If you were building a new home, what wiring, features, etc would you be sure to inlcude?

Thanks for any thoughts.

If you're thinking about any automation of the lighting, you ought to research what you might use to see if there is any need for additional control wiring. At least spec that all switch boxes get the neutral distributed there.

You might consider setting things up for a standby generator even if you don't plan to get the generator initially.

I just finished my house and the only thing I might have spec'd out better was that they use full 42 slot panels.

Control/Connection/distribution cabinets for all of the above

Since boxes, supports and chases for most of this can be incorporated, and it's always easier to install before wall coverings, I'd be sure to get all of it spec'd as part of the total wiring package.

1. Two-way switches at top and bottom of each stairway iucluding basement stairs.

2, Two-way switches inside house and garage to flood lamps lighting driveway.

3. Outlets on ends or sides of kitchen island counter.

4. Extra outlets in basement. There should be 2 to 3 outlets in the laundry/water softner area. There should be outlets along each basement wall. If you know where your basement workbench will be, install a couple of outlet boxes there.

5. Phone jacks in almost every room and one in the garage. Omit phone jacks in bathrooms and powder rooms. Nust have locations for phone jacks are entry hall or location of your primary phone, kitchen, each bedroom, basement, and garage.

Structure:

1. Make sure that a back stoop is included. Often, these are on the model home, but not included in the owner's house plans. It may be an extra, and if so, you won't get one unless it is added. The best time to build a stoop is during basement wall construction. A beam and footing is built into the basement wall below the frost line to support the stoop and keep it in register with the house.

2. Pay attention to the ouside design of entryways, especially the main front entrance. The front step become hazardous in winter if the roof dribbles water and melting snow on the stoop. The stoop becomes iced. Rain gutters are no protection. Figure that gutters will fill with snow and drip over its edge. A cupola over the stoop or a recessed entrance is nice in northern climes. A sheltered entrance is a plus. One caveat: On a two story, the design of the entrance cover should not interfere with ladder placement to the second story roof.

3. Add anti-ice dam sheets on all lower edges of the roof. The best time to install these is when the roof is first built. This sheet is cemented to the roof board. Also, add the same to all roof valleys.

4. Consider the method of attic venting. Older constructions used vents through the roof with soffit vents. Some new constructions are using ridge vents in place of the roof vents.

5. Seal the garage floor before moving in.

6. Add chimney caps to keep birds and vermin out.

7. Inspect the framing before the siding or brick is installed. make sure that all holes are blocked, especially places where wind might penetrate. Typical places were unwanted openings may occur are at the ends of the second story floor joists, and places were the upper floor changes direction or cantilevers over the lower wall.

8. Pre-stain the interior finish wood before it is installed. You'll have to work with your builder and finish carpenter for this. The carpenter may not like to work with stained wood if the color is too dark. Woodwork finishing is easier and faster when the wood has been pre-stained. Its a pain to stain wood after it has been nailed on the walls. Its tough to keep from getting stain on the walls.

9. If there will be decorative ceiling beams, paint the ceiling and pre-stain the beams before these are installed.

10. Carefully plan where the furnace will be located if it will be a high efficiency, gas fired model. These vent through the sidewall of the house and do not use a chimney. Plan the location of the furnace and vent. If the furnace does not use the chimney, a chimney liner may be required for a gas water heater that does use the chimney. (A gas water heater does not warm the chinmey sufficently in winter to prevent condensation.)

Much of the data communications now is wireless. Even so, some prewiring for data and phone is good (tip, it can all be cat 5) Also, pull the coax for the TV.

Hard Wire for security now, even if you don't install an alarm. The hardwired motion detectors, etc, work better than the wireless type.

Pay attention to energy efficiency. Can lights should be florescent, consider a gas tankless heater, etc.

Transfer switch for future generator.
Receptacles under eaves for seasonal lighting with switches controlling them.
Special equipment power in garage - welder, compressor etc.
Additional receptacles/circuits in area like entertainment center.

Two simple low cost things I would do are:

1) For all light switches, make sure you have Ground, Neutral and Live at each light switch. The extra cost is in the wire. What this gains you is the option to put in Z-wave switches later for all those fancy lighting options.

2) Put in an Ethernet connection from the main hub where all your cableing will be to the attic with plenty of spare cable. You can if you wish later stick in your wifi repeater there to make sure you have a good signal all over the house / garden.

Best, Mike.

Other non electical:

1) Put into the basement a radon pipes and a vent pipe to the roof. If you have a Radon issue later, it is easy to fix. Just pop in a Radon fan.