Well, you are in luck, because you can get lots of answers here. You may still want to talk to an experienced local installer to run all the wiring for you if you are unsure and want to make sure you get the job done right.
1. For the 5.1 setup - first, run 7.1 at LEAST. Just because you put the wire in place, does not force you to use it. There are speaker placement suggestions on this site in 'system setup' section.
2. For running your wires, you need to put them on the wall, then run them back to a location. PICK A LOCATION! Since you are building new, you might consider not just putting everything right under the TV, but locating it off to the side, or in a closet, or something else. If you have experienced help and some ideas, then you can really do a lot.
3. Conduit is your friend - use it if at all possible.
4. Outdoor speakers - great! Just run two speaker wires from outside to the equipment location. Well, wait, first figure out what type of speakers you want - on the side of the house? On the deck? On the lawn? Lots of choices, you must decide (basically) now. Also, where do you want to control volume from? Inside at the equipment or right next to the deck, or even right on the deck? If the later, then pick where you want to put a volume control, run the wires to that location first, then back to the equipment location. A volume control can go in later... Wait, you also want to be able to SELECT a source while on the deck? Well, then you should also add a piece of CAT-5 wiring to that volume control location so you can, at the very least, put in a IR repeater.
5. What OTHER wiring do you want to do while your home is open? I, for example, just got into my new home and I dropped about $3K to prewire the home. 8.1 surround, plus 14 rooms of stereo audio, with keypads/volume available at all locations. Conduit runs to many outside walls (insulated) from the attic, as well as conduit runs to the basement from several key areas including a projector and LARGE 2" conduit that runs from the basement to the attic - 2 runs. Was it expensive? I don't think in the overall house building budget it was outrageous really, no. There are almost 100 wires available to me to use for the needs I currently have, and there is conduit in place that should work for the needs I haven't even thought of yet. Phone, cable, and internet are available in every bedroom as well. Don't put your cable jack right next to your phone/network jacks unless you plan on putting your phone and computer right on top of the TV in every room.
Should you do that? Yes, of course <b>I</b> think you should.
- You probably even want to. But, your budget may not allow for it.
