Building a new smart home
How should you prepare for a smart home?
One of the most common questions we get asked… “I’m building a new home, what should I do now to prepare for making it smart?”
It’s an excellent question… and one that doesn’t have a black and white answer. A smart home can mean different things to different people. However, there are some common things you can do that will allow you to prepare, future proof and leave your options open. A little planning now could save you a lot of money – and make things possible that would be very difficult and expensive later on.
Here are 9 important things to keep in mind when building a new home to help make it “smart home” ready…
1. Run a neutral wire to every light switch
Most new home builds these days run neutral wires to light switches (except in WA for some reason!). However, and I cannot stress this enough… it is so important to make sure a neutral wire is run to each and every light switch in your new home. Double check this with your builder / electrician and get it confirmed in writing!
Why it matters: Most wireless smart switch modules (including Shelly Wi-Fi & Z-Wave) need both active and neutral wires to operate. Older-style / slightly cheaper wiring often only have the active (live) wire at the switch, which limits compatibility with smart home lighting modules… and adding a neutral wire later can be expensive and messy (or virtually impossible) once the walls are finished. Let’s do it right from the beginning 🙂
2. Allow power to future blind and curtain motors
Motorised blinds and curtains are one of the most popular smart home upgrades, but they need power (there are battery options, but hard-powered is always better!). Plan ahead by running 240V power cables to each window or pelmet area where you might want blind or curtain automation at a later time.
Best practice: Pre-run power cabling before plaster goes up… retrofitting later is difficult or near impossible in most cases. Leave an accessible junction box in the ceiling or wall cavity near each window so we can add a “smart module” to the blind / curtain motors.
3. Think about power and wiring for other smart devices
You don’t have to install everything now — just plan ahead. Here are a few extra spots to consider pre-wiring:
| Device | Suggested Preparation |
|---|---|
| Door strikes | Power conduit or cabling to door frame (if motorised) |
| Garage / shed / driveway | Power + data for cameras, EV chargers, motion sensors, lighting and / or motor control. |
| Outdoor lighting | Separate conduit and / or circuits for garden lights, so they can be automated independently. |
| Supplemental lighting | Power behind bathroom mirrors, under-bench LED strip lighting, stair / step lighting, bedside lighting, etc. |
| Ceiling speakers | Power and speaker wire to ceiling zones if you plan to add multi-room audio later. |
| Powered sensors | Run power provisions for smart sensors so you can do away with batteries (not all sensors support this, so planning needed here). |
| IPad / Android Tablet | Allow for power if you want to mount an Android tablet or iPad to the wall. |
4. Include network cabling for intercoms, cameras and Wi-Fi access points
Even though your smart home devices are mostly wireless, wired networking remains king for reliability. Running network cable (CAT6 or better) during construction costs very little and opens the door to many possibilities…
Suggested network points:
- Front door and gate (for intercoms or video doorbells).
- Each corner of the house for wired security cameras.
- Ceiling centres for strategically placed Wi-Fi access points (especially in large or double-storey homes) to ensure excellent Wi-Fi coverage.
- Media cabinet or rack for your main network gear (router, PoE switch, NAS, NVR).
- Garage (for EV chargers, smart door controllers, or future solar inverters).
- Anywhere you plan to have a TV (with 8K streaming coming, we want these off Wi-Fi).
Run all of your network cables back to a central point (i.e. where your NBN modem is likely to live).
5. Plan for a central smart home hub location
Even with wireless devices, you’ll likely need a hub or control brain – such as Home Assistant, Homey, or SmartThings. Designate a central location that has…
- Reliable network connectivity (Ethernet preferred)
- Includes power and ventilation
- Is away from metal enclosures or heavy concrete walls (to improve wireless range)
- Can house a small UPS or power backup if desired.
Why it matters: Giving careful thought a where you are going to place your smart home hub can significantly improve its performance and reliability when talking to wireless smart devices.
6. Consider solar, battery and energy monitoring integration
If you’re installing solar and / or a home battery now or plan to later, pre-planning for monitoring hardware makes integration easy. Run CT clamps or energy sensor conduits from the switchboard to your inverter and main meter area. This allows you to add smart energy monitoring and management – including turning on appliances automatically when solar is producing.
Pro tip: Be sure your builder / electrician allows for extra room (slots) in your electrical board and / or sub-boards for DIN rail mounting energy monitoring devices later.
7. Label everything... plan and document your setup
Before the plaster goes on, be sure to take photos of all your walls and ceiling frames showing cabling, conduits, light switch locations and power points. Label everything in your switchboard and junction boxes. You’ll thank yourself later when installing new modules or troubleshooting a device.
Best practice: Start an Excel or Google Sheet list so you can plan and document your smart home journey. Attention to detail now will save you time, money and leave your options open in the future.
8. Optional: Add conduits for future upgrades
Including conduits during the build is one of the simplest and smartest things you can do to prepare your home for the future. Conduits are flexible or rigid plastic pipes that run through walls, ceilings, and outdoor areas, allowing you to easily pull new cables through later – without having to cut into plaster or run exposed wiring.
By planning ahead and running empty conduits to key areas, you’ll have the flexibility to:
- Add new wiring for lighting, networking, or audio-visual systems.
- Install extra power or data points in living spaces, garages, or outdoor areas.
- Extend cabling for cameras, sensors, or other devices as your needs grow.
Even if you’re not sure what you’ll need yet, having conduits in place gives you options. As your home and lifestyle evolve, you can easily add cabling for things like Ethernet, intercoms, outdoor lighting, gate controls, or security systems — all without messy retrofits.
Think of conduits as your home’s built-in pathways for future upgrades. A small investment now can save significant time, money and hassle down the track.
9. We are here to help!
We are the smart home experts, so you don’t need to be!
Need some free advice or guidance? When it comers to smart homes, we have seen it all! We know what works and what doesn’t. Please feel free to reach out to us, we are always happy to help.
