If your new home is under construction, talk to the builder now about wiring it for the future. Think about the wide range of technologies a connected home should support, including:
- high-speed Internet service
- digital TV
- direct-broadcast satellite service
- local computer networks within the home
- an efficient home office
- home entertainment centres
- environmental and energy management systems
- home security networks
Having your new home pre-wired for advanced communications technologies will make your life easier and boost its resale value, according to the Technical Committee of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association.
Most new home builders include some pre-wiring in their homes, such as multiple cable TV and telephone outlets run in series. On request, builders can install more comprehensive pre wiring to suit your communication and automation needs. While there are a number of different systems in the market, the telecommunications industry is rapidly moving towards a standardized home wiring system, with "minimum" and "recommended" wiring options.
When you're ready to buy your new home, sit down with the builder and discuss your pre-wiring needs. Here are some of the things you should consider before you make your final decisions.
Technologies will undoubtedly continue to change and improve. You want to make sure your system is flexible enough to accommodate future demands.
Do not do just selected rooms or areas. Basically, you should be able to plug in from any room in the house, including the kitchen and laundry room.
If you are planning a home entertainment centre, you'll want to plan for speakers, outlets, cable and Internet connections. You may want to be able to re-route video from one television screen to another -- great for the kids as they move from their play area to lunch in the kitchen, for instance. You may also want to pre-wire for sound throughout the house, with the ability to turn speakers on and off with a simple flick of a conveniently located switch. And think about running a conduit from the roof to the basement for satellite cabling.
Wire for security. It is easy to install wiring and motion sensors for doors and windows at the time of construction. Perhaps you want to incorporate a camera in the front door linked to your television, so you can see who's ringing your doorbell without getting up. Or connect an alarm to the back door so you always know when it is opened. Or have a video camera in an upstairs bedroom for baby monitoring. The options are unlimited.
Talk to your builder about pre-wiring for the future so you can enjoy it yourself and possibly get better resale value out of it down the road.
