Buying a New Home? Electrical Must-Haves to Keep in Mind

If you are a new homebuyer, particularly if you are going to be involved in the design and construction process, then you really do have an opportunity to get exactly what you want and build the home of your dreams.

While you may be excited by finishes and enchanted by fixtures, don’t forget to spend a little time considering the less visible, less sexy elements of your new home. Like the plumbing and electrical. You might not think about it as much as you do designer cabinets and glorious granite countertops, but you will be glad you took the time later on!

While we can’t give you any advice about plumbing or countertops, here is our list of important must haves for your new construction electrical:

1. A bigger panel than you think you will need. At some point in your home’s lifespan, you or someone else will want to add on or expand something, and that will require a bigger panel. Do not go for the minimum. Build in some room to grow.
2. Aim to have two outlets on each large expanse of wall, particularly those where you know you will be positioning electronics.
3. Pre wired audio. Although not a must have, pre-wiring audio for a media room and to other rooms in your new house can save a lot of time and money later on, and will look much better than most after the fact home installs.
4. A hard-wired smoke / carbon monoxide sensor system. These are great because you will never forget to change the batteries!
5. A well thought out lighting design, including allowance for energy efficient lighting. Make sure that all of the fittings you choose for your lighting designs are compatible with the latest CFL and LED lightbulbs, since they are a big cost saver!
6. A backup power supply, whether it is a generator, invertors or a solar or wind power system, it is always great to have an alternative source of power when there is a blackout.
7. A garage door and or gate operator. They may not be absolutely essential, but they can make life a lot easier, and easy is never a bad thing!
8. A smart home system. Tracking, managing and monitoring your home from afar is now easier than ever, and new smart home systems are surprisingly affordable.
9. A home security system. Again, these are much cheaper these days, and cameras, intercoms and even locks are accessible from smart phone apps, depending on what type of system you choose.
10. Outdoor electrical, including power for a pool filtration system, or the ability to add one later on.

You might not need all of those things in your new home, but if there are any that seem to be important, it’s worth talking to your electrical contractor sooner rather than later. It is always easier and cheaper to install electrical or make provision for future installation before construction is finished than to add them later.