10/15/2026
5 things you probably never thought to do before drywall in your new build that we recommend when designing custom homes
1. Wire for your holiday lights now. Add a dedicated outlet in the soffit on its own interior switch. No more running extension cords out a window every December, just flip a switch and the house is lit.
2. Add blocking for anything you'll mount later. TVs, floating shelves, curtain rods, even future grab bars. A few extra 2x6s behind the drywall now means no stud-finder guessing games in five years.
3. Run low-voltage wiring while the walls are open. Hardwired network drops and speaker wire for a few key rooms keep your WiFi and sound system running clean, no visible cords, no dead zones.
4. Put in more exterior hose bibs than you think you need. One by the garage isn't enough. Add one near the garden beds and one by a future dog-wash station if you've got pets.
5. Add conduit for an EV charger in the garage, even if you don't own one yet. It's a five-minute add before drywall and a much bigger job to retrofit later if you or a future buyer ends up needing it.
Small decisions before drywall save you years of headaches later. These are the 5 we bring up on almost every build.