Next time, I’d probably focus more on where we actually use tech daily instead of trying to future-proof every single wall.
That’s interesting—there’s always this pressure to “future-proof” everything, but it’s so easy to overdo it. I remember mapping out where I *thought* I’d want ethernet and USB outlets, only to realize later that the living room layout changed completely once furniture was in. Ended up with a couple of ports hidden behind a bookshelf, which is kind of useless.
The pull string thing is one of those details you don’t even think about until you’re staring at a finished wall, wishing you could just drop in another cable without tearing things up. I did ask about conduit, but honestly, the electrician seemed a bit dismissive—said it was overkill for a single-family home. Now I’m wondering if I should’ve pushed harder on that, especially for the main runs between floors.
Curious if anyone’s actually gone back and added wiring after the fact. Was it as much of a nightmare as it sounds? Or is it manageable if you’ve got access from the basement or attic? I keep hearing mixed stories—some say it’s not too bad with the right tools, others swear they’d never do it again.
Also, does anyone regret *not* putting in more outlets, or is there a point where it just becomes excessive? I feel like I went a little overboard in the office, but then again, it’s nice not having to run extension cords everywhere.
Title: Thinking About Building A Custom Home—Worth The Hassle?
I hear you on the “future-proofing” thing. I got a little carried away with outlets and ethernet too, thinking I’d be ready for anything. Now I’ve got a couple of ethernet jacks in places I never use, and the one spot I actually need it? Of course, nothing there. As for adding wiring later, I tried fishing a cable from the basement up to the second floor once—total pain. Ended up cutting more drywall than I wanted. If you’ve got attic or basement access, it’s doable, but it’s never as easy as you hope. Honestly, I’d rather have too many outlets than not enough, but there’s definitely a point where it just looks silly.
Honestly, I’d rather have too many outlets than not enough, but there’s definitely a point where it just looks silly.
Totally get this. Here’s what I usually suggest:
- Map out furniture and TV spots before finalizing outlet locations—saves a lot of regret later.
- Group outlets where you’ll actually use them (desks, bedsides), skip the random corners.
- For ethernet, run conduit instead of fixed cables if you can. That way, you can pull new wires later without tearing up walls.
- Don’t forget: code minimums for outlets are usually way too low for real life.
It’s easy to overdo it, but a little planning up front really pays off.
Definitely agree that code minimums are just a starting point—nobody wants to be stuck with extension cords everywhere. I’d add:
- Think about where you’ll actually *live* in the space, not just where furniture “might” go. People often forget about spots like kitchen counters or entryways where you end up plugging in random stuff (phone chargers, vacuums, whatever).
- For ethernet, I’m always a little skeptical about skipping it entirely for wifi—futureproofing is real, but sometimes conduit gets overlooked in the budget. Still, if you can swing it, totally worth it.
- Don’t ignore outdoor outlets. You only realize you need them after you’re dragging an extension cord out the window for holiday lights.
I’ve seen people go wild and put outlets every 3 feet—starts to look like an airport. There’s definitely a balance between practical and just... too much.
Honestly, I thought I was being super practical when we did our build—just followed the electrician’s advice and figured “code minimum” was fine. Regretted it almost immediately. There’s this one corner in our living room where everyone ends up charging their phones, and now there’s a tangle of cords because I didn’t think to add an extra outlet there.
Totally agree about the kitchen counters and entryways. We ended up using one of those ugly power strips on the counter for the toaster and coffee maker, which kind of defeats the whole “custom” vibe. If I could do it again, I’d walk through the plans with a phone charger in hand and just imagine where I’d want to plug stuff in.
Ethernet’s another one—I skipped it, thinking wifi would be enough, but now my partner’s always complaining about laggy Zoom calls. If you can budget for it, even just a couple of hardwired spots make a difference.
Outdoor outlets... yeah, learned that lesson at Christmas. Extension cords out the window are not a good look.
