Take a Close Look Your Home’s Electrical and Wiring

When we think about renovating a home we tend to think about the “fun stuff.” We spend hours finding the perfect paint color, matching carpets with tile, fixtures with cabinetry. All of this is cosmetic, and is important because the renovation reflects our personal tastes. Yet while changing that dull pink guest room to a bold shade of teal, consider taking a look at how many electrical outlets are available, and where they are placed.

Master bedrooms are notoriously overlooked. Ideally, the master bedroom should have at least one outlet on either side of the bed. Too often bedmates end up sharing one that is dead center behind the headboard, and not at all convenient to reach. Master bathrooms need “his and hers outlets” along with plenty of counter space to hold the appliances and their cords. Placing these items in the sink is never a good idea. Kitchen islands are a wonderful way to add workspace to your kitchen, but make sure they are wired. You have to have some place to plug in the food processor or coffee pot.

Heat registers are another issue. Ideally there should be at least one per room. Large rooms should have more to distribute the heat quickly and evenly. If you have a vaulted ceiling, it should have a ceiling fan. Remote controls are a big plus. Entertainment centres are a big draw, so wiring the front room and maybe one or two more with cat-5 cable is a great idea. No need to wire the entire house because of wireless Internet service.