Tariffs, Permits & Opportunity: What Colorado Home Pros Need to Know Now

Real talk on economic shifts, ADU expansions, and what’s heating up in Denver development.

Author

Amber Hoffman
May 09, 2025

👋 Hey Colorado Home Pros,

If you’ve been juggling supply costs, slow permits, and clients who just can’t decide—it’s not just you. The latest headlines show why.

In this issue, we’re digging into what new tariffs could mean for the housing market (and your margins), how Denver is trying to fix its permitting backlog, and where new growth opportunities may be hiding—like ADUs and office conversions.

As always, we want to hear from you. What are you seeing out there? What should we cover next? Just hit reply—we’re listening.

~ Brought to you by Amber & Eric Hoffman of Bumble Bee Blinds of Boulder and Franchise Solutions, this newsletter is your go-to resource for scaling and thriving as a Colorado home services business owner.

Tariff Tensions Are Real—Here’s What You Should Know

It’s peak buying season, but this year’s momentum is being clouded by rising economic anxiety—and one of the biggest culprits is the growing uncertainty around tariffs.

According to Denver7, discussions around new or extended tariffs—particularly those targeting construction materials—are already creating ripple effects in the Denver housing market. Combined with shaky investor confidence and steady mortgage rates near 6.75%, the market is starting to feel hesitant.

🏗️ Which materials are in the spotlight?

  • Steel and aluminum (used in framing, HVAC, and fixtures)

  • Lumber (framing, trim, and outdoor projects)

  • Electrical components and finished goods like lighting and appliances

📉 How it’s showing up:

  • Developers are delaying project starts to avoid volatile pricing

  • Homeowners are holding off on remodels until quotes stabilize

  • Builders are reworking scopes or substituting materials to stay within budget

Why it matters for home pros: Whether you’re an electrician, general contractor, or installer—cost increases in one part of a build often trickle down to others. Project reshuffling, scope adjustments, or extended decision timelines could affect your pipeline. For customer-facing pros, communication is key: being upfront about pricing variables builds trust and sets you apart in a tense market.

✔️ What to do now:

  • Reconfirm material pricing with suppliers weekly

  • Add time-sensitive language to your quotes

  • Share updates with clients early, before sticker shock hits

  • Build in contingency language for significant cost swings

Uncertainty may be the theme this quarter—but preparation is your best tool.

Are your projects being impacted by material costs or client delays? Hit reply and let us know—we’d love to learn more about the impacts of tariffs on your business.

🐝 Exclusive Offer for Boulder Area Homeowners: 10% Off Outdoor Window Coverings 🐝

We’re buzzing with excitement about this limited-time promotion from our partners at Bumble Bee Blinds of Boulder! If you have any clients looking to make the most of your outdoor space, let them know that this month we are offering 10% off all outdoor window coverings, including motorized and non-motorized shades and drapery.

Use code: OUTDOORBUZZ to receive 10% off your order. Learn more here.
Offer applies to all outdoor window covering purchases for Boulder area homes. (T&Cs apply. Must mention offer at time of booking.)

What’s Included:

  • 💡 Free at-home design consultation

  • 📏 Professional measuring and product recommendations

  • 🛠️ Expert installation by local specialists

  • ✅ Modern motorization options tailored to your space

👉 Know someone planning a remodel or home upgrade? Share this offer or schedule a consultation here.

Let’s make your outdoor space smarter and more stylish this season! 🪟

Infrastructure Boost: $15M Sidewalk Program Breaks Ground

Denver’s voter-approved sidewalk program is finally kicking off—and it’s backed by a $15 million contract with national infrastructure firm HNTB.

As reported by the Denver Gazette, the city council gave the green light to launch a 3-year “on-call” contract to manage the implementation of new sidewalks across the city.

Why it matters for home pros:

  • 🔨 Smaller subs and concrete crews could find new subcontracting opportunities

  • 🏙️ Projects will stretch across multiple neighborhoods over time

  • 🚧 Expect to see more municipal RFPs and coordination with private builds nearby

While most eyes are on vertical construction, don’t overlook this long-term horizontal work. It may not make headlines—but it keeps crews busy and portfolios strong.

Considering public work this year? We’d love to hear how you're approaching it—just hit reply and share your experience.

Denver Tries to Fix the Permit Problem (Finally)

If permitting in Denver has felt like molasses in winter—help may finally be on the way.

Mayor Mike Johnston just issued an executive order to overhaul the city’s permitting process. As of mid-May, a new centralized permitting office will begin reviewing applications with a firm promise: process them within 180 days—or refund developers up to $10,000 in fees.

As reported by the Denver Post, the move aims to eliminate bottlenecks that have slowed everything from home builds to multi-unit projects.

⚙️ What to watch:
Faster permits could mean more projects, faster timelines, and a new sense of urgency from clients who’ve been stuck waiting.

Have you experienced permitting delays—or recent wins—with Denver’s system? Tell us your story!

Dates To Remember

If you're looking to stay active in the Colorado home services community, here are some upcoming events happening across the region:

Other News Affecting Colorado Home Services Pros

  • 🏘️ Superior Moves to Expand ADU Access
    Superior is updating its town code to align with new statewide ADU rules, aiming to give homeowners more flexibility in building detached units and backyard housing. Builders and remodelers should keep an eye on shifting local policies that open new work opportunities.
    🔗 Read more

  • 🏢 DTC Office Building Slated for Residential Conversion
    Shea Properties recently purchased a 124,000-sq-ft office building in the Denver Tech Center for $12M, with plans to convert it into residential units. As adaptive reuse gains traction, home pros may see new demand in redesigning and retrofitting commercial spaces.
    🔗 Read more

  • 🏘️ Littleton Becomes the Latest Flashpoint in Housing Affordability
    In a story that reflects broader trends across Colorado, the Denver Post profiles a Littleton buyer who lost out on a home to a $50,000 cash-over-asking offer from out of state. It’s a snapshot of the rising tension between demand, affordability, and density in suburban markets—and a sign that housing pressures are no longer just an urban issue.
    🔗 Read more

Final Word

Thanks for staying sharp with us. The Colorado housing landscape is evolving fast—and the more we share what we’re seeing on the ground, the better we all get.

Got a take on one of these stories? Seeing something we should be tracking?
Hit reply—we’d love to hear your perspective.

As we’ve worked to grow our own home services businesses, we’ve discovered strategies, tools, and lessons that we believe can benefit others in our community. Why go it alone when you can learn, grow, and succeed together?

We’ve traveled the world, lived overseas, and scaled a variety of businesses to exit. Now, we call Broomfield home!

Learn more about Amber & Eric.