New builds offer the cleanest opportunity to install home automation properly. The key is bringing in an automation specialist at the right stage — and most people leave it far too late.
A new build or major renovation is the ideal moment to install home automation. Walls are open, cables can be run neatly, and the cost of doing things properly is dramatically lower than retrofitting later. The mistake most people make is treating automation as an afterthought — something to add once the builders are done. By that point, many of the best options have been closed off.
When should you involve an automation specialist?
Ideally, before the first fix. That is the stage where electricians are running cables and conduit, before walls are plastered or floors are laid. Involving an automation designer at this point costs nothing extra — they work alongside your electrician and architect to ensure the infrastructure is in place for whatever system you choose to install.
Even if you are not ready to commit to a full system right away, installing conduit and cabling during the first fix means you can add automation later without disturbing the finished building. This is one of the most cost-effective things a new build owner can do.
What to specify at each stage
Before first fix
- Data cabling (Cat6A) to all rooms — future-proofs for any system
- Conduit in walls for future lighting control wiring
- Electrical load calculations reviewed by your automation designer
- Speaker cable routes if you plan whole-home audio
- HDMI and AV cable routes to media wall and projector locations
At second fix
- Smart switches and dimmers in place of standard switches
- Network rack or home hub location agreed and fitted
- In-ceiling speakers fitted before ceilings are finished
- Smart doorbell and access control infrastructure
On completion
- System commissioning — everything programmed and tested
- Scenes set up for each room and the whole home
- App and voice control configured
- Handover session with the homeowner
We work directly with architects, main contractors, and electricians across Bath and Somerset. Involving us early adds no cost and avoids the expensive compromises that come from adding automation as an afterthought.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent problem we see is homeowners specifying consumer-grade smart products during the build — cheap smart sockets and plug-in hubs — and then finding they want something more coherent once they move in. Installing a proper infrastructure from the start means you are never constrained by the decisions made when the walls were still open.
The second most common issue is not running enough data cabling. Wi-Fi is convenient but professionally managed wired networks are significantly more reliable for critical devices like lighting controllers, security systems, and AV equipment. Run more cable than you think you need — it costs very little at the time and avoids considerable expense later.