I have and use:
1) a 30 foot hose;
2) a hose sock;
3) a hardwood floor brush;
4) a hard floor tool for tile in the kitchen and bathrooms;
5) a round brush for window sills, corners, and baseboards;
6) an electric powered brush for carpets.

I have a crevice tool, but seldom use it because the sound of the air flowing through it is uncomfortably loud.

If I were to get one more item, it would be a short stretch hose for quick clean-ups.

All of my accessories came with the machine, so I have not purchased any, but I like this website for looking at all the accessories:

Here is a link that might be useful: central vac accessories

thank you for all that info -- what's the difference between a hardwood floor brush and what you use for the tiles? I also was debating on the stretch house but wasn't sure if they were durable or just gimmicky. Thanks for the link!

I saw a French movie once where the apartment had a central vacuum with a little trap door. The apartment resident would just sweep everything to the trap door, open it with her toe and it would suck everything in. She had no accessories except a small broom.

what's the difference between a hardwood floor brush and what you use for the tiles?

The hardwood floor brush tool had brushes on it; the tile floor tool does not.

I saw a French movie once where the apartment had a central vacuum with a little trap door. The apartment resident would just sweep everything to the trap door, open it with her toe and it would suck everything in. She had no accessories except a small broom.

I have two of those "sweeps" in my house as part of the central vac system. They are convenient for messy areas.

I have had central vac system for nearly 30 years. I use the motorized carpet head, the hard floor cleaner head with a brush attached around the edge mostly. I find I just use the end of the hose instead of the crevice tool, which I seem to use only to clean out the window tracks. I also have a small two brush attachment-a soft brush on one end and a flat small hard head for stairs or upholstery. I use them sometimes. I have no other need except I had to order an extra long hose.

My friend Betsy has a central vacuum and hates it. She said the suction is crummy. I am still in search of the perfect vacuum. I have owned two Electreoluxes , one Hoover (the worst), a Bissell and a Eureka. I once tried to buy a Dyson, but the salesman talked me out of it. Maybe his commission wouldn't be paid on that brand?

Well, Jannie, my suggestion would be to stop paying attention to Betsy and the salesman and get either a central vac or a Dyson, my two fav vacuums! LOL!

With the size of your home (4,000 sf), I'm pretty sure you will be HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED if you get a turbo brush. Spend the extra and get the motorized Powerhead. I find most customers who come into my shop that hate their Central Vac system it's because it is suction only without a PH. A turbo would be OK for a smaller amount of carpet. IMHO