Before a new home reaches electrical rough-in, agree on the room layout, appliance requirements and controls. Record the design and who is responsible for electrical, communications and specialist work. A generic cable-size checklist cannot replace a design for the actual building.
Work from coordinated, current drawings
Bring the floor plan, kitchen and bathroom layouts, furniture positions and appliance schedule together. Mark outlets, switches, fittings and equipment clearly enough that the builder and relevant trades are working from the same version.
Identify decisions still outstanding and when they must be resolved. Ask how changes after rough-in will be priced and approved. A marked-up sketch can help discussion, but the final scope needs to be understood by the people doing the work.
Review the home room by room
- Kitchen: appliance models, cabinetry, work areas and control access.
- Living areas: furniture, television, task lighting and convenient outlets.
- Bedrooms: bed positions, bedside use, desk locations and switch access.
- Wet areas: equipment details and a compliant design assessed by the electrician.
- Outside: intended lighting and power uses, locations and suitability.
- Garage or parking: likely vehicle position and any planned EV charging.
Describe the intended use rather than specifying your own circuit or conductor sizes. The electrician must design the installation for its actual requirements and conditions.
Give communications cabling its own plan
Consider where the internet service, router, supported access points and fixed data outlets may be located. Discuss equipment access and the routes needed while the structure is accessible. Do not assume an electrical outlet provides a data connection or that every device needs one.
ACMA describes communications cabling in homes. Confirm the registered cabler responsible and the written compliance documentation. An electrical licence alone does not establish the required cabling registration.
Plan EV charging around the future vehicle and site
Discuss the parking position, possible charger location, cable route and likely charging window. Keep the design flexible where the vehicle or charger is not yet selected, but document what has actually been provided.
Victorian Government home-charging guidance explains that a dedicated wall charger needs an appropriate electrical installation. Circuit design, protection and supply must be assessed; there is no universal 6 mm² cable or automatic three-phase requirement for every new home.
Ask what can reasonably be prepared now and what will still require assessment when a charger is chosen. “EV-ready” should be defined in the quote rather than treated as a complete future installation.
Separate practical preparation from unlimited future promises
Useful preparation might include agreed routes, accessible locations or space considered in the design. Ask what each allowance achieves and what it does not cover. No wiring plan can guarantee compatibility with every future product.
Amber Pro does not install solar PV, garage-door systems, underfloor heating, emergency lighting or smart door locks. If your build includes those items, nominate the appropriate separate specialist and coordinate any interfaces explicitly. They must not appear as assumed Amber Pro inclusions.
Arrange the pre-lining review
Agree with the builder and electrician when the planned locations will be checked before linings conceal the work. Resolve discrepancies through the responsible trades, not by moving or modifying cables yourself.
Record approved variations and responsibilities for any incomplete item. Ask what installation records can be retained, without treating photographs as a substitute for testing, certification or an accurate completed plan.
Define the final handover
Request the completed scope, circuit information, relevant device manuals and the applicable Certificates of Electrical Safety. Obtain separate communications-cabling records where relevant. Confirm how incomplete work and defects will be addressed.
Discuss your Melbourne new-home electrical plan with Amber Pro before committing to products or builder allowances. A clear design and division of responsibilities make quotes easier to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Can a standard pre-wiring package cover every new home?
Only if its inclusions match the actual plan and equipment. Ask for room-by-room locations, exact allowances and exclusions.
Should every new home get three-phase supply for an EV?
Do not assume that. Have the expected vehicle, charging needs, household demand and available supply assessed.
Can I move a cable before plastering to save time?
No. Changes to electrical installation must be handled by the appropriately licensed trade and recorded in the agreed scope.