Most of these cost next to nothing during construction… but become a pain (and a lot more expensive) once the house is finished.
Hose Bibs On All Four Sides
Most builders only install a hose bib in the front and back of the house.
I'd spend a little extra during plumbing rough-in and add one to every side. It makes watering landscaping, washing windows, cleaning the driveway, or rinsing off equipment so much easier.
You're looking at a couple hundred dollars during construction, but adding one after siding, insulation, and drywall are complete can easily cost several times more.
Exterior Outlets
You can never have too many exterior outlets.
I always recommend placing outlets under the soffits for holiday lights so you're not running extension cords across the yard every December.
Also consider exterior outlets for security cameras, pressure washers, landscape lighting, power tools, and outdoor TVs.
Think about how you'll actually use your yard before the electrician finishes rough-in.
Conduit Under the Driveway
This is one of my favorite cheap upgrades.
Before the driveway gets poured, have your builder install conduit underneath it. It costs very little during construction, but it gives you a protected pathway to run power or low-voltage wiring later.
Whether you decide to add driveway lighting, a gate, cameras, landscape lighting, or even power to a future mailbox, you'll already have a way to get there without cutting concrete.
Gutter Drains
Don't let all that roof water dump right beside your foundation.
Running gutter downspouts into underground drains carries water away from the house, helping reduce erosion, muddy areas, foundation issues, and standing water around your landscaping.
Porch Wiring
Even if you don't know exactly what you want on your porch yet, I'd still prepare for it.
Running Smurf tubing (flexible conduit) from the attic to the porch ceiling gives you an easy pathway for future wiring. Maybe you'll want speakers, security cameras, recessed lighting, ceiling heaters, another outlet, or even a ceiling fan down the road.
A roll of conduit costs very little now, but it can save you from cutting drywall or fishing wires through finished ceilings later.
You Won't Remember Half the Features You Want
When you're building a house, you're making hundreds of decisions in a short amount of time.
That's exactly why I created the Ultimate Home Building Checklist. It keeps hundreds of decisions like these organized by construction phase, so you know what to ask for before the opportunity is gone.
