What should I put in during my renovation?

[wheretoevenstart]

We are looking for our next property, which is likely to be a renovation job. We've done a couple before, in the sense that we've never bought a 'done' house, but only one has involved substantial work in terms of extensions and entirely new bathrooms and kitchen. The others have involved replumbing, plastering, custom cabinetry etc but weren't back to brick.

So, I'm at the stage of putting together a list of what we want to do now, and am after small but brilliant suggestions. Things I've already got on the list to look at are:

External hot water tap (OH is a mountain biker, spends a lot of time washing bikes in the winter)
USB plugs
Wired speakers in the bathroom
Towel rail in the bathroom that can run electrically or off central heating
Dimmable bathroom lights
Boiling water tap
Drawer/wardrobe lighting

I've got the kitchen lessons learned thread bookmarked and am after similar type advice. So for example, I've wondered about a built in safe, if anyone has any feedback on those. And has anyone got those velux windows that turn into a balcony type thing? I'm basically after anything you wish you'd done when renovating that isn't specific to your house.

Just to add, any feedback on alarm systems (we've been burgled before), gates on a driveway (to have or not to have?), all gratefully received.

More sockets. Always more than you think and yes to the USB ones too!

Space for shoes and coats-be it built in or whatever.

External sockets-Christmas lights, vacuuming the car, pressure washing.

I'd want a utility room big enough for washer and dryer, hanging and organising space and for all cleaning products, vacuum cleaner etc so it's all out of my kitchen. Plus a big extra freezer.

External sockets a great shout. We definitely want a coat cupboard, we have a fab one in this house, about the only fab thing about it!

Re external sockets- you might want to make it possibly to easily upgrade to a fast charging port for an electric car. They are going to get pretty ubiquitous in the not too far future...

Agree to an external socket. We also got a smart lock on the door - no need for a key! I love it. Surround sound. Under cabinet lights in the kitchen (OK not that fancy, but it was on my wish list and I love them!).
I wanted to add an appliance cupboard in the kitchen (for eg kettle, toaster, coffee machine, so you don't need to remove them or have them out, just roll open the cupboard and use them in there), but it didn't quite work with our layout.

• Laundry chute. We have one in ours going from the kids bathroom to the utility room and I LOVE it.

• Master switch going to one of the outlets in in living room and bedrooms so that lamps connected to it can all be controlled from a single switch (way easier than going round the house and turning off all the individual lamps!)

• Dimmers everywhere, but especially over the dining table

• Large utility with space for washer and dryer, laundry sorting, laundry folding, ironing, a fridge/freezer, a deep sink, and STORAGE

• Italian showers as it means you don’t have to deal with cleaning a grubby shower tray

Sorry, that should read master switchES. As in one that controls the lamps for each room.

What does your laundry chute go into Linguaphile? Daft question I'm sure! But a basket?

Italian shower is basically one without a lip of any type, is that right? If so I'd love one.

A laundry chute is on my wish list when we do our extension...

Extra sink in the utility room. You can then refer to it as 'the flower room' and consider yourself very grand (this is my dream).

Yep it just goes into a basket! Best unforeseen benefit is that the children love putting their dirty laundry down which saves me time. It was such an easy and inexpensive thing to include as well.

Yes the Italian showers are just plain tile floors.

Two full size ovens side by side. Smart light bulbs controlled by Alex's or remotely from your phone. Downstairs shower in case of elderly people staying over, or a broken leg! Electric motors on shutters or curtains, controllable remotely, for when you are, away. Letter box in your door which will not show letters lying on the mat. Large set in the floor mat at all house's entrances and exits.

Internet/computer /tv cable to every room. So you don’t have to rely on WiFi.
I would look at energy saving features, insulation, natural light, future proofing if you might want to convert a room in future.

Sockets in the cupboard under the stairs and or in the big storage cupboard to charge cordless hoover etc.

Outside tap at the front of the house to wash car.

Porch over backdoor for when you pop out to recycling bins.

Enough space for shed/box or something decent looking by backdoor for recycling bins.

Outside plugs by garage but also on patio area to use in summer.

Outside plug near outside tap at back so it's easy to plug pressure washer in.

Lighting round patio not just on house wall. Looks so nice.

Separate Lights in the floor along bath. Low bulbs. Much nicer than having them above you when having a soak in the tub.

Bathroom mirrors with lights in. Use mine all the time.

Razor socket not by mirror as the razors are cordless now but low down so it's near a window sill or shelf / cupboard so you can balance your toothbrush and charger on it. Or even have it in a cupboard.