Tips before starting construction - What should you urgently pay attention to?

Hello everyone,

first of all: I am not sure if there is already such a thread: Nonetheless, I would find it very interesting to collect opinions/ideas/tips/tricks etc. shortly before/during the construction phase to avoid possible "sources of errors" that some builders have made due to ignorance in the future.

They should rather be "small things" that can be changed/adjusted relatively easily and do not mess up the whole plan.

We are not talking about:
--> I would no longer build a basement
--> I would get a garage in the future

But rather things like:
--> Definitely install an empty conduit for the photovoltaic system
--> Wire your front door electrically to have the option to retrofit the door technically later
--> Set enough land sockets at such and such places to...
--> Have a water connection laid for an additional shower to create further possibilities later

They can really be small things that bothered you afterwards, that you would have liked differently, but no longer have the possibility to change, or that caused additional costs later on.
Topics related to kitchen/bathroom etc. are also welcome.

We would like to think of everything as best as possible (which of course is almost impossible and always has to be considered individually) - but surely one or the other tip could still be helpful.

Looking forward to the input :)

1st Commandment: Do not be confused by expensive gadgets that others have or that are recommended in the forum, but that you do not need. -> evaluate every suggestion for yourself!

Even if you only want to hear small things.

Number 1 is, what do I want and CAN I afford.

The most common mistake is that wishes and budget do not match.

A frost-proof water connection to the garden.

Ad hoc on small details
-Floor box under the dining table for raclette or the children's laptop when they have homeschooling, so you don't have to run cables across the room
-If audio/cinema enthusiast (5.1/7.1) and no cables coming out of the wall are possible because there are windows, floor box under the couch to be able to connect rear speakers.

-If underfloor heating, simply lay a line on the outside wall for the possibility of adding a conservatory.
-Floor drain in the utility room
-Plan LAN outside as well and provide for access points
-Budget for the outdoor area, unless you want years of construction site in front of the house
-Lay cables in reserve over the roof for e.g. awning, IR emitters,...

I imagined it a bit more concretely and actually really detailed.

These are partly very "general" tips - of course still useful and personally totally important for me.

more like this:

- Sinks in the kitchen definitely in the color of the front, i.e. delivery from the kitchen studio and not from the stonemason
- darker grout in the bathroom due to dirt
- passage width of the open kitchen area rather more than 90cm
- installation above the washbasin for storage
- niches in the shower
- lengths in the bedroom/children’s room adjusted for the corresponding wardrobe

These are just a few "excerpts" of our thoughts.. :)

I imagined it a bit more concretely and actually really in detail.

These are partly very "general" tips - of course still sensible and personally very important to me.

more like this:

- Backsplashes in the kitchen definitely in the color of the front, i.e. delivery from the kitchen studio and not from the stonemason
- darker grout in the bathroom due to dirt
- passage width of open kitchen area rather more than 90cm
- projection over the washbasin for storage
- niches in the shower
- adjust lengths in the bedroom/children's room for corresponding wardrobe

These are just a few "excerpts" of our thoughts..

What you list are partly individual preferences (e.g. grout color or projection over the washbasin - many like light grout and not all dark grout fits light floors or the projection over the washbasin. It’s a matter of taste and has to fit the bathroom. It can be masonry, a nice plug-in shelf, or simply not present at all because of a large washbasin). On the other hand, these are planning basics that start much earlier than shortly before or during the construction phase (e.g. room dimensions, passage width).

Shortly before or during the construction phase, it is often months too late for important little things.

My tip: think about all possible things very early and plan well. Then you don’t have to redesign shortly before or during the construction phase but will have a relaxed construction period.