Install the recessed lights now. The cans and trim are commodities at about $20 ea. The balance of the install cost is labor, cable, switches, circuitry.

You can prewire all parts of the low voltage and choose which to complete now. Over the years clients have invested heavily in "nice to have in the future" stuff and never completed it.

I dont recall this part costing much.

That said, we use the surround sound a lot. Its a nice feature to have it built in . Try to do that.

Use remodel cans please. Rough in the wire, drywall, and when you're ready, you fish for the wire and complete the installation. Lights end up precisely where you want them also.

If you want any wired low voltage stuff, do it during construction. You will pay much more to a future contractor to snake wires and make holes in walls and ceilings and then pay even more money for someone to patch all those holes, which will never look perfect, unless you hire the expensive, and in demand, drywall patching expert!

Nothing behind the walls can wait. It all has to be created during the rough in phase. You can not trim it out, if the ends terminate in a box. But it’s almost as easy to install fixtures as it is to install blank faceplates. You’re saving pennies. The real issue on expense is the 3700 and the giant involved wish list. Electrical won’t be the only category where over budget happens.

Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I am thinking of getting the wires ran for 4 outdoor cameras and an alarm system. I will have plates put on so I have time to pick out my cameras and alarm system later. Additionally, I am getting wires ran in my family room for 5.1 surround sound, Internet, hdmi, cable, etc.

is it overkill to have ceiling speaker wiring rough-ins with plates in all the common rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms?

what is used for whole house audio if built in speakers are not used?

Exactly. No one does whole house audio. That’s an Austin Powers bachelor pad antique concept. Portable Bluetooth is where it’s at. Versatile and adaptable. Headphones even. Personalized, and micro.

If you’re an audiophile, built in speakers are horrifying. You want some monster tube amp Kliptch setup in a dedicated listening room with gold cables and turntables.

Speaker technology hasn't changed that much, other than components getting smaller. Lots of built-in speakers get installed every day! They have some cool ones now that are wafer thin and get installed behind the sheetrock ... a visitor to the house would never know they are even there.

WiFi and bluetooth everything you can. Having wired speakers and other items that are hard wired limits your ability to change the furniture layout in the future and limits your ability to upgrade your equipment.

Your insurance company may insist and require a fully functioning security system from earliest day possible.

I don't think the OP was suggesting built-in speakers for an audiophile! We have one of those rooms and that is a whole different set up, just like a media/movie room is another different set up.

Personally I hate visible speakers in my main living/entertaining areas. They do not go with any decor! For ambient party music, I'll take built-in speakers any day. Allocate a decent budget for good quality and you won't have any need to upgrade for a very long time. Upgrading isn't that hard either, take old out and put new one in. It isn't rocket science ... unless you are trying to get that audiophile room set up! ;-)

It was suggested that my data lines and speaker wires should all run to one central location (basement). I was told to install 4 CAT6, and a RG6 cable (coax) behind all my TVs. I can then use a HDMI bunion behind each tv to convert CAT6 to HDMI. additionally, it was suggested that I place cat6 ports in a closet closest to each tv. 2 cat6 can be used for 4K video distribution. 1 cat6 is used for IRR. The last cat6 is used for direct internet connection. the coax can be used for wifi extension. unfortunately, my electrician told me she does not want to run the cat6 and rg6 cabes in a conduit for each tv. I feel the conduit is important so i can easily switch from cat6 to cat7 without ripping out any drywall in the future. Is this normal? Should I insist that I get conduits? If she still refuses, is there an alternative option? If not, I am heavily considering using Wi-fi everywhere and only getting cat6 ports for direct internet connection, and for wifi extenders if needed. Any thoughts?

If it were me, I'd run conduit from the central location to all the potential positions (speakers, tvs, audio receiver, etc.) and put blank plates over the boxes. The question becomes "plastic or meta, flexible or rigid". For in-wall or ceiling speakers not installed, put the boxes behind the drywall and make an inconspicuous hole there so you can find it in the future. I like the concept of a central control center in the basement.

My builder’s electrician is refusing to do conduit for some reason. She won’t explain why. she said that the cat6 wires would be stapled.

My builder is partnered with a security company. They offer things such as pre-wiring for cameras and a 4 pack of cameras w/ NVR ($2600), doorbells with camera on it ($395), and alarms ($1454 w/ 1 year commitment and $35/mo monitoring service. Should I worry about getting security after closing or should I do this now? Should I purchase their cameras and doorbell through them, or should I only get the pre-wiring?

ps: I asked and they told me that they will not pre-wire alarm systems. I will need to get the alarm system now if I want to have it set up before the dry wall is up.

How badly do you need security? Are you worried about crime in your neighborhood? If you need it NOW, then by all means get it. If it's something that can wait - then wait.

16 years later for me and mine and we still don't have security - maybe one day - hmmmm....maybe.

I would skip wiring for sound systems. Everything is wireless now. The house I’m in now was wired for everything and it is all outdated and useless. We use Sonos for sound and can change and upgrade very easily.

DIY the conduit

Thank you! Any thoughts on whether i should get flood lights in the back and side of my house now or later? Also, should I get a path light with a switch now or later?

"No one does built in speakers any more."

UH, Sonos has an AMP to connect wired speakers. We're putting in 2 AMPS connected to 6 ceiling speakers into our new build. So, yeah, people still wire in sound.

What would change from day 1 to day 1000 of living in your new home that would make floodlights necessary later and not immediately? The same applies to the path light?

If you anticipate needing those things, minimally get the wiring done now. Depending on the height of the house and the relatively low cost of flood lights I'd also install them now. Trying to save a few dollars on wiring and electrical is going to cost you much more in the long run.