The decisions made before walls close determine what a smart home can and cannot do for the life of the property. Wiring that is not installed during construction is expensive or impossible to add later. Decisions about rack location, shade pockets, keypad positions, and camera coverage affect finish work, millwork, and construction sequencing, which is why technology planning belongs in the design phase, not the punch list.

This checklist covers the major low-voltage categories that should be reviewed before rough-in on any new construction or significant remodel.

Contents

Networking and structured cabling

The network is the foundation. Everything else depends on it.

  • Determine rack or infrastructure room location: accessible, ventilated, near electrical service.
  • Plan cable pathways from rack to each area of the home.
  • Run Cat6 or Cat6A to each TV location, office, desk, and room where wired devices may be used.
  • Run Cat6 or Cat6A to each planned Wi-Fi access point location.
  • Run Cat6 or Cat6A to each planned IP camera location.
  • Run Cat6 or Cat6A to gate and intercom locations.
  • Confirm ceiling or wall blocking for access point mounting.
  • Confirm power at each access point location, either PoE or local outlet.
  • Plan for outdoor network runs to pool, lanai, dock, and outdoor kitchen where applicable.

Wi-Fi access points

  • Identify access point locations based on floor plan and coverage goals.
  • Confirm access point locations with designer for ceiling or wall integration.
  • Run dedicated Cat6 or Cat6A to each access point.
  • Plan for outdoor access points at pool, lanai, and outdoor entertaining areas.
  • Confirm PoE switch capacity and location in rack plan.

Lighting control

  • Identify lighting control scope: whole-home keypads or a subset of spaces.
  • Confirm keypad locations with designer and architect before drywall.
  • Determine keypad finish and engraving requirements for millwork coordination.
  • Run low-voltage wiring for each keypad and dimmer location.
  • Confirm load-side wiring for dimmers and switches.
  • Plan for scene control at primary entries, main living areas, primary suite, and guest areas.
  • Identify exterior lighting zones that will be on the control system.
  • Confirm pathway lighting, landscape lighting, and pool or dock lighting scope.

Motorized shades

  • Identify all windows and openings that will receive motorized shades.
  • Confirm shade pocket dimensions with window treatment supplier and designer.
  • Plan power wiring to each shade location.
  • Confirm fascia and pocket design before framing.
  • Identify which shades will be grouped by zone and controlled together.
  • Plan for solar shades, blackout shades, or layered treatment systems.
  • Confirm outdoor shade scope for lanai, pergola, and covered entertaining areas.

Whole-home audio

  • Identify rooms and outdoor areas where in-ceiling or in-wall speakers will be installed.
  • Confirm speaker rough-in locations with designer before drywall.
  • Run in-wall rated speaker cable to each speaker pair.
  • Plan for amplifier and source equipment location in rack.
  • Identify volume control or keypad locations for each zone.
  • Confirm outdoor speaker locations: pool, lanai, outdoor kitchen, dock.
  • Confirm blocking and backing for outdoor speaker mounting.

Video and displays

  • Identify all TV and display locations throughout the home.
  • Run conduit or cable bundle to each TV location: power, Cat6, HDMI, or coax as applicable.
  • Confirm TV mounting height and blocking in framing.
  • Plan for hidden cable management in millwork and built-ins.
  • Identify locations for media equipment near displays.
  • Plan for video distribution equipment if sources will be shared across multiple displays.

Home theater or media room

  • Confirm dedicated room or area for theater.
  • Plan display or projection wall with proper viewing distance from seating.
  • Run conduit for projector location if applicable.
  • Plan for screen blocking and drop pocket if using a motorized screen.
  • Run speaker cable for front, surround, and ceiling positions.
  • Plan subwoofer location and power.
  • Plan equipment rack location: accessible, ventilated, ideally in an adjacent room or closet.
  • Confirm acoustic treatment provisions if applicable.
  • Run power, Cat6, and HDMI conduit to rack location.
  • Confirm lighting control scope for the theater.

Security cameras

  • Identify camera locations: entries, driveway, garage, pool, outdoor living, gate, dock.
  • Review camera placement for coverage, privacy, and maintenance access.
  • Run Cat6 or Cat6A to each camera location for PoE cameras.
  • Confirm mounting surface and weather exposure for outdoor cameras.
  • Plan for NVR or recording equipment location in rack.
  • Determine recording strategy: local storage, cloud, or hybrid.
  • Plan power for recording equipment.
  • Confirm remote viewing requirements and network design for camera traffic.

Access control, gates, and intercoms

  • Identify main entry, gate, and secondary entry locations requiring access control.
  • Run low-voltage wiring and power to intercom and access control panels.
  • Plan gate operator power and communication wiring.
  • Confirm intercom locations and panel design with architect.
  • Plan for video doorbell or camera at main entry and gate.
  • Confirm integration with automation system for remote access, notifications, and unlock control.

Outdoor entertainment technology

  • Identify outdoor audio zones: pool, lanai, outdoor kitchen, dock.
  • Identify outdoor display locations if applicable.
  • Confirm weather exposure, sun angle, and mounting conditions for outdoor displays.
  • Plan power, Cat6, and cable paths to outdoor technology locations.
  • Confirm outdoor Wi-Fi coverage scope.
  • Plan for outdoor lighting control zones.
  • Confirm outdoor camera coverage as part of the overall camera plan.

Equipment rack and infrastructure room

  • Finalize rack or closet location: central, accessible, ventilated.
  • Confirm rack dimensions and space for all equipment.
  • Plan HVAC or ventilation for the room because equipment generates heat.
  • Plan dedicated circuits for technology equipment, UPS, and surge protection.
  • Confirm cable management pathways from rack to each area of the home.
  • Plan for service access: door swing, clearance around rack, and lighting.

Future expansion provisions

  • Pull conduit or sleeves to key locations even if not immediately wired.
  • Consider empty conduit from rack to exterior for future outdoor technology runs.
  • Leave pull strings in conduit for future cable additions.
  • Document all rough-in locations with photos before walls close.
  • Confirm that documentation will be provided before trim-out.

The best time to make these decisions is before construction limits your options. A low-voltage integrator brought into the project during design, before framing and certainly before drywall, can coordinate scope with the builder, architect, and designer without adding cost to the construction schedule.

Naples Top Tech works with homeowners, builders, architects, and designers on low-voltage planning for new construction, full remodels, and significant additions across Naples and Southwest Florida. The goal is to make sure the infrastructure supports the home’s technology for years, not just on move-in day.