5 Tips on Planning for the Electrical Walkthrough + Download Checklist

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Here are tips on planning for the electrical walkthrough of your new home construction including an electrical checklist download.

No matter how much we think we have finished the electrical planning for our new home construction, it is important to make sure that we use a new home construction electrical walk-through checklist to make sure that we do not forget anything.

Having this all planned out with a checklist is a good idea because by having our new home construction electrical ideas all planned out, we will know the best place to have electrical outlets in our home. And it will be made for our living situation and what works best for us!

How do I prepare for an electrical walkthrough? Planning for the electrical walkthrough

When you plan for an electrical walkthrough, the best recommendation is to prepare for the unexpected. A new house is different from an older house as all of these items are done from scratch, so everything needs to be remembered. 

Even with a checklist, you may be surprised by what comes up- just remember that most things are an easy fix if you prepare in advance. Having a specific plan and a reason for having your electric the way it is will be a huge help.

What happens during an electrical walkthrough? 

An electrical walkthrough is a thorough and complete inspection of all of a home’s electrical systems. 

This type of home inspection usually involves checking things such as the following items:

• Wiring
• Outlets
• Light switches and other light fixtures
• Ceiling fans
• Electrical panel/ electrical boxes
• Circuit breakers
• And more.

Home inspectors also use the electrical walk-through to check for any safety issues that could potentially arise. In older homes with a previous owner, this could include signs of overloading or outdated materials. However, with new construction,  it won’t be major issues that were hidden in the past but instead keeping close attention to what issues could arise. This makes planning an electrical walkthrough even more important.

After this type of inspection is finished, the inspector will most likely offer ways to further improve the safety of the home’s electrical system, and its efficiency as well. They may also provide a report that state any potential hazards, improvement needed, and how these improvements can be made. This will also make sure the house is safe and up to code. This big day can be a breeze with an electrical inspection checklist.

Also, an electrical inspector may be able to give money-saving tips and provide information on how to improve energy efficiency. This can include advice on the latest products, such as LED lighting and smart thermostats, which can help reduce electric bills. The inspector may also be able to suggest potential modifications that could make an existing electrical system more efficient.

Finally, a walkthrough can actually be an important step of the home construction process because it is a way for homeowners to learn about their home’s electrical system and better understand how it works. 

This knowledge is no small thing- it can help to improve overall safety and make the home more efficient in the long run. It can also provide peace of mind, knowing that everything is running smoothly and that any potential problems have been identified and addressed. Make sure you hire a professional inspector

New construction electrical walkthrough checklist- outdoors

Use this checklist either for your electrical contractor/general contractor or if you plan to work on this part of your home yourself. 

Front Porches and Back Decks

Be mindful of lighting around the front door and back doors, as well as any other outdoor lighting you would like. This may include floodlights, extra lighting for your deck, and any extra outlets for things such as Christmas lights and decorations. 

Outdoor Kitchen 

The great part of new construction homes is that you can add what your heart desires- including an outdoor kitchen! If you are adding one, think about what type of lighting you may need. Some of the best times to use the outdoor kitchens are in the evening!

Garage and Garage Doors

Think beyond simply garage door openers. Will you be using your garage space for anything else? If so, make sure you have the appropriate electrical for it. 

For this, I recommend dreaming big and preparing for anything you may use it for, even if you end up not doing so. It is easier to plan in advance than have to go and add electrical in the future. For example freezers require a special kind of outlet.

Irrigation system or sprinkler system 

Think about what type of “extras” you need for your lawn and/or garden. Make sure you have the correct electrical for that too. Again, like the garage, dream big and plan for more, even if you end up using less. 

Solar panels

If you think that there is even a chance of having solar panels in the future, plan out the electrical for this as well. It will make the process smoother moving forward.

New construction electrical walkthrough checklist- indoors

Here we break down an electrical checklist for the indoors by room to prepare for the home inspection. You may not have all of these rooms but prepare for the rooms that you do have.

Kitchen

There are quite a few factors to consider when planning the kitchen. 

Kitchen appliances: Think about each kitchen appliance you currently have and their placement: Think about different appliances and what type of electrical they will need, as it will be a big part of planning an electrical walkthrough for the kitchen. Also plan ahead if you will have any “smart” kitchen appliances.

Kitchen sinks: Plan ahead what type of sink you’d like, if it will have smart faucets, etc.

Garbage disposal: Make sure you have the electricity you need if you will be including a garbage disposal.

Kitchen island: A kitchen island can be something simple or it can be more extravagant. Knowing what type of kitchen island you would like to have will be useful in planning your kitchen electric. Make sure to think about both the cords you will need as well as the lighting you would like.

Master bedroom and other bedrooms

This is the best place to plan out because you can make your room however you would like it! If you want a charging station, this is your time to create one. If you want accent lights, enough outlets for table lamps, etc. Dream big and make the master bedroom of your dreams.

Bathroom 

With the bathroom, you will want to think of:

• Showers
• Baths
• Lighting near toilets
• Lighting near mirrors

Make sure not to put the lights too close to the mirror, as that can create odd shadows. 

In addition to lighting, think about how many outlets you’d like in there depending on your morning care routine.

pic of bathroom with lighting linked to affiliate

Living Room or Family Room

For most people, this is the room that is used the most after the kitchen. Here are some major parts you will want to consider for your living space:

• Ceiling fans
• Ceiling lights- will they be “smart” lights? What type of lights are you most comfortable with- recessed, chandelier, table lamps, or something else?
• Will you be using specialty outlets? If you want your electrical outlets to have USB ports for your phone charger, the living room is one of the best places for this.
• Christmas tree- make sure you have an outlet close to where you would like to put your tree every year
• Table lamps- think about the placement of side tables and what outlets you would like near there.

Dining room

Although a dining area is not used as often as the living room, kitchen, or bedrooms, thinking about the dining room lighting and outlets is still important and should not be overlooked, especially if you use your dining room table often.

One of the biggest focal points in the room is what is above the dining table. Will you be using a pendant light or a chandelier? Make sure to plan that, and if you’ll have any other lights, before your walkthrough.

Laundry Room/ Mudroom

For smaller rooms such as the laundry room, mudroom, or any other type of storage room, you will want to think: easy access. How will you get to the lights and outlets you need the easiest? Consider all of that for your checklist.

Hallways

For hallways, you will want to look at whatever natural light you have and see what type of accent lighting needs to be added. Most hallways use recessed lighting to keep costs down. Using electric outlets that come with nightlights is also helpful and needs to be decided before installation.

Staircase

If you have a staircase, make sure you include lighting- there is no such thing as too much lighting when it comes to the staircase, especially since it tends to be a place with not a lot of natural light.

Home Office 

Home offices are becoming more important as many people have stayed remote, or are gaining more remote employment. You don’t want extension cords all throughout your home office. Think about if you will want floor outlets for your office. 

Also, think about what type of lighting you already work best with. Will you want can lights, recessed lights, or something else?

Crawl Space/ Attic space

Make sure to take into consideration every part of your house, especially storage. Make sure there is enough light, and outlets if need be.

Home Security System

The last thing is the home security system. If you will be using security systems or items such as a smart smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector, make sure to include those in your checklist.

Final Thoughts

Having a specific plan for a new home construction electrical walkthrough can not only help you with a lighting plan and other electrical systems, but it can save you in the future by preventing issues such as water damage affecting electrical, stopping a potential fire hazard, and more. 

It is much different to do this for new construction versus having a real estate agent show you a ready-to-go house, but the benefits of a custom home are plentiful. 

There are lots of things to think of, but it is not a smart idea to let that overwhelm you. Grab our final walk-through checklist and use it to prevent any red flags in your floor plan and to better prepare for the final walkthrough and final inspection.