In this smart home tour, I’m out at Twin Cities Spring 2024 Parade of Homes #184 in Minneapolis, and I’m walking through the property with a builder’s perspective on low voltage—what’s worth doing now, what you can leave for later, and how to keep options open for the next owner. Right away, there are some standout design/tech touches like the LED-lit wood stairs. It’s a super unique execution (my “stair guy” and “electrician guy” wouldn’t be thrilled), but the payoff is huge—especially at night when it looks like art through the front picture window. From there I highlight practical wiring decisions: dual Ethernet jacks in the office (plus another run across the room), conduit behind the TV/fireplace wall for clean installs, and multi-zone ceiling speakers feeding different areas. In the kitchen and scullery, the under-cabinet lighting looks awesome, and they’ve got Wi‑Fi appliances like Monogram and Wolf so you can actually do real-life stuff—like preheating the oven on the way home. The big takeaway is the builder’s approach: don’t force $5,000+ of smart lighting on every buyer. Instead, spend on pre-wire. They’ve got about $30K into low voltage mostly in wiring so the next owner can decide what matters—Lutron later, more speakers later, more automation later—without tearing the house apart.