Fellow CO front range person here. In your shoes, I would check going rates for regular landscape help (the mow/trim type, not design). If the job is a yes and you must move, hire them to fix it. They will chemical it and all that but it will probably look reasonably decent if you need the curb appeal.
If you are not moving, spend time this summer touring xeriscape gardens and plant nurseries. Most of the cities have these, and googling terms like "Colorado water-wise" or "Denver xeriscape garden" will get you started. Community buildings have these too. Then in fall, rent a sod cutter and pull the existing grass. Plant perennials, which are cheaper in fall, set up mulch and water systems if needed, etc. You'll get the benefit of winter and spring moisture, nursery discounts, and won't be planting in very hot weather (unless it's one of those October in the 80s days!)
If you want some ideas for great ground covers, I can personally recommend lamb's ear and oregano. These will spread. And spread. We have clay soil (a few areas on the front range have sand but clay is more common in this region) and these are fighting it out in our sunny locations, where I xeriscaped after the 2002 drought. The renters failed to kill these so they must be fairly robust....nearly weeds.
For partial shade we are trying vinca, sometimes called periwinkle. I see that around in lots of shadier places so hoping it takes off!
Other especially good plants I found that are not ground covers: lavendar, nearly wild rose, currants (bonus: fruit!), linden tree, tulips, juniper (bush can be used as taller ground cover).
Finally, keep in mind this is naturally a grassland so grass likes it here. You will be fighting it in perpetuity, though if you have bindweed then the grass will seem like no big deal in comparison. And, do not plant aspen. They die quickly at this altitude but send up suckers as a forever present. Female ash trees are also gifts that unhappily keep on giving.