The electrical decisions to make before your renovation walls close

Use a floor plan to mark appliances, furniture, lighting and switches. Include door swings and cabinetry so an outlet is not hidden behind a fixed panel and a pendant lands over the right place. Date the drawing and give the same version to the builder, electrician and cabinetmaker.

List the things that annoy you now: a dark preparation area, charging leads across the floor or a study sharing too few outlets. These practical details make a better brief than copying the old layout into the new room.

Choose exact appliance models early enough for supply and clearance checks. An induction cooktop, oven and air conditioner can have different requirements from the products they replace. If the final model changes, tell the electrician before cables and joinery are fixed.

Discuss future loads such as EV charging or another air conditioner even if they are not being installed now. The electrician can assess whether cable routes or board space should be planned ahead, without assuming every future upgrade must happen in this stage.

In a kitchen, mark preparation appliances, the fridge, dishwasher and any island power. In bedrooms, think about bedside charging, lamps and where the bed may realistically move. In a study, account for the desk, monitors and network equipment. Outdoors, consider the path, gate and garden maintenance.

For lighting, choose useful switched groups and identify which fittings need dimming. If fans are planned, discuss ceiling support and position before finishing the ceiling. The plan should explain how the home is used rather than only counting fittings.

Agree the dates when wiring access will be available and when fittings can be installed. Do not close walls until the builder and electrician have confirmed the rough-in stage is complete. Changes after plastering can add time and visible repair work.

Clarify who supplies fittings, handles storage and replaces damaged or unsuitable customer-supplied products. Identify who patches holes and paints. Ask how scope changes are approved so a quick verbal decision on site does not become a surprise invoice.

At handover, ask for circuit labels and demonstrations of controls, fans, alarms and isolation points. Keep appliance and fitting model details where you can find them for replacement parts. Record any agreed follow-up work before the project is considered complete.

Keep the installation documents and any separate safety report with the renovation records. They help future trades understand the scope completed. Photographs taken during the build can also be useful, provided they were taken with permission and from a safe position.