A short guide of what to expect when moving to Denver!
Are you moving to Denver? If so, you’ll want to read this! When relocating to a different city, so much can change. From the lingo and commute times to the weather and laws, Denver is no exception. When I work with my Denver relocation clients naturally they have a lot of questions. Here are some frequently asked questions I typically get from my relocation buyers when buying a house and moving to Colorado.
Moving To Denver Terminology
Q: What is a “non-conforming bedroom”? 
A: A “non-conforming” bedroom means the bedroom doesn’t conform to the regulations of a bedroom. A conforming bedroom has a closet and a fire escape, or egress. This can be satisfied with a regulation-sized egress window or two escapes, like in a basement with two sets of stairs.
Non-Egress Window (Left)
Egress Window (Right)
Q: What is a 3/4 bathroom?
A: A 3/4 bathroom has a sink, toilet, and shower. A full bathroom is a sink, toilet, and a bathtub/shower combo
The Altitude of Denver Relocation
Q: Do I need a 4-wheel drive vehicle?
A: While living in Denver we don’t see a ton of snow when we do get wet weather it is helpful to have an All-Wheel Drive or 4-Wheel Drive vehicle. Having a vehicle with front-wheel drive car while living in the Denver Metro Area is imperative, especially if you plan on taking fall or winter drives up to the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
Q: What is altitude sickness?
A: As you may know, Denver is a mile above sea level, or 5280 feet above sea level. When you come from a lower altitude than Denver, your blood isn’t receiving as much oxygen as it does at a lower altitude, where the air isn’t as thin and has more oxygen. This lack of oxygen in your blood can make you fatigued, nauseous, cause headaches, dizziness, and vomiting. This can surprise people when they are moving to Denver, therefore prepare your body by taking the precautions below.
Q: How do I prepare for altitude?
A: You can prepare your body for being at a higher altitude by drinking lots of water before and during your trip, getting lots of sleep and being cautious about your alcohol consumption. It is also suggested that you get plenty of sleep and hydration starting a week before you travel to higher altitude. Secondly, you become quite the cheap date when your blood doesn’t have enough oxygen, not to mention that the morning after is even more brutal than typical. Therefore, just remember to keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum until your body has acclimated to the altitude. All in all, if you focus on getting lots of sleep and drinking a lot of water, you’ll be one step ahead to avoid altitude sickness.
Marijuana Shops and Laws
Q: What are the rules and laws regarding marijuana?
A: While Medical and Recreational Marijuana is legal to sell in Colorado, it is illegal to consume, smoke, or vaporize it anywhere other than private property. Also, just like alcohol, you must be 21 years old to purchase it and you cannot consume it in the car or before driving. When moving to Denver, if you plan on participating in consuming recreational marijuana, make sure to do your research before and make sure you have a good grasp of the laws. A quick guide can be found by clicking here.
Marijuana is sold in “pot shops”. Medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are sold in different shops with different licensees. They are found in the Denver City limits but not in many Denver suburbs. Because, local ordinances often prohibit them in suburbs like Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Lone Tree, Centennial, Westminster and Broomfield. Littleton and Aurora do not prohibit pot shops.
Remember, just because it is legal here, employers can still test and discriminate against marijuana users.
Denver Weather
Q: What’s the weather like there?
A: This is a bit of a trick question. Predicting the weather in Colorado is nearly impossible, and our poor meteorologists try so hard. The proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes things extremely difficult. You can, and probably will at some time, experience all four seasons in 24 hours.
You can wake up to a beautiful, sun shining day and by noon it’s raining, which turns to snow and then by late afternoon the sun is shining again. Before you visit, the best place to check our weather is through the NOAA. They are located in Boulder, CO and seem to be the most accurate at predicting our weather. Just keep in mind, the 7-day forecast rarely is correct for the last 3 days. Bring lots of layers and you’ll be fine!
Q: Does it snow a lot during the winter?
A: Contrary to popular belief, Denver does not get a ton of snow. Our mountains absorb the majority of our winter storms and when we do get a storm, it typically is all melted and dried up within a few days. In a typical year, Colorado sees around 65 inches of snow. However, that snowfall is spread out, because we see snowstorms as early as September and as late as June! However, don’t worry, we still have over 265 days of sunshine a year!
If you have additional questions about moving to Denver, I’d love to answer them for you. Just use the form below:
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