. In Albuquerque, NM, in comparison, you would "only" need k annually. Interesting data and a fun list to pore over. The complete listing of 50 metropolitan areas and what it takes to live comfortably was published by GOBankingrates.com and Yahoo Finance and can be found here. Oh, what is the most expensive metro area to live in? San Francisco, where one would need 4K annually just to rent. Plus, it's foggy there and they have no mountains. Just sayin'.

Things to (safely) Do this Holiday Season

We thought planning for Thanksgiving was tough. December is coming and it has even more complexity. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or something else, December is full of reasons to gather. So, what exactly will be going on around Denver this year? Some things will remain, such as the Blossoms of Light festival at the Botanic Gardens. The Mile High Tree on the 16th Street Mall, and the Parade of Lights. The nice folks at Denver.org published a complete list of everything going on around Denver starting Thanksgiving weekend. They also put out a clean and safe guide that you can provide to any guests that might be visiting about just how things are working downtown these days. We hope whatever you decide to do you have a wonderful holiday season and stay safe!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for October were Josefina Quinonez, Aurora Dominguez, Martha Garcia, Cecilia Reyes, and Paz Jimenez. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Rosa Chavez and Juana Olivas. We are very proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your homes. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of October.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

According to a recently published book, hunter-gatherer societies worked less than people in other modes of subsistence, while not only providing for their needs but also enjoying a substantial amount of leisure time. This has raised some questions and opened discussions about our current work hours, which driven by the increase in what our society considers basic needs, has resulted in chaining us to extremely long work hours with minimal leisure time. Theories abound. With Thanksgiving upon us, however, let's put the theories aside, and pause to be grateful for the benefits of our labors, as is fitting. Happy Thanksgiving! Bee

COVID Exposure Alerts

Some of you may have received an alert this week about contact tracing embedded in your phone. The technology is fairly straightforward, and iPhone and Android makers are ensuring us that this is anonymous and that our information won't be used. Of course, as we have outlined in past newsletters, our phones are watching where we go anyway, unless you have that function disabled. From the article, "The technology uses non-identifiable Bluetooth tokens sent to user’s phones, when someone tests positive for COVID-19 anyone who has been in close proximity in the last 14 days is notified of exposure." "The identity of anyone using the system will never be revealed. The service does not collect, store or transmit any personal information, according to the CDPHE." As always, we must balance the public good versus our rights to privacy, so we will let you sort that one out yourself. Stay safe!

Denver's Record Housing Market 

We aren't sure anyone would have predicted this one. Right in the middle of a global pandemic, people on lockdown and the economy sputtering along, Denver's housing market has reached historic levels. In September, the typical home in the Denver area went under contract after six days, a 63% year-over-year decrease in days on market. Denver's housing market has been riding an unprecedented hot streak since the early summer, following a short-lived slowdown in March and April. September was also the most difficult month in Denver's history to buy a home. The inventory of homes for sale was down to 3,041 homes, and single family detached homes spent a median of just 6 days on the market. From the DBJ article. "New listings for all residential properties (both attached and detached) totaled 6,456, up 6.71% from the same month a year ago. But buyers put 6,376 homes under contract, leaving few properties to chip away at the current supply deficit." "The number of closings in September reached 5,850, a 16.51% year-over-year increase." Not what we expected either! The good news is if you are selling this should be a fun time to do so. The full article from the Denver Business Journal can be found here.

Colorado Leads the Way 

Dovetailing on the housing market piece from above, it seems that everyone wants to live in Colorado. U.S. News and World Report recently published their list of best places to live. In fact, Colorado dominates the rankings, with Boulder coming in number one, and Denver number two. While we found that interesting, we were more surprised by the rest of the top five. Colorado Springs comes in at fourth and Fort Collins at fifth. If you are scoring at home, that gives Colorado 4 of the to 5 places to live in the entire U.S. Amazing stuff. They use data such as job market, housing affordability, quality of life index and desirability to come up with the rankings. The complete ranking of all the places to live, the methodology used, and how they rank can be found here. We feel fortunate to live in such a wonderful place.

Halloween Trick or Treating Rules

Saturday is Halloween. Like everything else, it's been turned upside down by COVID. We know many of you have little ones though, and they most likely don't want to hear about it interfering with the annual candy hunt known as trick or treating. In that spirit, we wanted to let you know what is going on around the Front Range regarding trick or treating and celebrating Halloween. In Denver, trick or treating will be allowed, but there are lots of recommendations on how to do it safely. The Denver Channel put together a checklist and it can be found here. We also ran across some cool ideas about getting candy to your porch visitors safely, such as:

• Line up individually wrapped treats at the end of the driveway or yard’s edge. Watch the fun and enjoy the costumes from a distance.
• Use a plastic slide, cardboard tubes, or plastic pipes to deliver candy from a distance.

For those of you not involved in trick or treating, Denver.org published a list of many things the family can do, including corn mazes, and a pet parade. Happy Halloween to all!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for September were Paz Jimenez, Sandra Vidales, Maria Hernandez, Josefina Quinonez and Maria Zapata. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Laura Varela and Natalia Olivas. We are very proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your homes. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of September.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

An interesting theory to ponder. Over the years I have seen a good deal of our clients' furnishings and treasured objects, heard where they originated and what memories they hold for the family. There is a theory that by the year 2030 anything we want we will rent instead of own. I wonder if it would go so far as to negate our natural instinct to collect and own beautiful pieces of art or artifacts or hold onto family heirlooms. Maybe there will be more museums so the beauty can be shared, but if our furnishings are not our own, collected and cared for and loved over the years, how does that change the essence of our homes?  Will they just be houses? On the other hand, it's just a theory. Bee

Move Over...New Traffic Law

As usual, when we see an item that we think might help our readers, we share it. How many of you know that when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the freeway that you are supposed to move over and/or slow down? Yes, it seems like common sense, but very few people do this. Last year five state troopers were killed by careless drivers, so the legislature passed changes to Colorado's "Move Over Law". The new law not only requires that you move over a lane if possible, but that you slow your speed to 20 MPH below what is posted. While it doesn't sound like much, if you get caught violating this law, it is considered a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense and comes with 10 to 90 days in jail along with fines of 0-300. It's also a 4-point violation on your license. Definitely not worth it. A recap of the law including a link to the CSP podcast about it can be found here.

Best 'Hoods in Denver

Do you live in the best neighborhood in Denver? Well, if you live in South Park Hill, 5280 magazine says you do. That locale was followed by Wash Park, Congress Park, West Highland and Cherry Creek. They published their annual list of the best neighborhoods in Denver and we wanted to share. The ranking system utilized four variables as follows: 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, nearby public transportation, and the prevalence of restaurants and shops. They weighted each one and came up with a firm ranking. Of course, there is always some subjectivity in these sorts of things, but we found it interesting. The complete article from 5280 Magazine can be found here.

750 Million Years Ago..... 

Ok, we did it again. Found a cool, time-wasting website to distract you from the chaos around us all. Ever wonder what earth was like say 750 million years ago? We did and went down the proverbial rabbit hole to learn more. In doing so, we learned about the continental drift theory and how it was upended by plate tectonics. I'm sure you are saying "get to the point", so we will. In short, a California paleontologist has created an interactive map that allows people to see how far their hometowns have moved over 750 million years of continental drift. So, if you are curious as to where your hometown was millions of years ago, the map will show you. Our spot on the planet has changed dramatically over the years. In fact, 540 million years ago, Denver was a beach town it seems. Kind of a cool thing to check out, we hope you enjoy playing with it as much as we did!!!

Can Air Conditioning Spread Covid?

One of the main concerns about COVID is how exactly is it spread? Oh sure, we get it. Don't touch your face. Check. Stay 6 feet apart. Check. Wash my hands. Check. Those are all great pieces of advice, but beyond those, there has been a great amount of misinformation and confusion about how this virus really spreads. One of the ideas is that COVID droplets can get into an HVAC system, say in any building where people gather. Then one infected person can infect everyone else, as the droplets pass through the system back into the entire space. What we found is very similar to what we have found so far regarding this virus to be true....no one is sure. The CDC performed a study, which was authored by researchers with the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China. It suggests that an air conditioning unit at a restaurant in China may have contributed to as many as eight other people being infected with the coronavirus in January. While the science is not 100% clear on this, it does seem that the use of HEPA filters on HVAC systems "should" capture the virus particles. The bottom line? No one really knows with 100% certainty. In the meantime, we will be checking to see if HEPA filters are present in the places we visit, and we certainly won't be sitting directly under the vents!!! Stay safe Denver.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for August were Rosario De La Rosa, Josefina Quinonez, Aurora Dominguez, Cecilia Reyes, and Maria Zapata. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Socorro Ibarra and Juana Olivas. We are very proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your homes. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of August.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

The Autumnal Equinox last week brought a feeling of closure to this extraordinary summer, and we are pleased to have come through it with our health, our optimism and most of our wits. However, we can't let up. We will continue with all precautions and ask that the clients continue to keep us informed of any changes to their home situations.  It is commendable that we have been able to seamlessly work together to keep both team members and clients safe and happy for these past months. As always, you can reach me for any changes, questions, comments, or really anything house related. Just a text or a call away. Bee

Colorado Labor Stats

With all the data we are constantly being fed, sometimes it's hard to understand what is real and what is not. Colorado unemployment and our labor situation is no exception. We recently wrote about Colorado running ahead of the rest of the country in terms of recovery from the pandemic. At face value the numbers look good. July unemployment dropped to 7.4%, good enough for the 15th lowest in the nation. This is a nice drop from the 10.6% we were showing in June. Where it gets dicey is in how we are adding jobs back. From the DBJ article: "While Colorado’s unemployment rate sits well below the national July average of 10.2%, however, it is not replacing jobs lost from the pandemic at the same rate. With the state having so far gained back just 134,200 of the 342,300 nonfarm payroll jobs it lost between February and April, its recovery rate sits at 39.2%, below the nation’s 41.9% average." "Part of the mismatch in unemployment and job-recovery statistics stems from the fact that Colorado had so many jobs and such a low unemployment rate before the pandemic struck." The full DBJ article can be found here. The Colorado Sun also did a good article dissecting what is going on in our labor market and that can be found here. Let's hope for a speedy continued recovery.

Is it Hot in Here?

We are on fire, literally and figuratively. With wildfires burning and creating haze, we also get to endure what is shaping up to be the second hottest summer on record, at least in terms of days over 90. This week, we topped that number for the 15th straight day (good for the 8th longest streak ever), and the 65th day over 90. Those 65 days represent the second highest number of days ever, trailing only 2012 with 73 days over that mark. The longest streak of 90-degree days is 24, set in 2008 and 2012. On top of it all, we are now officially in drought conditions, with fire bans in effect and very little precipitation. So yes, it is EXTREMELY hot "in here" these days. We hope you are staying cool during these times. The good news is that there may be a little rain coming as we inch into September. A full recap of our crazy summer weather can be found here, courtesy of the folks at Denver 7. For those of you looking ahead to a cooler time, the old reliable Farmer's Almanac seems to think we will have a cold and snowy winter. Something to look forward to!

Saving Our Restaurants 

They aren't dead yet, but they are not faring well during COVID. The Independent Restaurant Coalition has determined that 85% of independent restaurants could be closed in six months. And while take-out and delivery are helping, fine and casual dining establishments are down 85% and 65% respectively. That is a staggering number and one that gave us pause. It appears there may be relief in sight. 5280 Magazine ran a piece on the RESTAURANT act, which we had never heard of. The program provides 0B in grants to independent restaurants, and specifically targets businesses owned by women, minorities and veterans. The first 14 days of funding would be available only to the smallest establishments, those with less than 1.5MM in annual revenue. The bipartisan bill has not yet been passed and the industry is asking our support. So, if you are passionate about the Denver dining scene and your local watering holes, now is a great time to get involved. You can contact your congressperson here to make your case.

Getting Organized

One of the hardest parts about COVID is the feeling of having no control over the situation we are in. Psychologists will tell you that while we don't control much in our environment, the sense of control can go a long way in reducing our stress. One of the ways to do that is to take control of your space, and with many of us working from home now, it gets cluttered up even faster. Enter organizational tactics, from de-cluttering our desks to sorting through our e-mail inboxes. "Being organized helps with a sense of control," says Ari Meisel, entrepreneur, organization guru and founder of Less Doing, More Living, who focuses on optimizing, automating, and outsourcing daily tasks to reduce stress. "We all need some control in our lives in order to stay motivated." Here are some resources to help you do just that. MyMove has a good starter list here. Good Morning America did a nice piece on organizing as well, and that can be found here. Finally, for those of you too busy to tackle this stuff yourselves we have the perfect solution. Our friend Allison Welch at As You Wish, is an expert at this. She has a team of people at the ready to make your lives better, and she can be found here.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for July were Sandra Vidales, Aurora Dominguez, Cecilia Reyes, Josefina Quinonez and Maria Zapata. In the Team Leader ranks, it was Socorro Ibarra and Laura Varela. We are very proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week. We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us into your homes. Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of July.

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

These days being constantly informed of current events is a downer. But there is optimism.  I hear it when I text daily schedule confirmations to our clients. Bravo to those of you who are parents suddenly coping with homeschooling and home offices, added to a schedule and house already at capacity on a good day. How you keep your sense of humor intact is nothing short of amazing. From other clients I hear about a cooking mania revisited, books long unread being opened, new movies discovered, a new language, new family connections. There is mention of never before online opportunities like art shows, concerts, museum and city tours. We are nothing if not resilient and resourceful as a society. Just keep repeating, we will get through this. Bee

Tips on Working from Home

This will be the year a good number of us get to feel what it is like to work from home. Those of you in field sales, the self-employed, etc., already know many of these tips, but we wanted to provide some ideas on how to make the experience better. We consulted with several people that do this and we received a lot of great tips. First and foremost, you need structure. Set your office hours and plan and structure your workday. You also need a routine. It's easy to fall out of it when you don't have to go to an office. Get up, get dressed, and prepare the same way you always have. This was a big one from the folks we spoke with...."don't work in your PJ's". Finally managing distractions. Family members may be feet away from you (hopefully six feet) and it's easy to lose focus on what you are working on. Establish boundaries with family members so they realize this is your new "office", at least for the time being. Nextiva published a nice 32 point checklist and that can be reviewed here.  A simpler one from Entrepreneur.com can be found here.  Good luck to all of you in managing these challenges!

52 Ways to Detox Your Home

Hopefully using Denver Concierge takes care of a lot of this. However, in these times it might be a good idea to think about ways to keep things germ free and clean between our visits. We also realize that some of you have suspended service until this crisis passes, so we wanted to provide some ideas on just how to take care of things until we return. According to NSF International, your kitchen is actually the germiest place in your home (yep, we thought bathroom too). 5280 Magazine published a very comprehensive list of what needs to be cleaned and detoxed in your home and that can be found here. From that article, “The various classes [of chemicals] we’re exposed to every day, from the house-cleaning products we are using to plastics to sprays…have effects on chronic respiratory outcomes, such as asthma, allergies, and lung diseases,” says Dr. Dana Dabelea, professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at the Colorado School of Public Health. “Others have effects on our endocrine systems.” The good news? Simple changes can ensure your home is a safer place for you, your kids, and even your pets." It's a great read and very detailed. As always, we are standing by to assist you as needed!!!

Immune Building Exercises 

The gyms are closed. Some of you don't have fitness equipment at home, so what do we do? The largest issue we see is the disruption of our routines. We get up, go to work, go to the gym, all at set times. Some of us go on walks with colleagues at lunch, and all those things are temporarily gone. So, what do we do to not only get our exercise, but keep our immune systems strong? Luckily the weather is changing and we live in an amazing place to be outdoors. Our friends at Medium.com, wrote a great piece on this and we wanted to share it. From the article "Data shows that that physically active people have a 40-50% reduction in the number of days they’re ill with acute respiratory infections. " That was all we needed to hear. Let's enjoy some time outdoors, six feet apart, Colorado!!

How to Stop Worrying

Did you know that 38% of us worry about something every single day? When we read that, we honestly thought it might be low. In today's world we are sure it is. So, how do we stop the cycle of worry? One of our favorite quotes, often attributed to Mark Twain (we aren't sure) goes like this: "I've had a lot of worries in my life, some of which actually happened." It's true. Most of what we worry about never materializes at all, or when it does, it never resembles the way we saw it happening. What then, do we do to curb the incessant chatter that our minds provide? Do we really need the daily commentary of fear and doubt that we hear in our heads? One of our favorite people in the world, Eckhart Tolle, has made his mark with the concept of presence. We also drew on the folks at Medium.com again who came up with four great habits to stop the cycle of worry. We are doing our best to remain present in these strange times and enjoy each day regardless of the manic news cycle we are surrounded by and we encourage you to do the same.

Monthly Award Winners

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for February 2020! Our top Cleaning Associates for the month were Josefina Quinonez, Concepcion Reyes, Maria Zapata, Aurora Dominguez and Maria Renteria. In the Team Leader ranks, our top Team Leaders were once again, Juana Olivas and Socorro Ibarra, back to back months for them! Thanks to all our team members for their hard work and dedication! Congrats ladies!

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

This month's message from your sequestered Queen Bee: 1. Be kind to one another. 2. Take care of yourself physically and spiritually. 3. Remember the things in life that are truly important. Thanks for your continued support and loyalty to our company. Until next month- Bee

Broncos Development Plan Update

Last year, we wrote about the plan to develop the area near Broncos Stadium. Or Empower Field, if you like. The plans for this development are taking shape and include six phases, ranging from Old Colfax to the Decatur Federal District. They will be developing 55 acres directly south of Empower Field. From the article, "The development of the 55 acres in West Denver's Sun Valley neighborhood will transform an area that mostly consists of stadium surface parking into a mixed-use neighborhood with "market-rate and affordable housing, office, entertainment, hospitality and other stadium-related land uses," according to the framework." In June of last year, the city council voted to approve the plan, but many details are still to be filled in. The complete overview from the Denver Business Journal can be found here.

Getting to your Best Idea

All of us have been faced with hairy problems. Or, sometimes need a creative solution for different challenges in life. Our teachers used to tell us, "your first answer is probably correct". We found that to be true a lot of the time, but as problems become more complex, that is not likely true. Then we ran across a great piece by the Stanford Graduate School of Business that asserts maybe your second favorite idea is the best. Just how good are we at knowing if an initial idea is worth our effort? Justin Berg at Stanford ran some experiments and the results are fascinating. It turns out your "gut" is partially right. Initial ideas are solid, but often lack the abstract or creative element. Further fleshing out of the problem often leads to a more solid solution. Hence the notion that ideas below the first option are often the best. The full piece can be found here, fascinating stuff.

Denver Traffic Bottlenecks 

Do any of you drive on I-70? Yep, us too. We know just how painful it can be. We have written in the past about the crazy population growth we are experiencing, and our city planners are doing their best to make sure we have enough infrastructure to handle it all. Unfortunately, all this construction combined with the population explosion has crippled some of our main arteries. The American Transportation Research Institute studied the 100 worst bottlenecks around the U.S. and to no one's surprise, Denver has three of them. Central 70, I-25/I-76 intersection and the dreaded mousetrap where I-70 and I-25 connect are our three problem areas. Crazy stat of the day? The only time the Central 70 stretch is at the normal speed limit is between 2 and 4 AM! We don't have it the worst though, as Houston and Atlanta have seven and six respectively, leading the way. The worst news is that we are tied with Los Angeles and New York City with three each. All those folks moving here from California will now feel right at home! The full article on Westword can be found here.

Don't Forget to Vote

Those of you that get ballots by mail may already know this, but are you aware that it is time to vote here in Colorado? There are two primaries running in Colorado currently. Back in 2016, Colorado decided to do away with presidential caucusing. This means, we now have ballots that are due March 3rd for the presidential primaries. You may vote for the primary to which you are party registered, and if you are unaffiliated you may vote for either but not both. In-person voting is also available, and for the first time ever, anyone 17 years of age will be able to vote in the primary if they turn 18 before November 3rd. The full lowdown on the presidential primary process and the changes this year can be found here, thanks to 5280 Magazine.

Monthly Award Winners

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for January 2020! Our top Cleaning Associates for the month were Josefina Quinonez, Concepcion Reyes, Maria Zapata, Aurora Dominguez and Madel Carmen Estrada, In the Team Leader ranks, our top Team Leaders were Juana Olivas and Socorro Ibarra. Thanks to all our team members for their hard work and dedication! Congrats ladies!

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

The primary focus of our company is twofold: the employees’ qualifications to represent the company in the clients’ homes, and the quality of their work. Once these are in place, we concentrate on getting the right teams with the right clients.  This works remarkably well until it doesn’t. Snow, client cancelations, and employee last minute absenteeism can all disrupt the usual client team scenario. There is however an unexpected benefit to having a different team in your home from time to time. No two teams clean exactly the same way. Unlike a hotel room with standard fixtures and furnishings, homes vary wildly, and what one team, or even the client for that matter, may not notice during scheduled visits, a different team may pick up on and put right.  However slight, your home will be the happier for it. “Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck” The Dalai Lama Bee