“I’m glad we put in extra outlets and a couple of empty conduits—those actually came in handy.”
Extra outlets are always a win—people rarely regret those. I’ve seen folks go all out with smart home wiring or built-in speakers, only to barely use them. But flexible stuff like conduits? That’s saved a lot of headaches when tech changes. Curious, did you end up using any of those ethernet runs for security cams or anything, or are they just sitting there?
Extra outlets are always a win—people rarely regret those. I’ve seen folks go all out with smart home wiring or built-in speakers, only to barely use them. But flexible stuff like conduits? That’s saved a lot of headaches when tech changes.
That’s been my experience too. We tried to keep things pretty basic when we built—mostly because the budget was already stretched thin. I did push for extra outlets and a couple of empty conduits, even though my partner thought it was overkill at the time. Fast forward a year, and we ended up running ethernet through one of those conduits for a camera at the front door. Saved us from tearing up drywall or running ugly wires along the baseboards.
Honestly, I’m glad we didn’t go wild with built-in tech. Some friends put in whole-house audio and fancy lighting controls, but they barely touch them now. The outlets and conduits, though? Those get used all the time. Sometimes it’s the simple stuff that pays off in the long run... even if it feels boring during planning.
Did you end up putting any outlets in places that seemed weird at the time but turned out useful later? I always wonder if there’s a “too many” point, or if it’s just one of those things you never regret. We skipped the built-in speakers too—felt like a fad.
I always wonder if there’s a “too many” point, or if it’s just one of those things you never regret.
Funny enough, I stuck an outlet inside a hallway closet thinking it was a little overkill, but now it's where I charge the cordless vacuum and stash the robot mop. Never would’ve guessed how handy it’d be. I don’t think there’s really a “too many” unless you’re putting them in the shower or something. Skipping built-in speakers was smart—those seem to date fast, like intercoms did back in the day.
I get the “never too many outlets” logic, but there’s a flip side. More outlets = more circuits, more wiring, higher cost. In my last house, I actually had a couple outlets that never saw use in ten years—just ended up behind furniture.
I don’t think there’s really a “too many” unless you’re putting them in the shower or something.
I’d say planning is key. Outlets where you *know* you’ll need them (closets, garage, pantry) make sense, but I’d skip random extras unless you’ve got a clear plan. And totally agree on built-in speakers—those date faster than avocado green appliances.
