Owning a home can feel like managing a small country, complete with infrastructure, budgets and the occasional plumbing uprising.
Fortunately, a few smart habits can help Centennial homeowners spend less time chasing information, avoid unnecessary expenses and create a more comfortable place to live.
1. Begin with your address, not a search engine
Centennial homes are served by several different water, sanitation, recreation, fire and utility districts. Before researching watering rules, utility programs or home projects, enter your address into the City’s Property Search tool.
It can identify your water district, sanitation provider, utility company, zoning and other property-specific information. Starting with the correct provider prevents wasted phone calls and helps ensure you are following the right rules for your neighborhood.
2. Look for rebates before beginning a project
Before replacing windows, installing new doors or starting a renovation, check Centennial’s Home Improvement Program.
Qualified homeowners may receive a cash rebate of up to $300 for eligible, permitted projects. Most participating homes must have been built before 1990, although certain accessibility improvements may qualify regardless of the home’s age. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the final inspection, so place the deadline on your calendar before construction begins.
Homeowners should also explore Centennial’s energy-efficiency resources for information about home energy visits and possible rebates on insulation, heating, cooling and water-heating upgrades.
3. Create a monthly “Centennial 15”
Set aside 15 minutes on the first weekend of each month for a quick home check. Look under sinks for leaks, inspect furnace filters, test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, check exterior faucets and scan the yard for irrigation problems.
Keep one running list on your phone divided into three categories: fix now, schedule later and watch. This tiny routine keeps minor problems from growing expensive roots.
4. Report public problems from your phone
A damaged street sign, pothole, blocked sidewalk or malfunctioning streetlight does not need to become your personal detective story.
Use the City’s Report a Problem service or the My Centennial mobile app. Residents can submit a photo, automatically identify the location and track service requests. The City also operates a 24-hour Citizen Response Center at 303-325-8000.
5. Give hazardous clutter a proper exit
Old paint, batteries, pesticides, automotive fluids and household chemicals should not linger indefinitely in the garage.
Arapahoe County’s Trash and Recycling Resources include an At
Your Door collection option for Centennial residents. Homeowners can schedule eligible household hazardous materials for pickup instead of storing them or making several disposal trips.
Living better does not always require a dramatic renovation. Sometimes it begins with knowing where to look, what to check and which small task will make next month easier.
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After last year’s irrigation disaster, I’m setting reminders for yard checks now. Appreciate the nudge!
Handy tips! Maybe next time add info on yard waste and composting for those of us with lots of fall cleanup.
Noticed the city’s Citizen Response Center is open 24/7. Has anyone called after hours and gotten help?
Honestly the worst part is finding out WHICH utility covers your block. Glad to see a tool for that now.
Home improvement rebates could help folks on fixed incomes a lot. More people should take advantage of it.
That calendar tip for rebate deadlines is huge! I almost lost out on mine because I missed it by three days.
Is there a printable checklist version of the ‘Centennial 15’? Would love one on the fridge for my teens.
A few of these steps I already do, but combining them feels way more manageable. Good stuff.
Was just complaining about my water bill jumping. I’ll check which provider I have now—thanks for the tip.
So glad someone said to make a running list. Keeps me from randomly forgetting (and stressing) all month.
Who else finds zoning rules completely confusing? Thank goodness for the search tool!
Great writeup, but let’s be honest, most folks will still procrastinate the small stuff. Myself included!
I wish the city would send out reminders about these home improvement deadlines. Easy to forget in a busy month.
We always forget about the irrigation check and end up with brown spots. Not this year!
Love these practical steps. Sometimes homeownership feels overwhelming, but quick checks make it more manageable.
Wish more cities offered curbside hazardous waste pickup like this. Makes it so much more likely people will use it!
Thanks for the rebates tip. Just in time—my back door is falling off its hinges.
Wow, the city has really upgraded its online tools since I bought my house. Love to see it.
Can confirm: reporting a mailbox knockdown to the city app worked and they fixed it in two days. Super handy.
Scheduling regular home checks is smart, but I just don’t have the discipline. Maybe time to start!
It all sounds good, but I hope the city keeps funding these programs. Sometimes they disappear after a year or so.
My only complaint is that some of these services aren’t super obvious on the city website. Took me a while to find report a problem.
Lizette M.Same here, Lizette. I wish the site was a bit more user-friendly. I usually end up using the search bar, but even then it takes a few tries to find the right page.
Are the rebates for energy upgrades stackable with Xcel rebates, or do we have to pick one?
Do you have to live in Centennial city limits for the hazardous waste services, or does it work for unincorporated addresses too?
I appreciate the reminder to check alarms every month. Ours once saved us from a gas leak!
A simple running list on your phone really is a game changer. Paper notes always disappear for me.
Would love to see more info on rebates for solar panels or bigger upgrades. Anyone know if Centennial offers those?
I almost always drive past a pothole thinking someone else will report it. Guess I’ll do my part next time.
I love any advice that makes home ownership feel less overwhelming. Some of this is honestly common sense, though.
Maybe I’ll finally toss those old paint cans now that I know about the county pickup. Thanks for the nudge.
We signed up for a home energy visit and it really helped us lower our bills last winter. Worth looking into!
Anyone have experience with the energy audit? Wondering if it actually makes a difference before I sign up.
I’ve never heard about the At Your Door trash collection until now—time to declutter my garage!
Is there a way to find out if a project qualifies *before* you spend money? I’d hate to miss out on a rebate.
Glad someone’s talking about disposing of old paint etc. Saw way too many cans dumped in open trash last year…
Our old house was built in ‘78, so we should be eligible for rebates. Big motivation to finally tackle those windows.
Wouldn’t mind seeing a printable checklist for monthly home tasks. Anyone got one they use?
I’m just glad they're making the process digital. I remember mailing forms to get rid of one old fridge. This is so much simpler.
We agree, the digital tools really streamline everything, from applying for rebates to reporting local issues.
Centennial really has stepped up their online services in the last year or two. Proud to live here!
The Centennial 15 is such a cute name! Honestly love the idea of quick weekend checks.
Any tips for remembering to actually DO the Centennial 15? I’m great at making lists, terrible at following them.
Reporting issues through the app is way less stressful than dealing with the 24-hour line tbh. Highly recommend.
‘Minor problems growing expensive roots’—that line hits home. My last roof leak taught me the hard way.
Great info, but it’d be nice if there was one number for ALL the utility districts instead of having to look them up every time.
Accessibility improvements qualifying for rebates is a big win for folks with mobility challenges. Glad to see that included.
This is the reminder I needed to finally get rid of those ancient chemical bottles in the shed.
FYI, our HOA sends random maintenance reminders but never anything this useful. Taking notes.
Too bad the Home Improvement rebates don’t apply to renters. We do a lot of upkeep here too!
Arapahoe County’s trash collection crew has always been polite and on time when we used them for special pickups.
I use the My Centennial app for streetlights and it’s honestly super easy. Way faster than calling the city.
I used the Property Search tool for the first time last week. Really helpful, but I wish it gave info on trash services too.
Not going to lie, my garage is a hazardous waste zone right now. Guess I’ll be scheduling a pickup soon.
It's easy to get overwhelmed with owning a home. Breaking it down into small habits like this helps a lot.
The rebate deadline is tricky—I can see people missing out if they don’t calendar it right after inspection.
Had no idea I could schedule hazardous waste pickup. That'll save me a trip to the drop off. Thx!
Great, now I’ll be suspicious of all leaks under my sink. But seriously, good catch on the regular checks part.
I totally forget to check my furnace filter every month. Maybe if I put it in my phone I’d actually do it!
I had no idea my street was on the border of two water districts! Good tip on checking before you make calls.
Good advice, but I still say the city's info is way too scattered online. Hope they keep improving it.
The Centennial 15 will be my new Saturday morning ritual. Can’t hurt and might save me from another faucet disaster!
Getting property-specific info before starting a project should save a ton of headaches. I once waited on hold for the wrong utility for an hour.
I wish they'd send out more reminders about these rebates. Most folks don’t realize what’s available until it’s too late.
You’re absolutely right, timely reminders can make all the difference, and we’ll continue sharing these opportunities to help spread the word.
Thanks for the recycling info. Always felt guilty not knowing what to do with old batteries. At Your Door pickup sounds perfect.
This is the most organized list of local resources I’ve seen in ages. Bookmarked!
Love that the city has an app for reporting issues now. Makes it so much easier than calling and waiting forever.
I feel like I should do all of this, but I never remember to check furnace filters. Maybe setting a calendar alert will help.
Re: hazardous clutter—what counts as eligible? We have a mystery jug from previous owners that I don’t want to touch.
That Home Improvement Program rebate came in handy when we updated our windows last year. Super easy process too.
Wow, I didn’t know about the Home Improvement Program timeline. Almost missed out on a small rebate for my accessibility ramp last year!
It’s easy to miss the 90-day application window, so adding those deadlines to your calendar before starting a project can really pay off.
Sometimes I think there’s too many apps for everything, but honestly the My Centennial one has made reporting streetlights way easier.
Reporting potholes in the app actually works! Big one on Grant got patched within a week after I submitted it.
I wish there were more rebates for newer homes too, not just pre-1990. Seems like we miss out on a lot!
Appreciate these reminders! We should put the “Centennial 15” in our shared calendar. Always putting off little maintenance things.
Creating a monthly reminder for home checks feels like the adulting I needed to hear today.
Is the Home Improvement Program something you can use more than once or just a single project per household?
Thanks for including links to the city resources. Sometimes it feels impossible to find the right info when you need it.
I saved the energy resources link. Our heating bill last winter was insane. Rebates might help us upgrade!
Does the hazardous waste pickup include old paint cans? I’ve got a stack in the garage that’s been there since we moved in.
Using your address as a starting point just makes sense. Spent way too much time on the phone last month with the wrong utility.
That Centennial 15 checklist is genius. My husband and I are definitely going to try that this weekend.
Nice! Did the At Your Door hazardous pick-up last summer. Way easier than waiting in the long lines at the county drop-off.
We’ve used the Report a Problem feature a few times and it really works. Got a pothole fixed in front of our place within two weeks!
The ‘Centennial 15’ made me laugh but it’s actually a great idea. I always forget about furnace filters until it smells weird!
I wish I’d heard about that $300 rebate before I replaced my old doors last fall. Oh well, I’ll know for next time!
Does anyone know if the Citizen Response Center actually answers at 2am? My neighbor told me to call once for a loud water leak.
I started keeping a list on my phone for repairs a while ago. It really saves time, especially when talking to handymen.
Our neighborhood’s water rules are so confusing! This is helpful. I always wonder if I’m watering at the wrong time.
$300 for permitted projects is no joke. Wish I’d known last year before I replaced my windows. D’oh!
The energy efficiency rebates sound interesting. Has anyone actually gotten one? I’m always skeptical of these until I hear a real success story.
Love that the city makes it so easy to report issues now. I remember when you had to call and hope someone answered.
Does anyone know if the hazardous clutter pickup costs extra? I’ve got like 4 gallons of old paint in my garage from previous owners.
Wish the rebate wasn’t just for homes built before 1990. Some of us in newer places could really use the help too.
The My Centennial app is super useful for reporting potholes. Used it twice last winter. City fixed stuff pretty fast!
Love the idea of a monthly Centennial 15. I always forget to check smoke alarms and end up scrambling during daylight savings.
Didn’t even know we had a Property Search tool. Definitely beats guessing who my water provider is every time!
Didn't know about the Property Search tool! That would've saved me a lot of back-and-forth last year when we redid our landscaping.
Did not know about the $300 rebate for home projects. Wish I’d seen this before we finished our window replacement last year!
Many homeowners discover these rebates after finishing a project, hopefully, this information will help with future improvements!
I've never heard about the property search tool, that's a game changer! Always get mixed up between all the water districts here.