If the latest technology or entertainment options are important in your new home, add the following questions to your buyer's checklist.

• Are there enough jacks in every room for cable TV and high-speed Internet hookups?
• Are there ample telephone extensions or jacks?
• Is the home pre-wired for home theater or multiroom audio and video? Does it have in-wall speakers?
• Does the home have a local area network (LAN) for linking computers?
• Does the home already have wiring for DSL or another high-speed Internet connection?
• Does the home have multizoning heating and cooling controls with programmable thermostats?
• Does the home have multiroom lighting controls, window-covering controls, or other home automation features?
• Is the home wired with multipurpose in-wall wiring that allows for reconfigurations to update services as technology changes?

To rate the home on its technological sophistication, fill out the Consumer Electronics Association's TechHome checklist at www.ce.org.