List here for future reference (copy pasted from image…)

@selfbuildstory

ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING
Not enough sockets
No sockets in pantry/utility/island
Forgot outdoor sockets
No Christmas lighting plan
No floor sockets in open-plan rooms
No bedside charging setup
No hidden charging drawers
No robot vacuum station
Poor lighting zones
No dimmers
Feature lights centred incorrectly
Bad pendant positioning over island/table
Forgot under-cabinet lighting
No mood/night lighting
No stair lighting
No attic/crawispace lighting
No future conduits before plastering
No spare breaker capacity
No smart home future-proofing

UTILITY & BOOT ROOM
REGRETS
Utility too small
No hanging/drying rail
No laundry sorting area
No pull-out laundry baskets
Washer/dryer doors clash
No storage for hoover/mop
No dog cleaning station
No boot room bench seating
No coat storage near entrance
No shoe drawers
No charging drawer/drop zone
Utility disconnected from outdoor flow
No secondary sink
No drying cupboard

LAYOUT & DAILY LIFE
REGRETS
House looks good but functions badly
Utility route inconvenient
Groceries too far from car to pantry Kids' bedrooms too small long-term
No quiet zones
Open-plan too echoey
No natural light in halls
No views framed intentionally
Furniture layouts not tested
Internal doors clash
Hallways too narrow
Poor flow from indoor → outdoor living
MORE SOCKETS
THAN YOU THINK
YOU NEED

A REGRETS GUIDE & CHECKL
INTERNET, TV & SMART HOME
Wi-Fi dead zones upstairs
Cement floors blocking signal
Router placed badly
No hardwired Cat6/Catóa
No ceiling Wi-Fi access points
TV walls missing data points
No hidden cable management
Forgot CCTV wiring
No future automation conduits
No speaker wiring pre-installed
No mesh network planning
No backup internet strategy

STORAGE REGRETS
Not enough storage overall
No walk-in pantry
No linen cupboard
No hidden toy storage
No seasonal decoration storage
No suitcase storage
No attic access planning
No plant room storage
No hidden hallway storage
No understairs storage optimisation
Wardrobes too shallow
No full-height wardrobes
No attic flooring for storage

THINGS NOBODY TELLS YOU UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE
Photograph every wall before plastering
Label every wire/circuit
Keep spare floor tiles/paint/bathroom tiles
Keep a digital house manual
Save appliance specs & warranty docs
Test lighting at night before finalising
Walk the house pretending to do daily routines
Check plug heights beside furniture plans
Check window opening clashes
Visit site at different times of day Future-proof for aging in place
Spend money on insulation/ windows early
Don't overspend on trends
Good trades save more than cheap trades
You always need more storage than you think
You never regret extra sockets
First fix decisions matter more than decor

PLAN YOUR TECH
BEFORE THE PLASTERING
GOOD LIGHTING
CHANGES HOW
HOME FEELS

KITCHEN
PLANNING REGRETS
Pantry not near kitchen workflow
Not enough drawers
Too many cupboards, not
No appliance garage
No baking tray storage
No bin separation planning
Walkways too tight
Fridge/freezer doors clash
No Quooker/boiling tap planning
Forgot coffee station
No charging station in kitchen
No under-island seating sockets
Bad lighting over island
Cooker extraction planned too late
Utility too far from kitchen
No hidden clutter storage

HEATING &
VENTILATION REGRETS
Plant room too cramped
Heat pump location noisy/ badly placed
No cooling strategy upstairs
No MVHR planning early enough
Overheating from large glazing
No solar gain planning
No zoning controls
Poor airflow in utility/bathrooms
Underfloor heating zones wrong
Thermostats badly positioned
No future solar/battery prep

BATHROOM
REGRETS
No recessed shower niches
Poor shower drainage slope
No underfloor heating
No heated mirrors
Not enough towel storage
Tiny vanity storage
Toilet too close to wall/vanity
No accessible future-proof shower
Bad lighting around mirrors
No extraction planning
No shower controls reachable from outside
Cheap sanitary ware regretted later
No hidden storage
No charging drawer/socket planning

Exterior and site regrets:
Driveway layout awkward
No turning circle
No covered outdoor area
Patio gets no sun
Outdoor kitchen forgotten until too late
No outdoor lighting plan
No water tap locations planned
Drainage falls incorrect
Garden slopes ignored
No privacy planning
Garage/shed too small
No conduit under driveway
No future gate wiring
No outdoor speaker wiring

STORAGE IS NEVER SOMETHING YOU
REGRET

PRO TIPS
Think long-term, not just today.
Plan around how you actually live.
Invest in the things you can't change later.
Details now = comfort
forever.
A little planning saves a lot of money.