Building a new home means making hundreds of decisions before the drywall goes up. Your low-voltage wiring plan is one of the most important choices you will make during this process. Getting it right now saves you from expensive retrofits later.

This smart home wiring checklist will help you have a productive conversation with your builder and technology integrator. Print it out, bring it to your next meeting, and go through each section together. The goal is simple. Make sure no critical infrastructure gets overlooked while the walls are still open.

Why Pre-Wiring During Construction Matters

Running cables after drywall is installed can cost three to five times more than doing it during the framing stage. In some multi-story homes with fire breaks between studs, adding wire later is impossible. The labor to pull Cat6A cable through open framing takes a fraction of the time compared to fishing wire through finished walls.

Even if you do not plan to use every cable right away, having them in place means you are ready for whatever technology comes next. The wires will sit there waiting until you need them.

Setting Up Your Central Wiring Location

Every connected home needs a single spot where all systems come together. Some builders call it a distribution center or media closet. This is where your network equipment, patch panels, and amplifiers will live.

Look for a location that stays at a moderate temperature and has good airflow. It should sit close to where your internet service enters the home and have easy access from the main floor. A spot above the basement or crawlspace makes cable runs much simpler. Plan for plenty of electrical outlets and enough wall space for at least one equipment rack.

Infrastructure Basics

• Dedicated closet or cabinet space for network equipment with ventilation
• At least two 1.5-inch conduits running from the closet to the attic and basement
• A clear path from where your internet provider enters the home to the equipment location
• Whole-home surge protection at the electrical panel
• Space and power for a battery backup unit

Understanding the Cables You Will Need

Knowing what each cable type does helps you communicate with your contractor and avoid confusion on site.

• Cat6A is the standard for network wiring in new construction. It handles high-speed data, supports Power Over Ethernet for cameras and access points, and will meet your needs for years to come. The installation labor is identical to older cable types and the cost difference per foot is minimal.
• RG6 Coaxial is still useful for over-the-air TV antennas and certain cable services. Run it alongside Cat6A at media locations.
• Speaker Wire in 16-gauge runs back to your distribution center for connection to amplifiers. You will need it for any in-wall or in-ceiling audio.
• Low-Voltage Wire handles motorized shades, contact sensors, and other smart home components that do not require network connectivity.

Living Spaces and Entertainment Areas

Your living room and family room will likely have the most technology. Plan for multiple network drops at TV locations to support streaming devices, gaming consoles, and future equipment you have not thought of yet.

• 2-4 Cat6A drops at the primary TV location
• 1 RG6 Coaxial drop at the TV location
• 1 speaker wire run for a soundbar
• 5-7 speaker wire runs for surround sound
• 1 Cat6A drop in the ceiling for a Wi-Fi access point

Home Office Wiring for Remote Work

A home office benefits from hardwired connections more than any other room. Wi-Fi works fine for casual browsing, but video calls and large file transfers perform better over Ethernet.

• 2-4 Cat6A drops at the desk location
• 1 RG6 Coaxial drop
• 1 Cat6A drop for a network printer
• Additional drops behind desk areas for future devices

Bedroom and Hallway Runs

Each bedroom needs basic media connectivity. A central hallway location works well for a Wi-Fi access point that covers multiple rooms.

• 2 Cat6A drops at the TV or media location in each bedroom
• 1 RG6 Coaxial drop in each bedroom
• 2 speaker wire runs for in-ceiling audio in the primary bedroom
• 1 Cat6A run in a central hallway ceiling for Wi-Fi coverage

Kitchen and Laundry Room Considerations

Smart displays, small TVs, and in-ceiling speakers are common in kitchens. Running network cable behind appliance locations is speculative but forward-thinking. Future refrigerators and ovens may connect directly to your network instead of relying on Wi-Fi.

• 1 Cat6A drop for a smart display or small TV
• 2 speaker wire runs for in-ceiling music
• 1 Cat6A behind the refrigerator location
• 1 Cat6A behind the oven location
• 1 Cat6A behind the washer in the laundry room
• 1 Cat6A behind the dryer location

Bathroom Audio Integration

Speaker wire to bathrooms lets you extend your whole-home audio system into spaces where you might want music during morning routines.

• 2 speaker wire runs for in-ceiling speakers in the primary bathroom
• 1 speaker wire run for guest bathrooms
• 1 Cat6A drop if you plan to install a smart mirror

Garage Connectivity and Access

The garage often gets overlooked during wiring planning. Security cameras, Wi-Fi coverage, and smart garage door integration all require network connectivity.

• 1 Cat6A drop for a security camera at the garage entrance
• 1 Cat6A drop for a Wi-Fi access point
• 1 Cat6A drop near the garage door opener
• 1 RG6 Coaxial drop if you plan to mount a TV

Outdoor and Landscape Wiring in NYC Homes

Outdoor spaces need network and audio infrastructure too. Running conduit from the attic to outer foundation walls gives you flexibility to add irrigation controls, landscape lighting, or additional speakers later. For homes across NYC, Brooklyn, and Queens, rooftop and patio entertainment systems are increasingly popular.

• 1 Cat6A drop for an outdoor Wi-Fi access point
• 2-4 outdoor-rated speaker wire runs for landscape audio
• 1 Cat6A and power for an outdoor TV location
• Conduit to the yard for future irrigation or lighting controls

Climate Control and Thermostat Wiring

Smart thermostats perform better with network connectivity than Wi-Fi alone. If your HVAC system supports zoned climate control, plan for multiple thermostat locations.

• Cat6A drop at each thermostat location
• Verify HVAC compatibility with smart home platforms
• Consider wiring for zoned control if your system supports it

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detection

Hardwired smoke and CO detectors that interconnect throughout the house provide better safety than battery-powered units. An alarm in the basement will trigger alerts on every floor.

• Hardwired power to all smoke detector locations
• Hardwired power to CO detector locations near bedrooms and fuel-burning appliances
• Cat6A drops near detectors for smart monitoring integration

Irrigation and Landscape Automation

Smart sprinkler controllers need either network or low-voltage wire at the installation location. Running conduit to the yard now means you can add soil moisture sensors or expand the system later.

• Cat6A or low-voltage wire to the irrigation controller location
• Conduit from the house to the yard for future expansion

Security Camera and Sensor Placement

Plan camera locations at every corner of the house, front door, back door, and garage. Running two cables to each location instead of one gives you room to add coverage later without pulling new wire. Power Over Ethernet cameras receive both data and power through a single Cat6A cable, which simplifies installation significantly. If you are planning integrated security systems with access control and monitoring, discuss additional wiring needs with your integrator.

• Cat6A to all potential camera locations
• Wire runs to windows and doors for contact sensors
• Wire run for the main security panel and keypads
• Consider doubling camera drops for future expansion

Smart Lighting and Motorized Shade Wiring

Smart switches require a neutral wire at each switch location. Confirm this with your electrician during the rough-in phase. Motorized interior shades can run on battery power, low-voltage wire, or Power Over Ethernet depending on the manufacturer.

• Confirm neutral wire availability at all switch locations
• Low-voltage wire to each window for motorized shades
• Direct electrical wiring for exterior motorized shades

Home Automation Touchscreens and Control Systems

In-wall touchscreens from manufacturers like Savant and Control4 need network connectivity. If you are planning for whole-home audio and video distribution, discuss the specific wiring requirements with your integrator early in the design process.

• Cat6A to each planned in-wall touchscreen location
• Additional drops for future control panel expansion

Planning for Technology That Does Not Exist Yet

The cables you install today need to support devices that have not been invented. Run more cable than you think you need. Drop two network cables to camera locations instead of one. Pull speaker wire to every room where you might want music someday, even if you do not plan to install speakers right away.

Conduit is your best tool for future flexibility. PVC pipe between the attic and equipment rack lets you pull new cable types as technology evolves. The cost of extra materials during construction is minimal compared to the expense of opening walls later.

Using This Checklist With Your Builder

Print this list and bring it to your next meeting with your contractor and technology integrator. Go through each section room by room. Mark what applies to your home and note any questions that come up.

Every home is different. This checklist covers the most common needs for a new home pre-wire in 2026, but your specific situation may require additional planning. Use it as a starting point to create a professional new construction cabling plan that fits your family and how you live.