Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/homeautomation/s/njFTTHU2RX

Since you are building from the ground up, and depending on your budget, lay down as much wire as possible, even if you do not think you will use it at this time.

I renovated my house and have a couple of lessons learned.

1. ⁠LED Landscape lighting - you may or may not want to have this yet, but I would go ahead and future proof and at least install the transformers. I use THREE NSI Industries TORK TPX300S. One for the front yard, one for the backyard, and a spare for future proofing. I control the lights by having a Lutron RRD-8NS attached to each transformer in a weather proof box.
   ⁠1. ⁠Later on, you can use 12/2 direct burial wire (eg, Lightkiwi Z4715) to connect your lights. You do not need conduit as it's low voltage
   ⁠2. ⁠You may ask why separate transformers/control for front and back yard. There are many use cases where I would want the front yard landscape lights on but the backyard lights off.
2. ⁠AV Closet/Room - Ventilation!!!! Run an HVAC SUPPLY at the BOTTOM and a return at the TOP of the closet. I made this mistake in my AV closet which is 3 x 3 x 8. It was getting up to 95-98 degrees. I added an AC Infinity AIRFRAME T7-N and an AC Infinity AIRFRAME T7 to the door of my AC closet (I replaced the stock fans with Noctua NF-F12 PWM). The units run continuously and the temperature dropped down to about 85-87.
3. ⁠Dual Voltage 2 Gang Box - I made the mistake of not using these and I regret it. Using these looks nicer and is a much cleaner look
4. ⁠Alarm - 22/4 solid conductor to every door, window, attic access, and garage OH door, as well as to wherever you want a keypad. Also place an extra above your garage OH door. If you may want water detection, run one under your dishwasher area, as well as in your garage by the washer/dryer and water heater. I also installed an alarm wire in my kitchen ceiling near the stove (heat sensor for alarm) as well as 2 in the main hallway near the rooms (hard wired fire and CO for alarm), as well as one near the laundry in the ceiling (heat sensor for alarm), and one in the garage (heat sensor for alarm). I also installed one on the side of the house for the external alarm siren/flasher.
5. ⁠Shades - 16/2 conductor wire to every window location for shades
6. ⁠RG6/COAX - I have two home runs from the side of my house to my AV closet running in conduit. One of them is used for my Internet (Comcast Business) and the other for my OTA HD Antenna. Use https://otadtv.com/ or other to find the best location for the COAX for your antenna
7. ⁠Spare DEMARC Conduit - I have an empty conduit that runs from my DEMARC point to my AV closet
8. ⁠Cat6 or Cat5e - for data, voice, poe, and many others
   ⁠1. ⁠DEMARC - run a couple from your DEMARC to your AV room/closet. My demarc point happens to be next to my pool equip/landscape light transformers/Comcast box, etc.
   ⁠2. ⁠Landscape lighting - from above, run a cable here
   ⁠3. ⁠WiFi Hotspots - highly recommend the Ubiquiti UniFi nanoHD. Determine best location and run a Cat5e (the units are PoE capable). You may only need one depending on your home size, number of floors, etc.
   ⁠4. ⁠Remote Control - Not sure what your strategy is on this. I use an RF receiver (RTI RM-433) which has a range of 50'. I was lucky b/c I had a place to install it (linen closet adjacent to my AV closet) that was in the middle of my house, hence, I did not need to install an additional receiver. I'd take your blueprint and draw a circle with a 50' radius (using your blueprint scale 1/4" = 1' for example). Cut this circle out and move it around your blueprint to find the best coverage spot for an RF receiver or two (depending on the size of your house). Then run a Cat5e to each location back to your AV room/closet
   ⁠5. ⁠Lighting - not sure what you are using here but if I were you, I would perform the same exercise as above, but with a 60' cut out circle on your blue print to determine optimal location for a RadioRA2 Main Repeater. Again, something I overlooked. I was lucky however, because I had a spare Cat5e above my garage OH door which was the best place to install the Main Repeater. I also had a credenza in another location behind which I could install the Aux Repeater. Luckily it worked out. If it's not ideal to also have power in these locations then the Cat5e is fine because you can operate the Main and Aux repeaters with PoE injectors.
   ⁠6. ⁠Pool Equipment - run a couple to your pool equipment area
   ⁠7. ⁠HVAC - run a one to your A/C compressor area and another to your A/C blower area
   ⁠8. ⁠Irrigation - run one to where your irrigation controller will be installed
   ⁠9. ⁠Front door - for door bell or device (eg, DoorBird which is POE)
   ⁠10. ⁠Door bell chime - run a cat5e from your AV room to wherever you think you will want a doorbell chime so you can integrate it with the front doorbell or device
   ⁠11. ⁠Garage OH Door - run a couple here above your OH door
   ⁠12. ⁠Cameras - PoE Cameras. Decide where you want them and run a wire to each location. Typically, over your front door and at each corner of the house (2 per corner, on facing each way). I also installed a camera in my garage (why not :) )
   ⁠13. ⁠Automation Tablets - I ran a Cat5e to a particular location in each room in a 2 gang box so that I could install tablets for each room. I also installed one on my patio for a patio tablet
   ⁠14. ⁠TV Boxes - Run 2 Cat5e's and an RG6 to each room where you will have a TV. install them into each location where you will have a TV with a recessed AV box (large). Peerless-AV makes them as do others. Run power to the boxes. If the box supports two receptacles, use them. Also, if you have a patio, install on in the wall of the patio. You may not use these but they will be there.
   ⁠15. ⁠Speakers - Not sure what your strategy is for speakers but if you are even thinking of using ceiling speakers in the future, run the wires and leave them in the ceiling where you can get at them later (either attic or when you cut a hole for the speakers). Also install speak wire in your patio in to a single gang box for Left and same for Right.

*** NOTE ON RUNNING CABLING: When you the cabling back to your AV closet, run enough to let each drop hit the floor, then add an additional 8 feet. This will give you flexibility if you decide to install an extendable rack or a rack with wheels, etc. When running to an end-point (eg., junction or other wall box) ensure you leave at least 2 feet. ***

*** TAKE PHOTOS OF EVERY FLAT WALL SURFACE AND CEILING SURFACE WHERE THERE IS SOMETHING RUNNING (eg, plumbing, low voltage, high voltage, etc.) BEFORE THE INSULATION AND DRYWALL ARE INSTALLED. THESE PHOTOS WILL SAVE YOUR REAR END ***

If I think of anything else I'll update but this pretty much covers it.