| I used to regret not putting cat5 in, but now that it would have been considered old, and I'm pretty sure messing with conduits to replace those cables would have been a pain and I would use wifi anyway, I think the main things are: 1. Plan on a spot for wifi and cable modem. 2. Assume that single wire to your cable modem will need to be replaced, so don't make it too hard to get to, but I'm not sure if I'd bother with a conduit. It's possible that even the main net connection will be wireless one day, but for now it's cable, satellite, DSL, or Google Fiber, typically. 3. Large conduit for what they call "low voltage wiring" (HDMI, etc.) to where you always want your T.V. may be a good idea, but wireless video being normal is not far off. 4. Wireless power is not happening anytime soon, so be sure that you have outlets everywhere you'd need them, including in the ceiling if you think you'll need a bridge or repeater. Note that repeaters kind of suck, so hopefully you can just get by with one or more wifi routers instead. If you can't then that is the one (or so) cat6e cables you'd need to run, because POE isn't a great fallback. The non-networking stuff to think about: * Putting holes in a countertop for wires if you want to hide outlets. Only recommend that for places where the outlet is easily accessible, otherwise the wire going into the outlet would get in the way of storage space or cause fires. * Insulation! Get the best you can, imo. Most builders skimp, but you'll regret it. Insulate all doors, etc. to storage space. Might not want to fill electrical boxes with foam unless you really need it, since that can be a mess. * Get a nice garage door opener and consider insulating garage door. * Go ahead and get a recommended gutter helmet for your gutters and put in nice siding and roofing. * Be careful with ceiling fans. If the blades have a weak point in the connection with the blade like a centimeter of brass or similar, that will shear eventually. * Don't skimp on ventilation, HVAC/furnace. * Go ahead and put decent windows in if you can afford it. Otherwise they'll get stuck and you'll not use them. * Plan on cheap carpet rolling up and needing to be retightened, or buy good stuff. * Go ahead and put in decent countertops and tile backsplash in kitchen. You will eventually if you don't do it now. Put in undercabinet lighting and dimmers for those and most other lighting in kitchen and common areas. * Plan a "mud area" in some area of the home and place for kids or you to put stuff and hang it as you come in. * Even if you like natural wood, consider getting the hardier stuff for decks, etc. or stain and treat. Same with hardwoods- use more gloss than you might want. * Dark hardwoods and counters hide dirt. With dark you get more cockroaches, with light you get more work. Plenty of other things, but those are just the main ones. |