What low-voltage wiring should I install before drywall?
Before drywall, run two Ethernet drops at each office, desk and TV location, a ceiling drop for an access point on every floor, PoE runs for cameras at entries and the driveway, speaker or AV pathways, and conduit to a ventilated, powered panel near the centre of the home.
The checklist
Ethernet: two drops per key location. A mid-size home typically lands between 12 and 24 drops.
Access points: one ceiling drop per floor, plus one per wing or outdoor zone.
Cameras: PoE runs at the front door, driveway, side gates and back yard.
AV: in-wall HDMI or conduit to each TV wall, speaker runs to theatre and living areas.
Panel: a ventilated closet, garage or utility location with dedicated power and conduit to the attic or crawlspace.
Why builder packages fall short
Standard packages usually include a few jacks and a small unventilated panel. They rarely include ceiling access point drops, camera runs or conduit — the three things that are most expensive to add later.
Timing with the build
Plan during framing, rough-in before insulation and drywall, and trim out after paint. A walk-through with the builder before rough-in is the single most useful hour in the process.